You have seen it before on social media. A small stud right at the center of the bottom lip that is so refined but bold too.
This is an ashley piercing and it is definitely making waves. But before you head to the parlor for one, you should know what you are getting yourself into. From the process itself to what to expect after.
What Exactly Is an Ashley Piercing?
The ashley piercing is basically an individual piercing done to the center of the lower lip only. As compared to other lip piercings, the ashley piercing does not exit underneath the lip but comes out from inside the mouth itself.
This ensures that only half of the piece of jewelry remains visible in the form of a stud at the front while nothing is exposed from below, giving the appearance of a piercing attached to the lip itself.
This piercing got its name from the person who introduced it in the world of body piercings. It is now considered to be one of the most demanded lip piercings due to its elegance.
How Is It Different from Other Lip Piercings?
The ashley piercing often confuses many people with its other counterparts. These are the differences that distinguish it from the rest.
Ashley vs. Labret: In a labret piercing, the jewelry passes under the lip. For an ashley piercing, it passes through the lip. Complete difference in location.
Ashley vs. Vertical Labret: A vertical labret piercing has two ends showing—one above the lip and the other below the lip. An ashley piercing only shows one end. Less visible.
Ashley vs. Medusa: While a medusa piercing is situated above the upper lip at the philtrum, an ashley piercing is positioned below the lower lip. Total difference in aesthetics.
For someone looking for a discreet and modern body piercing, the ashley piercing is always a winner.
Does an Ashley Piercing Hurt?
Truthfully? Yes, it does. But then again, almost all piercings hurt.
The pain level ranges between 5 and 6 on a scale from 1 to 10. The lips are quite fleshy parts of the body and packed with nerves. The whole process involves puncturing the entire thickness of the lip – hence, not the fastest needle stab you’ll ever have.
But the piercing is very quick indeed. Once the initial prick happens, you have just a few seconds more of throbbing pain, as well as swelling of your lips within 24 hours.
The swelling is completely natural. Moreover, the bar is going to be slightly longer when you pierce your lip for the first time because of this swelling. When the swelling subsides after 2-3 weeks, you can replace the long bar with a shorter one that doesn’t stick out of your mouth anymore.
Having had piercings done before, you know what it’s all about. But if this is your first piercing, just take a deep breath. You might be surprised how little it actually hurts compared to how scary it seems beforehand.
How Long Does an Ashley Piercing Take to Heal?
This is when patience comes into play.
It takes between 3 and 6 months for the piercing to heal externally. But internally, it can even take up to a year for full recovery.
Why does it take so long? Well, because the ring goes through the muscles of your lip and then through your mouth area, which is home to a lot of bacteria, food, and constant movement. Your mouth is a highly active part of your body, thus prolonging the recovery time.
Here is a rough guide on what happens during the first two weeks after getting pierced:
Weeks 1-2: Lots of swelling and soreness. The area will be quite sensitive; especially during eating and speaking.
Weeks 3-6: Swelling subsides. Get your bar shorted during this period (your piercer will help you with this). It’s perfectly alright to have some crusting on the entrance site.
Months 2-3: This piercing appears and feels more settled. Some occasional tenderness can be experienced at this stage.
Months 3-6: Your piercing must be feeling comfortable at this point. Appearance-wise, it should look healed.
Months 6-12: Internal healing is complete.
Patience really is everything with this one.
Ashley Piercing Aftercare: What You Must Do
Aftercare is essential. Aftercare separates those who have a beautiful healed piercing from those who have an infected piercing.
Saline rinse twice a day. Using sterile saline rinse to wash the surrounding areas of the piercing. Apply this using a cotton pad. Ensure that you do not twist or turn the jewelry around.
Rinse your mouth after every meal. Use an antibacterial mouthwash, preferably alcohol-free, or saline rinse. Food particles near the inner side of the piercing encourage bacterial growth.
Avoid contact with unclean hands. Touching the area with unclean hands is one of the primary reasons for getting infected piercings.
Avoid lipstick and any other lip product while your piercing is healing. Application of makeup around the area increases the presence of bacteria and could irritate the pierced skin. Wait for 6-8 weeks before using any lip product.
Stay away from acidic and spicy food at the initial stage. Your lip needs to heal. Foods like hot sauce, lemon, and nuts would just ruin your healing process. Eat soft foods within the first two weeks.
Do not take baths in pools or Jacuzzis. Chlorinated water and germs do no favors to your healing piercing.
What Jewelry Works Best for an Ashley Piercing?
The ashley is such an obvious face piercing that the jewelry becomes very important.
Flat-back labret studs are the standard and most recommended. The stud will be flush with the inside of the lip to decrease movement and irritation.
Material matters most. It is absolutely necessary that the jewelry be made from implant-grade titanium, implant-grade steel, or solid 14k gold. Anything less will irritate the skin and may lead to allergic reactions.
End style options include: Opal gemstones, cubic zirconium diamonds, bezel-set gems, or flat disks. For the bottom lip, a small opal or diamond-like stud is especially nice.
After healing, the piercer can get creative. Until then, however, less is more.
Does an Ashley Piercing Suit Everyone?
Yes – although here are some things that need to be taken into account.
Lip anatomy matters. Having very thin lower lips may mean that there would be fewer tissues in which the piercing would sit; this could mean an increased chance of rejection or migration over time. Your piercer will examine your lip structure prior to the procedure.
It can affect your teeth and gums. Since the back end of the jewelry resides inside your mouth. This is a crucial thing to keep in mind when it comes to your piercing’s aftercare routine. Visiting your dentist regularly and choosing proper jewelry length should help with minimizing this risk.
Lifestyle factors: If you are involved in any sort of contact sports, wind instrument playing, or jobs where facial piercings are prohibited, this should be considered carefully.
Rejection and Migration: What to Watch For
Ashley piercings have a high risk of rejection because they are done on soft tissues that are always moving.
Some symptoms of rejection may include the jewelry looking like it is getting nearer to the surface of the skin, the skin becoming thin around the piercing, or the jewelry looking more prominent than it is supposed to.
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your piercer at once. Early detection leaves you with more choices.
Style Inspiration: How to Wear It
The ashley piercing goes great with many other minimalistic makeup options. For example, a gold stud looks perfect with a neutral makeup routine. As for clear stone studs, they look good paired with intense eye makeup and no lipstick at all.
In case you like playing around with your appearance, the ashley piercing will go great together with some refreshing change of hairstyle — just like those adorable, wispy bangs will totally revamp your appearance. Little things, huge effect.
This piercing option will also complement your facial jewelry such as a helix or a nostril stud perfectly.
Is an Ashley Piercing Worth It?
If you need a pierced lip that is stylish, chic, and oh-so-cool, then the ashley is definitely what you need.
It is not the most difficult piercing to heal. But it does require commitment and dedication to the healing process. This is because it takes many months before the piercing can be declared healed. However, what results is one truly unique and elegant piercing.
Of course, when getting the ashley piercing, always find a professional who is experienced and well-trained. This is because, as stated above, the ashley piercing needs accuracy to be placed properly. Otherwise, your body may reject the piercing and even damage your teeth.
Thinking about other ways to freshen up your look? Explore our guide to wispy bangs and the styles that flatter every face shape — sometimes the right fringe is all you need to complete your aesthetic.
