Whether you have a new lip piercing, or you just want to change up the style of your current one, there are a few different styles to choose from. The one you go for will depend on the placement of your piercing as well as if you like using multipurpose jewelry in your brow or nose piercings. You’ll discover the main types of lip rings available and how to choose quality accessories below:
Labret studs have a small flat plate on their back end with an accessory such as a ball, diamond, crystal, star, or other shape at the front. Since the back plate is close to the skin, it offers a much more streamlined feel, especially with lip piercings. When first getting a piercing we recommend a stud since the healing process is generally much better than with other types of lip jewelry.
Labret studs come in a wide range of sizes and gauges. It’s important to choose a stud that is long enough so that it doesn’t sit too tightly against your skin and cause damage or slow down healing.
Hoops come in different types including ball closure rings (BCRs) or captive bead rings (CBRs). These are hoops with a ball at one end securing it. Other rings have more complicated designs, small decorations, crystals, and full-circle clip closures. They’re available in a wide range of sizes and colors, too.
For the fastest and most efficient healing, a 16 or 18-gauge titanium or gold metal labret stud is the best choice. If you decide to go with a ring, keep in mind that your lip will swell — so you want to make sure you choose a big enough size. Once the swelling has gone down and healing starts, you can always change it to a slightly smaller ring.
Many people have allergies to certain types of metal, so it is important to choose good-quality, safe options, especially considering this piercing will be in your mouth.
Surgical stainless steel is an excellent option for lip ring piercings since your body can easily adapt to it and the chances of infection are minimal if they’re taken care of properly. Platinum and 14-karat gold are also good choices since they are both high-quality, precious metals. If you have certain metal allergies, stay clear of those metals and avoid using any jewelry that contains nickel.
For non-metal options, consider a bio-plastic stud. Lip rings can easily rub against your teeth and gums. Any abrasions or accidentally biting on the metal can cause gum recession or a chipped tooth. Switching to a bio-plastic or bioplast stud can help with reducing mouth damage since the material is softer, although it’s still impossible to bite through.
Lip piercings can either be centered below the bottom lip (labret piercing) or in the center of the indentation above the top lip, below the nostrils. The last one is called a philtrum or a Medusa piercing. Side-lip piercings are also popular and can be positioned above or below the side of the lip. When placed on the upper lip, they are either called Madonna or Monroe piercings.
The sensitive placement of a lip ring means you’ll have to be extra careful to minimize friction, bumps, or movement around your mouth. Swelling can cause you to accidentally bite on your lips, too. The ring can also easily get snagged, and this can cause major discomfort and prolong healing time.
Although it varies from person to person, healing time after the initial piercing can take between two to three months. This will also be influenced by eating, drinking, and even talking. To heal, your body will first seal off the exterior to prevent bacteria from entering. The inside still needs to heal though, and a tunnel of scar tissue will form around the jewelry. Don’t stop taking care of the piercing even if the outside looks healed, infections can still develop inside during the initial two to three months.
Brush your teeth after meals and make sure to use an alcohol-free mouthwash and rinse a minimum of three to five times a day and after eating. Also remember to apply a sterile saline wound wash on the exterior to help prevent any infections.
Drinking alcohol and smoking can also increase the chances of swelling. It’s best to avoid both during the healing process.
Wait eight to 10 weeks before swapping out your jewelry. If your piercing was done with a post that stays in and allows you to just change the exterior end, you will be able to change the ball-end sooner.
These lip rings from Scerring are suitable for nose, brow, or ear piercings. The set comes with five different rings varying between 8 and 16 milimeters in diameter. Available in silver, black, or rose gold, you can find a color that suits your look or complexion. This option is made from stainless steel, helping prevent infections and allergic reactions, and they also feature a convenient click closure. This product is simple and stylish, and since they’re unisex you and your friend or partner can get matching rings with just one purchase. This option made it to the best overall position on this list because of the versatility it offers to customers.
This set includes 20 beautiful crystal studs in a variety of colors. The 16-gauge lip rings are suitable for labret, Monroe, tragus, and other piercing placements. The flat back sits comfortably against the inside of your mouth using a secure screw-on tip. Made from surgical grade stainless steel, this option is a safe choice and is unlikely to cause allergic reactions. If you really like trying out fresh looks, this is another excellent option.
This lip ring set from Hoeudjo comes with a total of 18 rings in a variety of colors and styles. There are nine horseshoe barbell lip rings as well as nine flat-back studs in silver, black, and rose gold designs. This pack also includes one clear bioflex ring along with a stud. The variety in this option allows you to use the rings for various piercings and to change up your look when you feel like it. With external and internal threading, this product is also easy to put in and take off. The flexibility this option offers really makes it worth considering.
This set includes four horseshoe and four captive bead ring (CBR) sets in sizes varying from 6 to 12 millimeters. The 16-gauge rings are ideal for a variety of piercing placements including lip, eyebrow, ears, nose, and nipple piercings. This specific set comes in silver, but you can also choose between black, rose gold, gold, and rainbow color designs. This option offers a lot of choices for different piercings, and most people should be able to find something that fits their style.
This six-piece stud set from Dyknasz includes different ball ends that each come with their own elegant sparkly design. The designs include a clear bioflex acrylic stud, a champagne crystal ball, a cubic-zirconia top, a shiny ball, and a matte ball. The studs are all 16-gauge stainless steel, which is ideal for using with labret, Monroe, tragus, and lip piercings. Although this set comes in silver, there are also black and rose gold options to choose from. If you’re really into presentation and like stud-style piercings, this is another great option to consider.
A: An Ashley piercing is similar to a labret piercing except that it goes straight through the center of the bottom lip.
A: This is a single piercing that combines the Ashley and the labret. The ring enters through the bottom lip’s center and comes out just below the bottom lip.
A: If the piercing was done in the last six months, it can close within a few hours. Everyone is different and some people may find that their piercings close a lot faster than others.