If you love piercings, then you would definitely like Ashley piercing. You might know about a lot of different types of lip piercing, and most probably, vertical labret is one of those. Nevertheless, there is a cool version of this famous piercing, which is known as Ashley piercing.
What is Ashley Piercing?
Ashley piercing is one of the actual lip piercing type, and it includes a single puncture exactly through the center of the lower lip, and it exits through the back into the mouth. In Ashley piercing, an exit hole is placed inside the mouth, and the entrance point is visible on the lip.
Ashley piercing is like labret vertical labret piercing, and the technical term for this type of piercing is inverse vertical labret piercing. In Ashley piercing as the puncture is placed inside the mouth, so only the front end of the jewelry is visible to the viewers. The backside of the piercing rests insides the mouth, so the viewers can not see it.
Overview of Ashley Piercing Procedure
Ashley piercing starts with sterilizing the instruments and the place of puncture. For Ashley piercing, you should visit a skilled and experienced piercer so that he or she chooses the appropriate piercing location.
If the piercing location is not chosen properly, it can affect lip movement. After choosing the right entry and exit spot, the piercer marks the spot using a surgical pen. Then, with the help of a clamp, the lip is fixed and is perforated with 14G needles in the outside to inside direction. Finally, the lip piercing is complete.
Always ask your piercer to properly sanitize the instruments, and also ask them about the aftercare rules in order to avoid future complications.
How much does Ashley Piercing Hurt?
Ashely piercing is one of the most painful lip piercings of all other body piercing types. On the pain scale, the pain level falls on 5 points out of 10. This piercing is not for individuals who have less tolerance for pain.
During the procedure, the needle comes in contact with some of the nerve endings, which leads to pain and discomfort. Even after completion of the procedure, the lip becomes swollen and sore, which adds to some discomforts.
Some people take painkillers like ibuprofen in order to decrease the pain quickly. Additionally, in order to reduce the pain, you should think about the beautiful outcomes.
How much does Ashley Piercings cost?
The expected cost of Ashley piercing cost ranges between $30 and $85. The cost of Ashley piercing also depends on the location of the shop and the piercer.
A lot of nerves end in the lips; hence the location of the piercing is critical in Ashley piercing. Misplaced Ashley piercing can impact the movement of the lips and can also lead to permanent damage. Always choose an experienced piercer who is skilled in Ashley piercing.
Popular Ashley Piercing Jewelry Styles
The most popularly chosen jewelry style for Ashley piercing is labret stud. The main reason for using a labret stud is that the flat disc at the back of the stud restricts the contact to the jewelry with your gums and teeth. Most of the Ashely piercings comprise 14G or 16G.
The bezel settings are considered the best pick for these piercings as they allow you to show off gemstone in a comfortable setting.
You can also opt for larger gemstones. Labret studs having daintier ends are less invasive, and they provide an attractive aesthetic. Some people also wear a 14k gold ball and also opt for attractive charms like opals, pearls, or diamonds.
What Jewelry Material Is Used for Ashley Piercings?
Surgical stainless steel
one of the most commonly used piercing jewelry materials is stainless steel. However, it contains nickel which is known to cause piercing infection otherwise it is safe.
So, if you are sure that you do not have nickel piercing, stainless steel can be the best jewelry material for you.
Gold
If you are a fan of gold jewelry it is essential to make sure you pick a metal with 14 karats or higher. otherwise, the metal will be too soft and may become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Titanium
if you are concerned about an allergic reactions the safest jewelry material option is titanium. this metal is free of any nickle and will not tarnish. as it is lightweight you will not feel irritated.
Pure Sterling Silver
Another best jewelry pick is sterling silver. As your professional piercer may not talk about it at first because it is not a pure metal and is too soft it is a popular breeding ground for bacteria.
Effective Healing and Aftercare Tips of Ashley Piercing
The location of Ashley piercing is unique, so you need to be more careful with your aftercare products. When your piercing is new, you should avoid touching the new jewelry. Since the location of piercing is on the lips, it is difficult to limit touching the jewelry.
