A Complete Guide to Ashley Piercings
The Ashley piercing passes through the centre of the lower lip and exits inside the mouth, leaving a single visible stud sitting directly on the lip surface. This guide covers placement, the scarring consideration unique to this piercing, pain levels, the 3 to 4 month healing timeline and dual aftercare.A Complete Guide to Ashley Piercings
An Ashley piercing is a single lip piercing that enters from the front surface of the lower lip and exits inside the mouth. The technical name is inverse vertical labret piercing. Only the decorative front is visible: a gem, bead or shaped top sitting directly at the centre of the fullest part of the lower lip. The flat-back disc anchors inside the mouth against the inner lip tissue. There is no external exit point below the lip as there is with a vertical labret.
The result is a clean, centred point of jewellery that appears to float in the middle of the lower lip. No other lip piercing replicates this exact look. It pairs naturally with lipstick and is frequently combined with other facial piercings such as a nostril stud or medusa for a curated facial look. The Ashley has grown substantially in popularity in recent years as one of the more distinctive single-point lip options.
The Ashley is anatomy dependent. The lower lip must have enough tissue depth to accommodate the flat-back post comfortably. The piercing is also placed in highly mobile tissue that moves constantly during speech and eating, which contributes to its longer healing timeline compared to a standard labret and raises the scarring consideration discussed below.
Ashley vs Vertical Labret vs Standard Labret
Does an Ashley Piercing Hurt?
Most people rate Ashley piercing pain at 4 to 6 out of 10. The needle passes through the full depth of the lower lip from front to back. Lip tissue has more nerve endings than the skin below the lip where a standard labret sits, so the sensation is noticeably sharper. The process is swift. Swelling in the first 3 to 5 days is significant as with all lip piercings through the lip itself.
The Ashley takes longer to heal than a standard labret because the piercing passes through mobile lip tissue that moves constantly during speech and eating. Initial healing takes 3 to 4 months with consistent aftercare. Internal tissue maturation can extend to 6 months. The piercing often appears healed externally before the internal channel is fully stable: confirm with your piercer before stopping aftercare or making any jewellery changes.
| Stage | Timeframe | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory | Days 1–7 | Significant lip swelling; longer initial post essential; soft foods and careful eating; avoid biting the post |
| Downsize window | Weeks 3–6 | Replace initial longer post with correctly sized shorter bar once swelling resolves; critical step for dental safety |
| Proliferative | Weeks 6–12 | External lip looks healed; internal disc side still maturing; maintain dual aftercare routine |
| Full healing | Months 3–4 | Confirmed by piercer; can upgrade decorative top; avoid changing the post itself without professional guidance |
What Jewellery Is Used in an Ashley Piercing?
A flat-back labret stud is the only jewellery type used in an Ashley piercing. The flat disc sits against the inner lip surface inside the mouth while the decorative end sits centred on the outer lip. There are no ring or hoop options for this placement as the anatomy and lip curvature only work with a straight-post labret stud. The threadless push-pin system is especially practical for the Ashley as it allows decorative top changes without reinserting the post through the lip tissue, which is more uncomfortable here than with most other labret placements.
| Style | Best For | Size Guide | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat-back labret stud (initial) | Fresh and healing | 16G, 10–12mm post to allow for swelling | Only jewellery type for Ashley piercings; longer initial bar essential |
| Flat-back labret stud (downsized) | Healing phase | 16G, 6–8mm post once swelling resolves | Downsize promptly at 3–6 weeks to prevent dental contact from excess post length |
| Small gem top (2–3mm) | Fresh and healed | Match post gauge | Subtle and workplace-friendly; sits cleanly on the lip surface |
| Larger gem or charm top | Fully healed | 3–5mm gem face | Statement look; ensure post length is correctly sized before fitting larger top |
Implant-grade titanium throughout healing. The flat disc inside the mouth sits against the inner lip rather than the gum as with a standard labret; dental monitoring is still recommended throughout long-term wear as post positioning can shift with normal tissue changes. Downsize promptly: a too-long post after swelling in an Ashley catches on teeth more readily than in a standard labret due to the lip placement.
For all lip and mouth piercing types including labret, vertical labret and medusa piercings, visit the Lip and Mouth Piercing Types Explained guide. For every piercing type in one resource, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub.
Book your Ashley piercing at OSCO London
Ashley piercings at OSCO London are just £10. Precise centre placement, implant-grade titanium as standard, full dual aftercare guidance included.
OSCO London is a professional piercing studio in Northwood, London. Visit the OSCO London homepage to book your Ashley piercing and have lip anatomy and placement assessed by a trained professional.
How to Care for an Ashley Piercing
Ashley aftercare requires attention to both the external lip surface and the internal mouth side. External: spray sterile saline at the exit point on the lip twice daily and pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not touch the stud with your tongue. Internal: rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash after every meal and drink throughout the healing period. Do not use alcohol-based mouthwash.
Keep all lip products away from the healing piercing. Lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm and foundation applied anywhere near the stud during healing introduces bacteria and chemical irritants into the healing channel at a location that is particularly susceptible. Stay well hydrated to prevent lip drying without needing to apply products.
Do not bite the post during eating: if you find yourself making contact with the post during chewing the bar is likely still too long and you need to book a downsize appointment promptly. Do not play with the stud using your tongue or teeth at any point. Do not show people the piercing by pulling the lower lip down during healing as this applies tension to the fresh wound. Sleep on your back during healing to prevent pressure on the lip.
For information on every other lip and body piercing type, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub at OSCO London, covering all placements from lip and mouth piercings through to ear cartilage and body piercings.