The Ashley Piercing – Overview
The Ashley piercing boasts a truly alluring look, pairing effortlessly with lipstick that pops. It’s one of the few piercings that appears on the lower lip, often worn by women who have lovely full lips and aren’t afraid to show it.
Even though the Ashley piercing is similar to the vertical labret piercing, the exit puncture comes out from inside the mouth and not below the lip, making for a nice single-pierced look.
Ashley piercings can be decorated with a charm, bead, or gemstone, offering a beautifully minimalist look that gets lots of positive attention.
Why is it called an “Ashley” piercing?
The technical term for the Ashley piercing is inverse vertical labret. Now, the single-stud piercing’s term doesn’t have a specific origin although many are quick to assume that it must have been gotten for the very first time by a woman named Ashley.
One expert piercer from Indiana believes that much like other piercings that have names, the origins of their name is pretty much a mystery.
What we need to know for now is that the Ashley piercing has just one visible point, as opposed to the two visible points which can be seen in a typical vertical labret – that’s because the Ashley piercing is fixed to the inner mouth, and not the bottom lip, as pointed out earlier.
Is an Ashley piercing painful?
Well, let’s be fair: any kind of piercing will hurt just a tad bit. After all, a needle is being pushed right through your skin, although the pain different people experience also comes down to their individual pain tolerance level.
If we were to put the pain level on a scale of 1-10, an Ashley piercing would, perhaps, be a 5 or 6. That’s not too bad, right?
The piercing itself isn’t all that painful but there can be a fair amount of swelling afterward, which may be painful for a while.
An Ashley piercing may take between 12 and 16 weeks to heal fully. During this healing window, it’s important to get your jewellery swapped out. Make sure you get your piercing from an expert piercer – a longer barbell is always preferable when your mouth is initially pierced as this allows for swelling, which is a necessary part of the healing process.
Once a few weeks have transpired after the piercing, you will need to see your piercer again to have the post shortened a bit – downsized, if you will – for a firm fit for the rest of the healing timeframe.
What risks are there of an Ashley piercing?
There are a few risks to consider, which include:
Swelling
Swelling is actually quite normal with Ashley piercings, being at its peak in the early stages of the healing process, and subsiding as the healing timeframe comes to an end.
After the initial healing period is over and if you are still experiencing persistent or increased swelling, it may be a sign of an infection or other complication. Seek the advice of your piercer or doctor immediately.
Scarring
Even though scarring is rare with Ashley piercings, it can happen and you may get scar tissue.
But this is only if the piercing does not heal properly or, let’s say, your jewellery moves around too much during the healing period.
To minimise risk of scarring, follow the aftercare instructions provided to you by your piercer and/or jeweller, and try to resist the temptation to touch or fiddle with your piercing!
Infection
Ashley piercings can become infected but this is mostly due to the jewellery moving around too much during the healing process. So, touching or fiddling with the jewellery, eating and drinking too quickly where you move your mouth excessively, and kissing – all can cause bacteria to seep into the piercing area as it is still healing from the piercing.
Symptoms of an infected Ashley piercing typically include swelling and redness, as well as discharge or bleeding (or both), in addition to pain and discomfort.
If you believe that your Ashley piercing is infected, seek the advice of your piercer or GP without delay.
Gum wear
The jewellery in your Ashley piercing may rub against your gums, and this can lead to a sticky situation.
Constant friction in the area can cause gum irritation. In time, this can lead to gum recessions – this is when the gum tissue recedes or falls away from the teeth. This is something you definitely do not want!
Choosing quality jewellery mitigates the risk of gum wear almost completely, as will keeping it clean and hygienic at all times. However, it is best to consult both your doctor and piercer beforehand, to ensure that the structure of your mouth does not cause too much friction between the gums and jewellery.
What kind of jewellery is ideal for Ashley piercings?
To reduce the above risk factors, always choose quality Ashley piercing jewellery. So, this means high-quality stainless steel, gold, sterling silver, or implant-grade titanium. All of these materials minimise the risk of allergic reactions and prevent unnecessary gum damage.
When we talk about the different categories of jewellery, barbells, studs, or labrets all work well. When you choose your Ashley piercing jewellery, take the gauge and length of the jewellery into account as this ensures that you have a comfortable fit. Typically, a 14 or 16 gauge is the most recommended one for initial piercings.
Any aftercare tips for Ashley piercings?
But, of course!
- Do your best not to wear lip balm and lipstick during the healing period.
- Clean the pierced area properly using a saline solution only, washing the area 1-2 times each day.
- Avoid touching, fiddling, or playing with the jewellery during the healing period.
- Observe good oral hygiene – brush your teeth and rinse your mouth properly each day, and avoid using alcohol-based products like mouthwash.
- Avoid consuming irritating foods (salty and spicy ones, for example) and cosmetics like perfumes.
- Practice healthy eating and lifestyle habits, and you’re all set!
Conclusion
An Ashley piercing can be a fantastic lower lip piercing to make those lips and your favourite lipstick pop. It can fully heal in 2-4 months as long as you take good care and use quality materials to minimise risks.