Lip & Labret Piercing Information & Aftercare Guide

Although recently made popular after the explosion of social media, especially in the Myspace days of the early 2000s, lip piercings have been staples of cultures throughout the world. Today, lip and labret piercings are used in high-fashion shows and accessorize the most couture of outfits.

If you’re interested in getting a lip piercing, read on to learn more about placement, anatomy, jewelry, pain level, cost, and proper aftercare.

What Is a Labret Piercing?

The name labret piercing, pronounced Lay-BRET, comes from the Latin word labrum, which means lip. Technically, a labret piercing can be any lower lip piercing. However, some piercers use the word labret specifically for the center placement along the lower lip.

Additionally, while you may know of slang terms for paired variations of labret piercings, they all boil down to being just that – paired labret piercings. Because slang terms can refer to different piercings in different regions, or because some piercers may not be familiar with specific slang terms, it may be easier to describe what you want and where you want them placed than to rely on slang terms like snake bites.

Is a Lip/Labret Piercing Anatomy Dependent?

While it is incredibly common for people to have the proper anatomy to get a lip piercing, it is anatomy-dependent. That being said, it is still important you go to an experienced piercer who knows how to place such piercings properly.

Any oral piercing comes with the risk of tooth and gum damage. However, a properly placed piercing that considers your oral anatomy will minimize the risk to your teeth and gums. If you have considerable gum erosion or a snaggle tooth in the area you want pierced, an alternative placement may have to be considered. The same goes for tooth gaps where the jewelry could get stuck between a gap in teeth.

In addition to proper anatomy, a good oral hygiene routine is important for getting a lip/labret piercing. This means that you need to practice daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. You should also get regularly scheduled teeth cleaning to preserve your oral health. This will help protect and minimize any damage to your teeth and gums. While there is a risk, getting a lip piercing and not having any damage is possible.

Lip/Labret Piercing Placement

Proper placement of lip and labret piercings can be anywhere along the bottom lip. The specific placement of the piercing should be just under the vermillion border, where the lip skin is pink. However, as mentioned above, this is different for everyone, as your oral anatomy comes into consideration.

Types of Lip/Labret and Upper Lip Piercings

Labret

The labret piercing is a horizontal piercing centered under the bottom lip. It doesn’t actually pierce through the lip, but in the space underneath, with the back of the piercing resting flush against the inside of the lip. The most common jewelry for labret piercings is a flat back barbell or threadless labret post (pushpin post), usually in a 14 gauge or 16 gauge. Captive rings or circular barbells can be worn too, but be careful of contact with your teeth. A labret piercing price starts around $50, and can vary depending on jewelry selection and shop location. We offer hundreds of styles: gold, stainless steel, and silicone labret jewelry with different tops like gems and opals. We also have threadless jewelry (pushpin) options.

Monroe

The Monroe piercing is named after Marilyn Monroe because it is placed on the left side above the upper lip to resemble her iconic beauty mark. The Monroe piercing is usually pierced at a 16 gauge with a flat back barbell. You can also wear threadless or pushpin post jewelry. It costs about $50 to get a Monroe piercing, and it varies depending on which jewelry you select and also the shop you go to. We have Monroe rings and studs in stainless steel, gold, titanium, and silicone with plain tops, gemmed tops, and even CZ tops set in prongs for an extra elegant look.

Medusa (Philtrum)

The Medusa piercing or philtrum piercing is a horizontal piercing centered above the upper lip. It pierces through the indented groove in the upper lip, which is called the philtrum. Medusa piercings are usually pierced at a 16 gauge using a flat back barbell or threadless (or pushpin) labret post. The cost starts around $50 and varies depending on your choices of jewelry and shop location. Our labret jewelry is a perfect fit for Medusa piercings and we have hundreds of different styles. Our threadless jewelry options are also a great fit.

Vertical Labret

The vertical labret is a “vertical” version of the traditional labret piercing, which allows for both ends of the jewelry to show. The look is achieved by using a curved barbell, so that one end of the piercing is under the bottom lip like the horizontal labret and the other end rests in the center on top of the bottom lip. 16 gauge is typical for vertical labret piercings. The cost of this piercings starts around $50 and can vary depending on jewelry options and shop choice. Our curved barbells come in stainless steel, gold, titanium, and you can make this piercing even more eye catching with different colors and tops.

Snake Bites

Snake bites are two piercings, one on each far side of the lower lip. The placement is supposed to mimic where snake fangs would be, or what a snake bite would look like. Our captive rings or even our circular barbells are wearable for snake bites piercings. You can also check out our labret studs. Snake bites can be pierced in either 16 gauge or 14 gauge, so be sure to check your size. Because it’s two separate piercings, the cost starts at $100 and ranges based on which jewelry you choose and the shop you get pierced at.

