The lips can say so much, and when it comes to adorning them with piercings, they say a whole lot more! With such a wide array of lip and cheek piercings, it can be hard to find the right piercing for you. We've broken lip piercings into 3 categories for a simple, cataloged collection of amazing lip and cheek piercings to help you discover your next jeweled undertaking.  

 

Single Lip Piercings

Side labret piercing: Simply stated, a side labret lip piercing is a single, off-centered piercing of the lower or upper lip, usually done with a 14G or 16G needle. This is probably the most common lip piercing type and what you might think of when you think of a lip piercing.
 
Hardware: Captive bead rings (CBRs) or labret studs are the preferred jewelry types, but circular barbells can be worn.

Healing: Side labret piercings may take anywhere from 1 to 3 months to heal.

 

 

Monroe piercing: Consisting of a single 14G, 16G, or 18G fitted piercing done on the right side of the upper lip, Monroe piercings are named for the beauty mark that the late Marilyn Monroe sported on her lip.

Hardware: Usually, a labret stud is worn in this piercing, but CBRs and horseshoe barbells are common jewelry alternatives.

Healing: On average, a Monroe piercing can take 6 weeks to 3 months to fully heal.

 

Madonna piercing: A piercing similar to that of the Monroe, the Madonna piercing is done on the left hand side to represent the beauty mark on Madonna’s lip.

Hardware: Much like the Monroe piercing, 14G, 16G, and 18G labret studs, horseshoe barbells, and CBRs are all worthy jewelry options for Madonna piercings.

Healing: Madonna piercings, with proper care, range between 6 to 12 weeks to heal.

 

Medusa piercing: Medusa piercings are done directly above the center of the upper lip. This puncture is usually done with 16G (or larger) needles.

Hardware: The most known medusa fittings are labret studs as well as CBRs.

Healing: Typical healing time for this style piecing is 6 to 12 weeks.

 

Labret piercing: The labret piercing is done just below the center of the lower lip and above the chin.

Hardware: Although "labret” is the technical term for a common style of body jewelry—the labret stud—it is not the only type of jewelry that rocks this piercing style. Hoops such as captive bead rings (CBRs) or seamless rings can be worn as well. You can also opt for a circular barbell. The standard gauge ranges between 18G and 14G and can be stretched to accommodate labret plugs.

Healing: Standard healing time for a labret piercing is 3 to 6 weeks, depending on care.

 

Vertical labret piercing: Simultaneously similar and quite different to the labret piercing, the vertical labret piercing lives up to its name as a piercing done vertically with one end coming out of the standard labret piercing area and the other penetrating the center of the lip itself.  

Hardware: A bent barbell or CBR with an 18G to 14G range is common, though larger gauges can be worn with this piercing.

Healing: Vertical labret piercings may take 8 to 10 weeks to completely heal.

 

Ashley piercing: An adaptation of the vertical labret, Ashley piercings are inverted, which means that the exit hole of the piercing is placed inside the mouth leaving only the entrance point through the lip visible. 

Hardware: Bent barbells or CBRs with a thickness of 18G to 14G are common, though larger gauges can be worn with this piercing.

Healing: Similar to the vertical labret, healing times for Ashley piercings can take 8 to 10 weeks.

 

Jestrum piercing: Protruding just above the center top lip and exiting the center of the top lip itself, a Jestrum piercing is basically an upside down vertical labret.

Hardware: Like the vertical labret, Jestrum piercings are the ideal fit for curved barbells or CBRs within the 18G to 14G range, though larger gauges can be worn with this piercing.

Healing: A Jestrum-style procedure will have an estimated healing time of 8 to 10 weeks.

 

Bite piercings (Double lip piercings)

Dahlia piercing: Placed at the corners of the mouth, the Dahlia piercing is usually done in pairs, though a single piercing provides a unique alternative.

Hardware: The body jewelry most commonly used for Dahlia piercings are labret studs with beaded ends, but you can opt for gemstones or charms for a more individualized look.

