Things Professional Piercers Want You to Know About “Snake Bite” Piercings

5 years ago

After spending a mind-numbing amount of time browsing the internet for the latest in beauty, it can be difficult to keep up with all the trends on your explore page. It’s the same story for piercings, which seem to change at the whim of your favourite influencers, but odds are if you haven’t heard of “snake bite” piercings, you’ve definitely seen them. More appropriately known as “paired lip piercings,” these trendy body mods are done on either side of the lower lip, mimicking the pronged marks of a snake bite (minus the venom).

Usually done with small rings or studs, their unique design is perfect for anyone who wants to try something a little bit more unexpected. If you’re looking to enhance a more edgy aesthetic, these piercings will do the job, but there’s still a lot to consider before walking into the studio. To get the look, find the perfect jewellery, and help your piercings heal correctly, take these piercers’ advice on what to know about snake-bite piercings.

Unsplash/Bianca Berg

Use Correct Terminology

Gottschalk advises people to “ask for two lower-lip piercings [rather] than snake bites, because there’s so many names out there for different things.” You want to make sure you’re getting what you’re envisioning, so feel free to point, describe, or even use images for your piercer’s reference.

Anna Beall, a piercer for CowPök in Buffalo, NY, added that piercing terminology is constantly evolving, and it can be hard to keep up. Her advice is to remember that “a lot of times, the internet changes what things can mean, so we just usually say paired lip piercings.”

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Aftercare Is a Little Different Than With Other Piercings

Once you’ve got your piercings, remember that now you have to take care of them on the inside and the outside. Externally, a simple saline solution will work to clean the piercings, but internally, warm water rinses are your best friend.

“Anytime you eat, drink, smoke, kiss, or anything really that goes into your mouth that’s not air or water, just take a sip of water and swish it around,” Gottschalk said.

Staying super hydrated is another thing that can help reduce the initial swelling, but don’t expect the piercing to feel completely healed until about three to four months. Beall said it’s also a good idea to avoid supersalty or spicy foods, since they can irritate the piercing, and resist the urge to twist, turn, or rotate the piercing with your fingers or tongue.