Ashley

The Ashley piercing is one of the few lip piercings that truly pierces the lip, going through the center of the bottom lip and exiting out through the back of the lip. The official name is an inverted vertical labret, but presumably either the first piercer to give this piercing or the first person to receive this piercing was named Ashley. This piercing requires a flatback labret stud to help minimize contact with the teeth, most often in a 16 gauge. Pushpin labrets studs are another great choice. The price of an Ashley piercing is roughly $50, but it can range depending on the shop’s pricing and the jewelry selection.

Jestrum

The jestrum piercing is a vertical philtrum or medusa piercing, with the piercing exiting from the center of the top lip versus behind it, so that both sides of the barbell are visible. 16 gauge curved barbells are used in jestrum piercings to achieve the right look. The jestrum piercings starts around $50 and the final cost depends on the shop you visit and the jewelry you choose. Our selection of curved barbells has multiple colors, materials, and top/ends for you to choose from.

Spider Bites

Spider bites piercings are two piercings on the same side of the far side of the lower lip, either left or right, sitting closely side by side like a spider bite would be. While they are most often pierced on the lower lip, occasionally some people choose to do them on the upper lip instead. As two separate piercings, the total price goes from $100 and up in terms of cost. Depending on the look you want, you can either wear two captive rings or two labret studs in spider bites piercings. Or you can even try out some of our circular barbells.

Angel Bites

Angel bites piercings combine both the Monroe and the Madonna piercings as a combo set on the upper lip, one on each far side. Like dual beauty marks! We have labret studs and pushpin posts that work great for angel bites piercings. A 16 gauge is the most common size for these, but we also offer other sizes. The cost of angel bites piercings starts around 100 because it is two piercings, and the total cost can vary depending on jewelry and shop selections.

Madonna

Named after the 1980s musical icon, the Madonna piercing goes through the upper right side of the lip, to match her famous beauty mark. The Madonna piercing is most often done with a 16 gauge labret stud or pushpin (threadless) post. Madonna piercings start around $50 and can vary depending on jewelry selection and shop location. We have over 200 styles of lip studs that work perfectly for Madonna piercings.

Cyber Bites

Cyber bites piercings combines two piercings, the Medusa, which is centered above the top lip, and the traditional labret piercing, which is centered under the bottom lip. There is only one end showing for each piercing, giving the look that the piercing actually spans between both lips. The top piercing for cyber bites needs to be a flatback labret stud or a pushpin post, which minimizes damage to the teeth. The bottom piercing can also be a labret stud or a captive ring, just be mindful of contact with your teeth. The cost of cyber bites piercings ranges from $100 ($50 for each one) and up, depending on the jewelry you select and the shop location.

Dolphin Bites

Dolphin bites piercings are double labret piercings, sitting side by side under the center of the bottom lip. The cost of dolphin bites piercings starts around $100 ($50 for each one), and varies depending on which jewelry you select and also the shop you go to. The usual style is to wear two labret studs, but two lip rings will also work for dolphin bites piercings. We have captive rings and flatback studs for dolphin bites piercings and we have hundreds of options to choose from.

Dahlia Bites

The Dahlia Bites piercing was inspired by a very dark story, but the look is really unique. Referencing Elizabeth Short from the infamous Black Dahlia Murder, the Dahlia bites are two piercings, one on each side of the corner of the mouth, extending the smile. (It is also sometimes called a Joker piercing!) Dahlia bites use two labret studs in 16 gauge or 14 gauge. The look is very eye-catching and striking with the classic stainless steel ends, but we offer a ton of different labret stud styles to customize your look.

Canine Bites

Canine bites piercings are four piercings total! Two on the outer edges of the upper lip and two on the outer edges of the bottom lip, lining up to where the canine teeth would show against the mouth. Flatback labret studs in either 14 gauge or 16 gauge are the best choice for canine bites piercings. We have a huge selection of labret studs as well as threadless and pushpin posts with hundreds of different styles of ends and tops. The cost for canine bites piercings can range a lot since the piercing cost is multiplied by 4 and will be affected by jewelry choice, but will likely start between $100 and $150.

Shark Bites

Shark bites piercings are four piercings total, all along the bottom lip, but with two clustered on the left and two clustered on the right. The 16 gauge size is recommended, but 14 gauge can work as well. A variety of jewelry types can be worn in shark bites piercings, depending on the look you want. Four labret studs is a common choice, and we havea wide variety of styles and decorative ends for labret studs that can still give the traditional jewelry choice a more updated look. Or you could mix and match how you like, and wear a labret stud in one piercing on each side, and either a captive ring or circular barbell in the other. Shark bites piercings can start around $200 ($50 for each piercing), but the total cost can vary depending on jewelry selection and shop location.

