Lip piercings have become a popular way to express individual style, offering a wide range of options to choose from. Whether you're considering a classic labret or something more unique, we'll go over different kinds of lip piercings and what to expect in general when you get a lip piercing.
Additional Information on Lip Piercings
Not sure what lip piercing to get? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We'll go over everything you need to know about lip piercings.
The name lip piercing is actually a catch-all for any of the piercing types that can be done around or through your upper or lower lip. Most lip piercings are named for the location pf the piercing - including some we’ll cover - but since there are so many areas on the lip that can be pierced, a lot of them have started to get nicknames so that people can distinguish between them all.
The labret lip piercing is centered, just below the bottom lip. It shares the name labret with the jewelry most often worn in this piercing (the labret stud), however rings are also a popular option. This piercing goes fully through the skin below the lower lip, and will touch the gums of your bottom front teeth.
This piercing utilizes a curved barbell to go through the bottom lip, and exits just below it. The pain tolerance for this piercing is usually a bit higher, because it passes through the lip.
The small divot of skin just above the top lip is the philtrum - hence the piercing’s name - and like the labret, this piercing goes through the skin and exits just above the top front teeth and will rest against the gums.This is a top lip piercing.
Much like a vertical labret, only it goes through the philtrum and the top lip.
A pair of piercings at the corners of the mouth. Dahlia piercings are just next to the lips on the left and right side. Named for the black dahlia murders. These are sometimes called joker piercings because they accent your smile.
A bite piercing is a pair of parallel piercings that are located on either the bottom or upper lip area. While all of these are considered lip piercings, they’ve acquired nicknames to distinguish the wide variety of placements.
For example, there are:
Canine piercings combine angel bites and snake bites, creating a set of four piercings—one on each side of the upper and bottom lip.
Similar to angel bites, angel fangs involve a pair of piercings on either side of the top lip. These vertical piercings exit through the bottom of the upper lip, creating a fang-like appearance with spike ends.
Angel bites are a pair of lip piercings placed on your upper lip—one on each side. If you've heard of snake bites (which go on the lower lip), think of angel bites as the top lip version. Angel fangs are a little more dramatic and edgy. These are two vertical labret piercings that go through the actual lip and come out just under it. The jewelry usually used is a curved barbell, often with a spiky or fang-like tip that sticks out below the lip.
The Ashley piercing resembles a hybrid of the classic center labret and a vertical labret, but distinguishes itself from both by passing through the exterior lip tissue and exiting inside the mouth. Typically, a flat back labret is used for this piercing.
If you opt for just one side of a snake bite piercing, it's often referred to as a side labret for specificity.
A lowbret is a lower labret piercing, and can posie a higher risk of gum and enamel erosion compared to a standard labret.
Popularized by Cardi B, the horizontal lip piercing uses a curved barbell to pass through one side of the lower lip and exits horizontally on the other side. However, it's prone to migration and rejection due to the high movement in the area.
We've received questions about Raccoon bites, but as far as we know, it seems to be a joke without a real piercing behind it.
Now that you're familiar with the most popular lip piercings, we'll explore more general information on lip piercings and answer common questions like: how long do lip piercings take to heal?, how much for a lip piercing? and how bad does lip piercing hurt?
Once you've decided on the type of lip piercing you want, it's time to choose a reputable piercer to go to. They will assess your anatomy to make sure it can support the piercing you want. Everyone’s anatomy is different, and the exact placement of your piercings will depend on your body. Your piercer should be able to help you with getting the piercing that’s right for you.
Make sure to also mention to your piercer what type of lip piercing jewelry you plan to wear. Whether you want to wear rings in your lip, or just labrets, as this could affect the exact placement.
The piercer will mark the piercing site. At this time, it's important to make sure the placement is correct, especially for piercings that require symmetry. If it appears uneven, don't hesitate to voice your concerns. Remember, this is your body and it's important that you be satisfied with the placement of the piercings.
If you're want to get more than one piercing for your set up, like snake bites, you should also decide if you're getting them done at the same time. Just remember that if you get them done separately, then you'll have to go through the healing process for a lip piercing twice and the symmetry may not be the same.