Healing: The healing process for Dahlia piercings can range from 3 to 10 weeks, depending on care.

 

Snake bite piercing: Snake bite piercings are so named for their representation of fang markings. This double piercing consists of a pair of piercings placed symmetrically beneath the lower lip toward the edges of the mouth. Essentially, the snake bites piercing is two side labret piercings placed on either side of the mouth. 

Hardware: Captive bead rings (CBRs), seamless rings, circular or curved barbells, hoops, and labret studs are the most common jewelry types for the snake bite piercing.

Healing: The estimated healing time for a snake bite piercing is 1 to 3 months.

 

Angel bites piercing: Nearly identical to the snake bite piercing, an angel bites piercing is performed on each side of the upper lip.

Hardware: 18G to 14G lip studs with a simple bead or gemstone are the most common jewelry choice. However, like the snake bite piercing, you can opt for hoop styles, like captive bead rings or seamless rings, as well.

Healing: The average timeframe for the angel bites piercings to heal is 4 to 12 weeks.

 

Dolphin bites piercing: Centered on the lower lip, dolphin bites are somewhat similar to snake bite piercings, only much closer together.

Hardware: With close piercing proximity, dolphin bites can harbor 18G, 16G, and even 14G jewelry. Styles include labret studs with a small bead or gemstone, or—less commonly, but no less stylish—hoop styles like CBRs or seamless rings.

Healing: As with other “bites,” this style of piercing takes about a 1 to 3 months to heal.

 

Spider bites piercing (or viper bites piercing): This piercing style differs from the dolphin bites piercing only because it will sit on either the right or left side of the mouth, rather than in the center.

Hardware: Similar to other double-pierced types, this piercing looks fantastic with simple labret studs, slender seamless hoops, small CBRs, or even circular barbells.

Healing: The spider bites piercing could take anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months to completely heal.

 

Cyber bites piercing: The cyber bites piercing essentially combines the Medusa and Labret piercings by placing one centered piercing above and one below the top and bottom lips.

Hardware: As with their Medusa and labret counterparts, both piercings can accompany 18G to 14G labret studs decorated with spikes, gems, or crystals, CBRs and other hoop styles, and it can even accommodate stretching of the lower lip piercing for labret plugs.

Healing: Depending on care, a cyber bites piercing may take 6 weeks to 3 months to fully heal.

 

Cheek piercings: Usually performed as a pair, cheek piercings are facial piercings meant to emulate the look of dimples or accentuate the look of existing dimples.

Hardware: Cheek piercings are typically limited to labret studs. Most opt for a simple bead in order to maintain the dimple aesthetic, but you can also go for diamonds or charms for a more unique flavor. 

Healing: With proper care, your new cheeks piercing should heal in approximately 8 to 12 weeks. 

 

Quadruple piercings

Shark bite piercing: Shark bite piercings are best categorized as a pair of cyber bites piercings done on both sides of the mouth rather than just one.

Hardware: Captive bead rings (CBRs) and other hoop styles, circular barbells, and labret studs work well with this piercing. Don't be afraid to try out different looks; the four piercings allow you to get creative with your jewelry style combinations.

Healing: Due to the amount of piercings performed at one time, the shark bite piercing healing period may be extensive, taking anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks.

 

Canine bite piercing: Comprised of four piercings done on both sides of both the upper and lower lips, Canine Bites piercings showoff a distinct combination of the angel bites and snake bite piercings.

Hardware: Since the four piercings offer a plethora of jewelry choices, from simple labret studs to CBRs or circular barbells, you're limited only by your imagination. Be bold and combine jewelry styles. Commonly, canine bite aficionados will go for hoops or circular barbells for the lower piercings and subtler labret studs with small beads for the top lip.  

Healing: Because of the number of piercings, the canine bite piercing tend to take around 8 to 12 weeks to heal.