Interested in getting a lip piercing? You’ve come to the right place. Spencer’s is here to give you the 411 on lip piercing types, healing times, body jewelry types, and everything else you need to know about this amazing body piercing trend. The lip piercing options are endless!
Before we get started, we want to run some info by you. It’s important to remember that piercings heal differently for everyone. We suggest that you always talk to a piercing professional before getting an oral piercing. Depending on your chemical makeup, your healing time could vary from the average healing time.
Most lip piercings require a flat back labret lip ring (also known as a lip stud) during the healing process. These are designed to minimize discomfort inside of the mouth while wearing your jewelry. Pretty cool, huh? There are several types of jewelry that can be used with lip piercings, so when it comes to showing off your personal style, you’ll be in control.
Now that we got that out of the way, it’s time to learn more about this body piercing trend!
Types of Lip Piercings
- Angel Bites Piercing
- Ashley Piercing
- Canine Bites Piercing
- Cyber Bites Piercing
- Dahlia Piercing
- Dolphin Bites Piercing
- Horizontal Lip Piercing
- Jestrum Piercing
- Labret Piercing
- Madonna Piercing
- Medusa Piercing
- Monroe Piercing
- Shark Bites Piercing
- Snake Bites Piercing
- Spider Bites Piercing
- Vertical Labret Piercing
Angel Bites Piercing
Angel Bites Piercing Location:
The Angel bites lip piercing (also known as an Angel kiss piercing) requires both sides of your upper lip to be pierced. In short, this double lip piercing was created by acquiring Madonna and Monroe piercings at the same time.
Angel Bites Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 3 months.
Recommended Jewelry:
Ashley Piercing
Ashley Piercing Location:
Instead of putting a hole underneath your bottom lip, the Ashley lip piercing punctures directly through the center of the bottom lip, giving you a beautiful middle lip piercing.
Ashley Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a standard 14-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 2-4 months.
Recommended Jewelry:
Canine Bites Piercing
Canine Bites Piercing Location:
To achieve canine bites you’ll need a total of four lip piercings. Two on either side of your upper lip, and two on either side of your bottom lip (angel bites + snake bites = canine bites.) The piercings are on the upper and lower lips, near the corners of the mouth.
Canine Bites Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a standard 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 8-12 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Cyber Bites Piercing
Cyber Bites Piercing Location:
Having your medusa (philtrum) and your labret (center) pierced is all you’ll need to achieve this look. This symmetrical piercing will create a straight line called cyber bites.
Cyber Bites Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Dahlia Piercing
Dahlia Piercing Location:
Also known as Dahlia bites. Sometimes confused with a cheek piercing or dimple piercing, the Dahlia piercing is located on both corners of the lips or mouth. To obtain the Dahlia look, you’ll need to get both sides of your mouth piercings.
Dahlia Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a standard 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 12-20 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Dolphin Bites Piercing
Dolphin Bites Piercing Location:
Dolphin bites require two labret lip rings that sit directly under the center of the bottom lip. A Dolphin piercing is similar to spider bite piercings except they are in the middle bottom part of your lip.
Dolphin Bites Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Horizontal Lip Piercing
Horizontal Lip Piercing Location:
A horizontal lip piercing lives directly on the surface of the bottom lip, typically creating a horizontal design. This lower lip piercing is unique and super stylish!
Horizontal Lip Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a standard 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Jestrum Piercing
Jestrum Piercing Location:
Similar to the vertical labret lip piercing, the jestrum piercing includes two holes. This piercing sits on the top lip, with one hole puncturing through the philtrum, and the other puncturing through the center of the top lip.
Jestrum Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-12 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Labret Piercing
Labret Piercing Location:
The term “labret lip piercing” literally means any lip piercing. But, normally this term relates to any single piercing located on the bottom lip, but specifically, a labret lip piercing lives in the center, right above the chin. This lower lip piercing pretty much looks like a stud lip piercing.
Labret Piercing Process:
This piercing is typically performed with a 14, 16, or even 18-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 3-6 weeks.
Recommended Labret Jewelry:
Madonna Piercing
Madonna Piercing Location:
A Madonna piercing is very similar to a Monroe piercing, but the piercing sits above your upper lip on the right side of your face. Needless to say, this upper lip piercing mimics Madonna’s famous beauty mark!
Madonna Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a standard 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-12 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Medusa Piercing (Philtrum piercing)
Medusa Piercing Location:
Nicknamed the Medusa Piercing, the philtrum piercing is a single piercing that’s placed above the lip, directly under the septum of your nose. Depending on the size of your philtrum groove, some people add multiple piercings to this location of the upper lip. To learn more about Medusa Piercings, check out Medusa Piercing: Everything You Need to Know.
Medusa Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-12 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Monroe Piercing
Monroe Piercing Location:
Monroe lip piercings (or Marilyn Monroe piercings) are piercings placed above your upper lip on the left side of your face. It gets its name because it mimics Marilyn Monroe’s famous beauty mark.
Monroe Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a standard 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-12 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Shark Bites Piercing
Shark Bites Piercing Location:
Similar to snake bites, shark bites require two holes on both sides of your lower lip.
