Ashley Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

The Ashley piercing is placed in the centre of the lower lip. This is one of the few lip piercings that actually goes through the lip. Want to know more about Ashley lip piercing? We have gathered your FAQs to answer all your questions about Ashley piercings.

How long does an Ashley piercing take to heal?

Ashley piercing takes between 2-3 months to fully heal. During that time you may want to visit your piercer to change your piercing jewellery to a shorter labret, once the initial swelling has gone down and your piercing has had a chance to start healing. This can help the healing process as you are less likely to catch the piercing and cause movement. You must not change your jewellery, unless your piercer has advised you to do so, before your piercing has fully healed as this can extend the healing time.

Why is it called an Ashley piercing?

Most people assume that it is called an Ashley piercing after someone called Ashley who either was the first person to get this piercing or perform this piercing. There is no traceable source for the Ashley piercing so this story is unconfirmed but seems the most likely. Its technical name is inverse vertical labret.

Does the Ashley piercing leave a scar?

The Ashley piercing does tend to leave a scar if you have had your piercing for several months or years and it has fully healed. The scar that is left will depend on several factors including how long you have had the piercing, whether the piercing closes completely, and how prone your skin is to scarring. The Ashley piercing scar can sometimes leave an indent in the lip. If your piercing has not fully healed than the piercing is more likely to close quickly once you have removed the jewellery and less likely to leave a scar.

How does the Ashley piercing work?

The Ashley piercing is placed in the centre of the lower lip. Typically, it is pierced with a labret bar which works best in this type of piercing. This provides a small ball, charm, or jewel which sits on the lip and a flat circular plate that sits in the mouth. This is the best type of jewellery as it can help reduce the amount of rubbing against the teeth. A cannula needle is passed through the lip to perform the Ashley piercing, followed by the piercing jewellery.

Does the Ashley piercing ruin your teeth?

Ashley piercings can affect your teeth so make sure to keep an eye on your teeth and gums if you want to prevent it from ruining your teeth. If your piercing bar is too long this can cause the jewellery to catch against your teeth which over time will ruin them by causing enamel damage. Keeping your piercing clean, regularly using mouthwash, and using a small labret bar in your piercing will help to reduce the chances of your Ashley piercing ruining your teeth.

Where is the Ashley piercing?

The Ashley piercing, also called the inverse vertical labret is placed directly through the lip. It is usually placed in the centre of the bottom lip but you can have double Ashley Piercings which are usually placed evenly either side of the centre of the lip. The Ashley piercing is usually pierced with a labret bar which sits on the lip and is fastened inside the mouth.

Does it hurt to get an Ashley piercing?

The Ashley piercing can be quite painful because the lip has lots of nerve endings which makes it hurt more than other areas of soft flesh such as the surrounding lip piercings. The Ashley piercing is placed on the lip which makes it different from other lip piercings. Many people rate the pain at a 4 to 5 out of 10 on the pain scale.

How do you reduce swelling from Ashley piercing?

After your initial piercing, you are likely to experience swelling from your Ashley piercing. This is normal and should reduce within a few days. To help make yourself more comfortable and reduce the swelling you can apply ice to the outside lip or suck on an ice cube to help the inside of the lip. Many people find that simply regularly using your saltwater cleaning solution and using mouthwash after eating can help make your piercing more comfortable and can reduce swelling. Drinking cold drinks (avoiding alcohol and carbonated drinks) can also relieve swelling. If the swelling persists or spreads then consult your doctor or piercer for advice.

How do you take care of an Ashley piercing?

To take care of an Ashley piercing, use a saltwater solution to clean your piercing. Apply with cotton wool to the outside of your piercing and swill around your mouth to clean the inside of your piercing. It is important to carry mouthwash or a toothbrush and toothpaste if you will be out when eating. Keeping your piercing clean from food debris will help it to heal and reduce the chances of getting an infection.

Making sure you clean your piercing with saltwater twice a day and taking care of your piercing after you have eaten will help prevent an Ashley piercing infection. Lip piercings are prone to infection because they are placed partly inside the mouth. If you think you have a piercing infection make sure to consult your doctor as you may need antibiotics.

How can I hide my Ashley piercing?

Hiding an Ashley piercing can be achieved by choosing clear acrylic jewellery or skin tone labret bars. Whether you need to hide your piercing for work or school, choosing your jewellery carefully can help you to cover up your lip piercing. Clear flexible jewellery can be useful for other functions such as taking part in sports and wearing for medical procedures. You will only be able to use this type of piercing jewellery once your lip has fully healed.

There are so many different types of lip piercing but there are several popular combinations. Many people like to pair the Ashley and medusa piercing. The medusa piercing sits above the lips in the centre which creates symmetry with the Ashley piercing. The pleasing aesthetic is what makes the Ashley piercing and medusa so popular. Find out more about Medusa piercings, here.

Ashley piercings are still considered to be a fairly unusual form of lip piercing. Want to know more about piercing at Blue Banana? Check out our Piercing Guides or explore other types of lip piercings.

Ashley Piercing Procedure

Ready to get an Ashley piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Make sure to check the Ashley piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the Ashley piercing age restriction is 16 (ID may be required). Lip piercings are not available with parental consent.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the Ashley piercing location.

Ashley piercings are usually pierced with a labret. Your piercer will pass a cannula needle through the piercing site and then insert the jewellery.

Ashley Piercing Aftercare Advice

An Ashley piercing can take 2-3 months to fully heal. The exact healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure successful healing.

After the initial piercing, your lip is likely to swell and can be quite sore. During the healing process, you should avoid spicy and sticky foods, including chewing gum as this can get caught around your piercing jewellery. During healing, avoid smoking, alcohol, and kissing as this may introduce unwanted bacteria into your piercing wound.

There are two different types of cleaning you will need to do for your Ashley piercing. When cleaning the inside of your Ashley piercing, swill a saltwater solution around your mouth twice a day. Ensure there is no food stuck around your piercing, regularly use mouthwash to maintain good oral hygiene, and try to avoid touching your piercing while it heals. When cleaning the outside of the piercing, use a saltwater solution or Tea Tree Oil to gently bathe the piercing twice a day.

If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Ashley Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to Ashley piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Ashley Piercing Labret
Ashley Piercing Jewellery

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our lip piercing jewellery range. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – Make sure to find out from your piercer the size your Ashley piercing jewellery should be.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. If you have sensitive skin that is prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too!

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.