Lip/Labret Piercing Jewelry

When it comes to initial jewelry for a labret piercing, there’s only one option available to ensure the piercing heals the best, and that’s a labret stud. Also known as a flatback stud, a labret stud has a post attached to a flat disc. The disc is meant to sit flush against your inner lip, while the post sticks out the fitula.

There are multiple types of labret studs. If you purchase threadless jewelry, this is known as a push-pin style labret stud. The end fits into the post and is bent slightly to keep it in place. Another option is for an internally screwed end that screws onto the labret post. Lastly, you can opt for the flatback disc to be more of an M&M shape, and sometimes this shape can help with minimizing any erosion that can occur.

When you’re first pierced, the piercer will give you extra long jewelry to accommodate for any swelling after the piercing. Oral piercings, in particular, are known to swell quite a bit, so this prevents the jewelry from being too short and causing irritation. After about a minimum of three weeks, you can return to your piercer to have them downsize the initial jewelry. This helps minimize the risk of chipping your teeth on the extra-long jewelry.

Once your piercing has fully healed, you can keep the jewelry as a properly fitted labret stud, or you can opt to switch to a captive bead ring, circular barbell, or seamless ring.

When it comes to choosing jewelry, be sure to read our reasons why you should choose titanium labret jewelry.

Labret Piercing Pain: How Much Will It Hurt?

If you’ve ever accidentally bitten your lip, you know how much a lower lip piercing can hurt. The bottom lip is home to plenty of nerve endings. Fortunately, the piercing doesn’t go specifically through the lip, but through the skin just under the lip. This makes it hurt a little less than biting your actual lip.

On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most painful, a labret piercing would rank around a four. However, if you decide to get more than one piercing in one sitting, the pain will increase. Fortunately, it’s over in just a second.

How Long Does a Labret Piercing Take to Heal?

Oral piercings tend to heal faster than other piercings. This is partially because saliva helps heal, and the mouth regenerates cells quickly. This means that the average healing time for a lip piercing is anywhere from six to eight weeks.

How Much Does a Lip/Labret Piercing Cost?

The exact price of a lip piercing depends on the shop you go to and their set prices for oral piercings. It also depends on whether you’re getting one or paired labret piercings. On average, a lip piercing costs around $20 to $100, not including the price of jewelry. When you’re budgeting, make sure you add at least $35 and up for jewelry, with more money being set aside if you want a gem cluster or fancier piece of jewelry. You should also budget to leave a tip. While it’s not required, a 20% tip is customary.

Lip/Labret Piercing Aftercare

How Do You Properly Clean a Lip/Labret Piercing?

With ear piercings, you would spray the piercing with saline wound wash on the front and back, but how do you properly clean a piercing that goes through your lip? Well, you still spray the part outside your lip with saline wound wash, like the kind sold by Neilmed, up to twice daily.

To clean the part inside your mouth, you’re going to want to invest in some alcohol and menthol-free mouthwash. Use the mouthwash at the very least twice a day to clean your mouth from debris and plaque that you don’t want getting into the healing piercing.

Make sure you’re keeping up with brushing and flossing your teeth, too. Any decrease in your oral hygeine could lead to issues with your lip piercing.

For more information about cleaning your piercing and aftercare, be sure to check out our blog on lip piercing aftercare tips.

Will You Be Able to Eat and Drink Normally?

At first, it may seem like eating or drinking is difficult with a lip piercing. But once you’re used to your new addition to your mouth, a labret piercing shouldn’t impede your ability to eat or drink.

The best advice we can give you if you’re new to a lip piercing is to take your time wihile eating and/or drinking to avoid any painful snagging or bumping.

For the first two weeks, the Association of Professional PIercers (APP) recommends avoiding any foods or drinks that are spicy, acidic, salty, or very hot in temperature. They also note for lip piercings to be careful opening your mouth too wide or fast, as this can potentially cause your jewelry to catch on your teeth.

What to Avoid

First, you never want to twist or turn the piercing, as this can irritate the piercing.

You also want to avoid public bodies of water, like pools, beaches, lakes, rivers, hot tubs, etc. These can all carry bacteria that you don’t want to introduce to your fresh piercing. 

Lastly, you’ll want to avoid alcohol and tobacco as these can irritate your piercing. Tobacco is especially drying, which is why you want to avoid smoking as much as you can. Alcohol can numb the mouth, which means it can take longer to realize if you’ve snagged the jewelry. It’s best to be safe rather than sorry.

FAQ

How do you hide a labret piercing?

Hiding a labret piercing is pretty simple. If you have to hide yours for work or from parents, be sure to read through our guide.

Can you get your lip pierced if you have braces?

Having braces does pose extra risks if you want to get your lip pierced. That’s why it’s best to wait until after you get your braces off to get your lip pierced.

Disclaimer: If you have any questions or concerns about a piercing please consult a professional piercer or a Medical Doctor.