Shark Bites Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 8-12 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Snake Bite Piercing
Snake Bite Piercing Location:
Snake bite piercings are a type of labret piercing that requires both sides of the bottom lip to be pierced, giving the effect that you’ve been bitten by a snake.
Snake Bite Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Spider Bites Piercing
Spider Bites Piercing Location:
Similar to dolphin bites, spider bites are side-lip piercings that require two holes to the right or left of the bottom lip. Though the bottom lip is the most popular for this body mod, spider bite piercings can be placed on the upper lip, too.
Spider Bites Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 1-3 months.
Recommended Jewelry:
Vertical Labret Piercing
Vertical Labret Piercing Location:
Vertical labret piercings are vertical lip piercings that involve two punctures; one hole through the top of the bottom lip and one directly below the bottom lip (where a labret piercing is placed).
Vertical Labret Piercing Process:
This piercing process is typically done with a standard 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing time:
About 6-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Internal Lip Piercings
Lip Frenulum Piercing (Frowny Piercing)
Lip Frenulum Piercing Location:
A piercing through the thin layer of skin that connects your lower lip to your mouth.
Lip Frenulum Piercing Process:
This piercing is performed with a hollow 16 or 18-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
4-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Lip Frenulum Piercing (Smiley Piercing)
Lip Frenulum Piercing Location:
A piercing through the thin layer of skin that connects your upper lip to your mouth.
Lip Frenulum Piercing Process:
This piercing is performed with a hollow 16 or 18-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
4-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Lip Piercing Healing Times, Piercing Aftercare Tips, and More
How long does a lip piercing take to heal?
Healing times vary depending on the person and the lip piercing type. While a labret piercing can take about six weeks to heal, other types of piercings (like the Dahlia piercing) can take months to heal. The piercing placement plays a big factor when it comes to healing times. Before booking an appointment, we recommend talking to a piercing professional about healing times, cleaning routines, and other important piercing information before getting pierced. Make sure you study up on piercing aftercare, too!
Do lip piercings hurt?
It all depends on your pain tolerance. We recommend talking to a piercing professional about pain management before getting pierced. If your piercing starts to show signs of infection, be sure to contact your doctor.
How much does a lip piercing cost?
It depends on where you live and which piercing shop you’ll be attending. Some piercing styles, such as smiley piercings, may have a high cost than standard labret stud piercings. We recommend calling a professional piercer for this information.
How do I care for my lip piercing?
We recommend speaking with your piercing professional for guidelines on piercing aftercare, but you can learn more about how to clean your piercing and more on our blog!
How do you pierce your lip at home?
You don’t! It is so important to get your piercing done professionally to prevent any possible complications, infections, etc.
Why shouldn’t I get a lip piercing?
If you’re questioning whether or not you should get body piercing jewelry, we recommend talking to a professional and considering everything before committing. Not every piercing style is for everyone, and that’s okay! Take your time deciding if you want a lip piercing, and speak with a professional to make sure you’re making the best decision you can for your body.
Are there other types of oral piercings?
Mouth piercings, tongue piercings, and some facial piercings all classify as oral piercings.
Lip Piercing Jewelry
How much does oral piercing jewelry cost?
It depends on where you live and which piercing shop you’ll be attending. There are different types of lip piercing jewelry, such as captive rings, that can cost more than standard flat-back labret jewelry. Quality jewelry materials, like titanium jewelry, can have an effect on the price. We recommend calling a professional piercer for more info on types of jewelry and piercing prices.
When can I change my lip ring?
You shouldn’t change or remove the original piece of jewelry until your lip is completely healed. If you remove the flat back stud before the lip piercing heals, you can risk a piercing infection or the piercing could close up. The healing process is very important and should be taken seriously. Be sure to always keep up with oral hygiene! Once your piercing is completely healed, check out Spencer’s awesome jewelry options We have all types of jewelry, including labret studs, circular barbells, captive bead rings, and more!
Can I get an allergic reaction? Why shouldn’t I get an oral piercing?
Allergic reactions to certain jewelry materials are possible, resulting in rash, redness, or bumps, which means you will have to change the jewelry. Contact a piercing professional and make sure that getting a lip ring is the right move for you. Be sure to discuss jewelry material options prior to getting your piercing and making a jewelry choice. Check with a doctor beforehand to learn more about your allergies and your overall oral health. As stated above, you have to wait for the piercing to heal before changing jewelry. Not ready for a lip piercing yet? Start your piercing journey with an ear piercing or get yourself a fake lip ring!
Learn More About Body Piercings and Body Jewelry
Searching for more piercing guides? Check out the Inspo Spot for additional piercing information. We will teach you everything there is to know about ear piercings, facial piercings, tongue piercings, nose piercings, belly button piercings, eyebrow piercings, nipple piercings, genital piercings, and pretty much any other type of piercing you can think of!
Now that we’ve gone over all of the lip piercing names, locations, healing times, and piercing costs, it’s time to go shopping! Spencer’s is the headquarters for all of your body jewelry needs.
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