In the first few weeks of the piercing, be extremely careful with your jewelry. Touching your teeth on the jewelry, and jewelry rejection are some of the risks related to piercing.
Below mentioned are some effective healing and aftercare tips for Ashley piercing.
Do Not play With Jewelry
Avoid playing with your jewelry as its location is in the mid of the lip so it can lead to complications. Playing with jewelry before it has healed can stretch punctured holes and hypertrophic scarring.
Stay Away From Tight Jewelry
Don’t wear tight jewelry as it can be a risk for the piercing and can lead to swelling. If you think your lip piercing jewelry is tight talk to your professional piercer he will upgrade you with a larger size.
Eat Soft Foods
Eat soft and cold food like ice cream, yogurt as it helps in reducing pain and swelling. Also eating hard foods increases the risk of biting on your piercing jewelry.
Keep Hands Clean
Wash your hands properly before touching the piercing in order to avoid infection.
Use Soft Bristled Toothbrush
Be careful while brushing your teeth and use soft bristles brushes.
Say No To Lipstick
Avoid using lipstick and other makeup products to the pierced area as it might lead to infection.
Be Careful When Eating
Don’t even accidentally bite your jewelry as it might pose an issue.
No Kissing
Avoid kissing during the process of healing.
Do Not Touch Piercing
Avoid touching foreign objects on the piercing including your hands.
Good After Care Practice
For fast healing use, high-quality aftercare sprays for the piercing.
Ashley piercing healing process
Ashley piercings typically have a healing time of 2-4 months however at times it can take even longer up to 6 months. So you would want to make sure to have a though discussion with your piercer before you stop the aftercare practices.
As it is located on the lips, Ashley piercing can encounter more swelling during the healing process as compared to other facial piercings. You will have to keep using the barbell for the first few weeks to help minimize the swelling and later switch to labret stud.
Since Ashley piercing is done directly in front of your teeth, it is essential to be extremely careful to not bite on the piercing jewelry.
The initial jewelry used in piercing is easier to bite on. It is best to stick to soft foods in the first weeks until you get used to the piercing.
Tips to Clean the Piercing
If you don’t want your lip to get infected, then it is better to follow a better cleaning routine. In Ashley piercing, it is essential to clean inside as well as outside areas of the mouth. Below mentioned are some helpful tips to clean your piercing.
- In order to clean the outside part of the piercing, use a saline solution. Prepare the solution by mixing a one-quart teaspoon of salt in warm distilled water. After making the solution, soak it in the cotton ball and clean the pierced area with it. Apply this solution two to three times a day
- To clean the inside area of the piercing, rinse your mouth twice a day and especially before going to bed
- Use antibacterial cleanser or soap once or twice every day. But remember not to use more than half a minute
Associated Ashley Piercing Risks
If you are planning to get Ashley piercing, you should be aware of the risks associated with it. Due to the unique location of Ashley piercing, a wide range of risks is associated with it. Now, if you’re thinking If you are thinking, why shouldn’t I get Ashley piercing, here are some risks related to it.
- There are chances of getting yellow pus due to infection in the piercing
- If you are allergic to certain metals, then avoid wearing them in the piercing
- Ashely piercing can also lead to gum erosion. Tooth scrambling or swelling
- If you opt for wearing larger labret stud or jewelry, then it can lead to widening the skin and can leave a scar
- There are chances that your body might not accept certain metals so chose labrets made of surgical steel.
How to Change Out an Ashley Piercing?
It is always a good idea to downsize your Ashley piercing as soon as possible. As you have provided enough healing time it’s time to change into a good fit.
You can start by changing into a longer labret bar to minimize the chances of swelling. Once healed you can change into a short fit stud for maximum comfort and preventing tooth erosion or weak enamel.
once you have successfully downsized your piercing jewelry with the help of a piercer you can change it yourself in the future.
You simply have to screw off the top part of the jewel and screw in the new one. you do not require to remove the fixed part of jewelry placed by the piercer.
