Lip Piercing 101: Everything You Need To Know

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If you clicked on this article, you're probably an Ear Piercing Fanatic™ and have come to research the world outside of basic ear piercings. You've finally graduated—congrats! Often the next step for ear piercing graduates? Lip piercings.

Getting your lips pierced may sound scary, intimidating, and maybe a little painful. But information is key, which is why we put together all the deets you'll need to know before booking that appointment—including pain level (a must-know, tbh), how much it costs, and the most common types of lip piercings out there. Also, we included how long it takes to heal—because we know you'll be itching to change it to super cute jewelry—and ofc, some aftercare tips. Read on to get schooled:

What is a lip piercing?

This is self-explanatory, but allow us to define it anyway. A lip piercing is an umbrella term for piercings done on your lips or on the surrounding areas of your pout, such as the philtrum. Like ear piercings, you're not just limited to one area—there are a ton of different styles you can choose from, depending on your preference and aesthetic.

How is a lip piercing done?

Unlike ear piercings, which can be done with either a piercing gun (which we don't recommend) or a hollow needle, lip piercings can only be done using a hollow needle. A professional piercer will mark the spot you want to get pierced using a skin-safe marker, and then they will keep the area in place using a surgical clamp. Once you're good with the position, they will proceed to perforate the area using a hollow needle.

OK, but how painful is a lip piercing?

A good and totally valid question, especially for the girlies with low pain tolerance! Piercing the lips may seem like a high-stakes, painful sitch because, well...our lips seem so soft and fragile, but it's not as bad compared to other non-ear piercings. Of course, this still depends on your pain tolerance, plus where on your lips you decide to get pierced.

According to the people on the subreddit r/piercing, the pain level for different kinds of lip piercings ranges from just 1/10 (!) to 5/10. Pretty bearable, we'd say!

How much does a lip piercing cost?

Take note: lip piercings aren't cheap. Unlike ear piercings that only cost about less than P1,000 for a simple lobe one done with a hollow needle, a lip piercing can set you back P2,000 to P2,500, depending on the complexity of the location. Time to save up!

What are the most common types of lip piercings?

Labret

Pronounced as "lah-bret," the piercing lives dead center just below your lower lip. A professional piercer usually uses a stud when it's first pierced, but some people swap it out for a hoop once it's fully healed. The side labret is the most common lip piercing to get.

Philtrum

Also known as a "Medusa," a philtrum piercing is the direct opposite of the labret. It's placed above the cupid's bow where it's nestled in the indented portion of the upper lip.

Monroe

Named after—you guessed it—Marilyn Monroe, this piercing sees a stud placed in the skin on the upper left part of your lips and resembles the famous mole of the actress.

Bites

There are many kinds of "bites" piercings, but essentially, piercers will pierce two locations near or on your lips. You can choose between angel bites (two studs above your upper lip), Dahlia bites (two studs on the corners of your mouth), dolphin bites (two studs placed closely together directly below the lower lip), and more.

How long does a lip piercing take to heal?

According to Brian Keith Thompson, celebrity piercer and owner of the Body Electric Tattoo, a lip piercing can take anywhere between two to three months to heal, depending on its location and how well you take care of it. "With your mouth, you're talking, eating, and drinking all day long, so it can be a tough one. The body's going to seal off the exterior first to prevent bacteria, then it's going to start healing inwards, so it takes a while."

How do I take care of a lip piercing?

Like with any piercing, aftercare is key if you want your lip piercing to stay looking good and healthy. It can be a bit tricky to fully heal one since food and liquids come in contact with our pout a lot, but it's not impossible, especially if you follow these tips:

• Don't forget to rinse. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash three to five times a day to flush the inside of the hole. This is especially important after eating or drinking anything other than water to ensure that nothing gets stuck inside the piercing.
• Keep your hands away. A lip piercing is essentially an open wound, so take great care in not fiddling with it—especially with dirty fingers—so it doesn't get contaminated with bacteria.
• Skip applying makeup first.Oof—this can be hard, but this is crucial so as not to compromise the healing process of the piercing.
• Avoid kissing. Sorry to all the lover girls out there, but kissing—or at least, heavy making out—is prohibited once you have a fresh lip piercing. Not only is there a risk of having another person's bodily fluids enter your piercing, but the jewelry might get ripped out. Ouch.
• Be patient. Seriously, we cannot stress this enough. You might think that your lip piercing has already healed on the outside and stop rinsing it diligently, but chances are, it's still healing in the first three months. Be diligent with your aftercare routine and be careful not to touch it, too!

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