Are you thinking of getting your lip pierced? Here is a complete guide on the different types of lip piercings, categorized by their names, duration of healing, and estimated cost.
Types of lip Piercing
These are the most common types of lip piercing worn by both women and men:
- Monroe Piercing
- Madonnapiercing
- Medusa Piercing
- Labret Piercing
- Vertical Labret piercing
- AshleyPiercing
- Jestrum Piercing
- Dahlia Piercing
- Snake Bites
- Spider Bites
- Cyber bites
- Angel bites
We have also shared general information on the popular types of lip piercing, as listed on the chart below.
| Name | Description | Level of Pain | Healing duration | Price in $ |
| Monroe | Pierced above the upper lip on the left side of your face. | 3/10 | 6-12 weeks | 30-50 |
| Madonna | Pierced above the upper lip on the right side of your face. | 3/10 | 8-12 weeks | 30-50 |
| Medusa/ Philtrum | Single piercing above the lip. The lip ring sits under the septum of your nose.
|
4/10 | 3-6 weeks | 40-90 |
| Labret | It can be any piercing above your chin. But mostly pierced at the center, on the lower lip. | 5/10 | 6-8 weeks | 35-70 |
| Vertical labret | Double punctures on both below and the top part of the lower lip. | 6/10 | 8-12 weeks | 40-70 |
| Ashley Piercing | Resembles the Horizontal labret piercing. It is punctured at the center of your bottom lip. | 6/10 | 10-14 weeks | 35-70 |
| Jestrum | Single puncture at the center of the upper lip. | 5/10 | 3-6 weeks | 40-80 |
| Dahlia | Double piercing, similar to vertical labret but on the upper lip. | 7/10 | 12-20 weeks | 20-80 |
| Snake Bites | Double punctures on both sides of the lower lip. | 5/10 | 6-8 weeks | 50-80 |
| Spider Bites | Double piercing on both sides of the bottom lip. Resembles the dolphin bites. | 4/10 | 4-12 weeks | 30-70 |
| Cyber bites | Double piercing-medusa and labret piercings. | 5/10 | 6-12 weeks | 40-80 |
| Angel bites | Double lip piercing on both sides of your upper lip | 7/10 | 3 months | 30-80 |
Which lip piercing is best?
Most lip piercings do not pierce the lip; instead, they sit horizontally through the skin- above the upper lip and below the lower lip. These piercings include the vertical labret piercings and the lowbret piercings.
Vertical labret piercings are punched vertically through the lower lip. The top ball sits centrally above the lower lip, while the bottom ring ball rests centrally below the lip.
Lowbret piercing is pierced horizontally through the skin below your lower lip. It is placed further down than most lower lip piercings and sits above the point where the gum line meets with the inner- lower lip.
You can also choose other types of lip piercing such as upper lip piercing, lower lip piercing, ‘bites’, or a set of four lip piercing. But, if you want to have the best lip piercing, you can settle for these options:
1. Monroe Piercing
Recommended jewelry: Flatback labret lip rings
Needle type: 14-16 gauge piercing needle.
Healing time: About 6-12 weeks
Popularized after Marilyn Monroe’s beautiful look, the Monroe lip piercing sits on the left side of your face above the upper lip.
2. Madonna Piercing
Recommended Jewelry: Flatback labret lip rings
Needle type: Standard 14-16 gauge piercing needle.
Healing time: About 8-12 weeks
The Madonna piercing originates from Madonna’s famous beauty mark. The piercing resembles the Monroe piercing, but it sits on the right side of your face above your upper lip.
3. Medusa Piercing or the Philtrum Piercing
Recommended Jewelry: Flatback labret lip rings
Needle type: A hollow 14-16 gauge piercing needle
Healing time: About 3-6 weeks
Many people love the Medusa piercing because of its attractive look. The piercing is a single puncture above the upper lip (under the nasal septum).
4. Labret Lip Piercing
Recommended Jewelry: Flatback labret lip rings, captive rings
Needle type: 14-18 gauge piercing needle.
Healing time: About 6-8 weeks
A common piercing punctured on the bottom lip-usually at the center above your chin.
5. Vertical Labret Piercing
Recommended Jewelry: Flatback labret rings, Captive rings
Needle type: 14-16 gauge piercing needle
Healing time: About 6-8 weeks
Vertical labret lip piercing involves two punctures; piercing through the top of the bottom lip while the other hole below the bottom lip where the lip ring sits.
6. Ashley Piercing
Recommended jewelry: Flatback labret lip rings
Needle type: 14 gauge piercing needle.
Healing time: About 2-4 months
You can choose the Ashley piercing instead of puncturing any other hole below your bottom lip. The piercing passes through the center of the bottom lip, giving you an attractive middle lower lip piercing.
7. Jestrum
Recommended Jewelry: Curved Barbells, Captive rings
Needle type: 14-16 gauge piercing needle
Healing time: About 3-6 weeks
Jestrum piercing resembles the vertical labret lip piercing. It includes two punctures on the upper lip. One hole sits on the philtrum, while the other goes through the center of your upper lip.
8. Dahlia
Recommended jewelry: Flatback labret lip rings
Needle type: 14 gauge piercing needle.
Healing time: 12-20weeks
Many people confuse Dahlia with the cheek piercing. The piercing is worn on both corners of your lips.
9. Snake Bites
Recommended Jewelry: Flat labret rings, Captive rings
Needle type: 14-16 gauge piercing needle
Healing time: 6-8 weeks
The Snakebites piercing are holes punctured on both sides of your bottom lip.
10. Spider Bites
Recommended Jewelry: Flat labret rings, Captive rings
Needle type: 14-16 gauge piercing needle
Healing time: 4-12 weeks
The spider bites include double piercings on the right and left sides of your bottom lip. The piercing can also be performed on the upper lip.
11. Cyber Bites
Recommended Jewelry: Flat labret rings
Needle type: 14-16 gauge piercing needle
Healing time: About 6-12 weeks
You can achieve this look by having both labret and Medusa piercings.
12. Angel Bites
Recommended Jewelry: Flat labret rings
Needle type: 14-16 gauge piercing needle
Healing time: 3months
Also known as Angel kiss, the Angel bites piercings is punctured on both sides of your upper lip. It is a combination of both the Madonna and Monroe piercing.
What lip piercing is the safest?
All the lip piercings mentioned above are safe as long as you take good care of the piercing. Keeping the lip area clean will prevent infections, which may cause oral health issues and facial problems. Aftercare also plays a role in your lip healing process.
What is the least painful lip piercing? Or What piercing hurts the most?
I won’t lie, a lip piercing hurts and is painful, but it is tolerable.
Of course, with the sensitiveness of the lip, you will want to be careful not to bite, snag, or accidentally move the jewelry once you have a new lip piercing. The friction will not only prolong the healing period but also cause discomfort.
So, prepare yourself for anywhere between three to six months before the lip piercing heals.
And before you get a new lip piercing, please check the table at the beginning of the article to confirm the pain level of each type of lip piercing.