Once you've agreed to the placement, a piercer will use a hollow needle to make the insertion. They will decide on the gauge, type of jewelry, and length you need. It's usually a high-quality labret with a long bar to make room for your swelling lip piercing.
Before you leave the piercing shop, ask your piercer for the final gauge, length or diameter of the piercing jewelry you'll need once your piercing heals. Knowing this information will make shopping for jewelry easier.
When it comes to pain, lip piercings aren’t too bad. On a lip piercing pain scale of 1 to 10, most people rate it between a 3 and 6, depending on their pain tolerance and the specific spot being pierced. For lip piercings that go through the lip like the vertical labret, jestrum or horizontal lip piercing, the pain is usually a little more, since it goes through the lip.
Generally, the pain is quick, like a sharp pinch, and goes away fast. Afterward, you might feel a little soreness, but it’s nothing too serious. Overall, lip piercings are considered less painful than some other piercings, like cartilage piercings.
The total lip piercing price will depend on the studio location, the type of piercing and jewelry you get. It usually ranges from $30 to $80, not including the jewelry. Opt for high-quality jewelry like implant-grade titanium. Since lip piercings swell a lot, also budget to downsize your jewelry and for aftercare products like saline spray.
How long does it take a lip piercing to heal? The lip piercing healing time varies wildly between piercings and individuals, but three to six months or 12 to 24 weeks to fully heal. This is a good range to think of when considering the piercing. Your piercer will give you more information about healing for your specific piercing.
After getting pierced, your lip piercing will be swollen. This is normal. As your swollen lip piercing heals, be careful with the jewelry. If you accidentally bite down, it’s time to downsize. Go to your piercer to have them remove jewelry and switch it for something that fits better.
Be sure to follow your piercer's aftercare instructions. Generally, clean the outside of your piercing twice a day with a saline spray. If your piercing goes through the inside of your mouth, you also want to rinse your mouth with an alcohol free mouthwash at least twice a day. Additionally, rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking anything else other than water.
Other aftercare tips to consider:
If you see any signs of an infection, how do you treat an infected lip piercing? Go see your doctor or piercer. They'll assess your situation and help you treat it. Remeber, that you can always get re-pierced and your health comes first.
How do you know if you have a fully healed lip piercing? Make sure to wait the full healing period. To be on the safe side, give it an extra couple of weeks before assuming it's fully healed. Some signs of a healed lip piercing are there's no more swelling, it's not irritated, there's no sensitivity and no discharge. Just to be sure, have your piercer check your piercing.
Once your piercing fully heals, it's time to explore the variety of jewelry styles you can wear. The specific type of jewelry you can wear depends on your lip piercing.
Common Types of Jewelry
Once your piercing is fully healed, you’ll need to choose jewelry that matches the final gauge, length, and diameter. This ensures a comfortable fit and avoids complications. Ask your piercer for this information or ask them to measure you.
Lip piercings look amazing, but there are some risks to consider. Most types of lip piercings are oral piercings that make contact with the inside of your mouth. This puts you at risk of teeth and gum damage. If you have oral health problems or concerns, consider a lip piecing that doesn't go through your mouth like a vertical labret or jestrum.
Additionally, if you have braces, getting a lip piercing might not be the best idea. The jewelry can easily rub against your braces, causing irritation or even damaging your teeth and gums. It can also make cleaning your teeth harder, which could lead to infections or other problems. If you’re set on getting a lip piercing, it’s a good idea to wait until your braces are off to avoid these risks.
If you can’t commit to keeping up with the aftercare or maintaining good oral hygiene, a lip piercing might not be for you. Proper aftercare is essential to avoid infections and other complications. It’s important to be honest with yourself about whether you can follow the necessary steps to keep your piercing healthy.
If at any point you see any issues with your oral health, go see your dentist immediately. Remember, your oral health comes first.
We hope this has been helpful. Do you have any of these piercings, or do you plan to get some? As always, please remember to follow us on all our socials platforms @bodyartforms!
