Vertical Labret Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Vertical labret piercing or Angel kiss piercing is one of the few types of lip piercing that actually goes through the lip. It is in a similar placement to the Jestrum piercing but on the bottom lip. Want to find out more about this quirky lip piercing? Check out our FAQs, below.

What is an angel kiss piercing?

Vertical labret piercing is also known as an Angel kiss piercing. It is a type of vertical lip piercing which goes through the centre of the bottom lip and out underneath the lip, in the labret lip piercing position. The Angel Kiss piercing looks like a combination of the Ashley piercing and Labret piercing but is done with different jewellery. The curved barbell means the two piercing holes are connected.

Do vertical labret piercings hurt?

Vertical labret piercings do hurt more than some other types of lip piercing. The reason you will feel more Vertical labret piercing pain is that it is placed through the lip which has more nerve endings and is, therefore, more sensitive. Vertical labret pain varies for each person and you may find it more painful if you have thick lips as it will take longer for the needle to go through. Lip piercing pain is generally placed at 4 out of 10 on the pain scale.

How long does it take for a vertical labret to heal?

A vertical labret takes 2-3 months to fully heal. The Vertical labret piercing healing is fairly quick, and you should find the initial Vertical labret swelling reduces within a week. Your piercer may ask you to return to change to shorter jewellery during the healing time. You can help your lip piercing to heal by following a strict aftercare routine. Make sure to clean your piercing twice a day with a saltwater solution or Tea Tree oil.

Can you put a hoop in a vertical labret?

You can put a hoop in a vertical labret piercing once it has healed. Some lip piercings are suitable for ring or hoop jewellery, including the vertical labret. Make sure your Vertical labret hoop fits snugly to ensure it does not get caught or put additional pressure on your vertical labret piercing.

Does a vertical labret leave a scar?

A Vertical labret piercing may leave a scar if you remove the jewellery after it has fully healed or if it has been pierced with a large gauge. Sometimes if you have had a piercing infection you will be left with a scar. Taking your piercing out during healing should cause it to close up very quickly with minimal scarring. You may notice a small indent or even be left with a small hole below the lip if you take out your vertical labret lip piercing after several years.

Can you kiss with a vertical labret?

It is important that you do not kiss anybody with a vertical labret piercing until it has healed. While the piercing is still fresh you risk introducing bacteria by kissing someone before the piercing has fully healed. You can kiss once a vertical labret piercing has healed but you may prefer a gentler kiss with minimal pressure on the lips.

What can you eat after getting a vertical labret piercing?

After getting a vertical labret piercing, you can eat but you must be careful to eat slowly and take only small bites. Eating certain foods while healing your lip piercing may cause problems so avoid spicy and sticky foods. Stick to soft cold foods immediately after getting your vertical labret piercing and take care with crunchy hard foods while your piercing is healing. Make sure to clear away any food debris from around your piercing jewellery.

What can you drink after getting a vertical labret piercing?

After getting a vertical labret piercing make sure to avoid drinking alcohol and carbonated drinks as they can slow down healing and affect the piercing wound. If you can, avoid sugary drinks and have water as often as possible. Some people like to suck on small ice cubes after getting their vertical labret piercing to help reduce swelling. Once your piercing has healed you can go back to drinking whatever you like.

The Vertical labret is still a fairly unusual lip piercing but its vertical placement provides plenty of opportunities to create an aesthetically pleasing look by pairing it with a septum piercing or Medusa lip piercing. The Angel Kiss has plenty of options for Labret piercing jewellery so once your piercing has healed you can enjoy customising your look.

One of the reasons that people favour the vertical labret over other types of lip piercing is that the piercing jewellery does not go into the mouth. The curved barbell sits below the skin which means you won’t need to worry about potential tooth or gum damage.

Want to know more about piercings at Blue Banana? Check out our Piercing Guides for more tips and tricks.

Vertical Labret Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a Vertical labret 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 Vertical labret piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the Vertical labret 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 Vertical labret piercing location.

Vertical labret piercings are usually pierced with a curved barbell. Your piercer will pass a cannula needle through the piercing site and then insert the jewellery. It is important to get your Vertical labret piercing done by a professional piercer as alignment in essential – the piercing needs to be in the centre to achieve the intended aesthetic effect.

Vertical Labret Piercing Aftercare Advice

A Vertical labret 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 food as this can cause your piercing wound to re-open. During healing, avoid smoking, alcohol, and kissing as this may introduce unwanted bacteria into your piercing wound.

When cleaning your Vertical labret 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 Vertical Piercing Jewellery

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

Vertical labret Piercing Barbell
Vertical Labret Hoop
Vertical labret 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 Vertical labret 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.

Vertical Labret Piercing Jewellery

Vertical Labret Piercing Jewellery

Vertical Labret Piercing Procedure

Vertical Labret Piercing Aftercare Advice

Choosing Vertical Piercing Jewellery

Other Guides & Ranges