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Diagram of oral piercing locations on a person's face with labels.
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Diagram of oral piercing locations on a person's face with labels.
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Ashley Piercing

An Ashley piercing is one of the most striking lip piercings available — and one of the most anatomy-dependent. It passes directly through the center of the lower lip, with a single decorative end visible at the front of the lip and a flat disc sitting against the inner tissue. Only one side shows. That single point of visible jewelry, centered on the lip, creates a look that is clean, bold, and architectural in a way few other piercings are.

Why Stacked Piercing?

Why Get An Ashley Piercing at Stacked?

But the through-lip path is what makes this piercing genuinely demanding. The lower lip has more tissue than the upper, but the placement still requires precise angle control, careful attention to blood vessel location, and a clear read on how jewelry will sit against that specific lip as it moves. An Ashley placed even slightly off — in angle, depth, or centering — is immediately apparent. And because it exits at the front surface of the lip, correction is not straightforward.

At Stacked, we assess your anatomy before anything is marked. We look at the shape, projection, and tissue depth of your lower lip, the position of any visible vascularity, and how jewelry will sit centered on your lip before we commit to a placement. If an Ashley is right for your anatomy, we will design it with the precision this placement demands. If something about your anatomy makes it inadvisable, we will tell you clearly and talk through what else might work. That conversation is part of the appointment.

What Makes an Ashley Different

Most lip piercings — labrets, Monroes, Medusas — use a flat back post with the decorative end sitting above or below the lip line. The Ashley is different. It is a through-lip piercing, like a vertical labret, but centered and using a flat back post rather than a curved barbell. The jewelry enters from the inside of the lip and exits at the front center, with only the top visible from the outside.

This makes the Ashley one of the cleaner, more minimal-looking lip piercings despite being one of the more involved placements. The single centered gem or disc reads as intentional and precise. That precision in appearance requires equal precision in execution.

It also means the inside of the lip matters as much as the outside. The flat disc that sits against the inner lip tissue has to be sized correctly from the start — too large and it creates irritation against the teeth and gums; too small and it may not hold the jewelry securely. We factor all of this in before anything is pierced.

Ashley vs. Vertical Labret

Both are through-lip piercings of the lower lip, but the jewelry and the exit point are different. A vertical labret uses a curved barbell with both ends visible on the outside of the face — one at the base of the lip, one at its front surface. An Ashley uses a flat back post with only the decorative top visible at the front of the lip; the flat internal disc sits inside the mouth against the inner lip tissue.

The Ashley tends to read as more minimal because only one end is visible. The vertical labret reads as more dimensional because both ends show. Which suits you better depends on the look you are building and what your anatomy can support. We will help you think through both at your appointment.

Cost + Age Requirements

Ashley Piercing Fees: $70

Age Requirement: 15+

Appointment Length: 30 Minutes

Upon booking your appointment, the piercing fee is due in full.

The piercing fee does not include the cost of jewelry.

We have options across a range, from just getting started to more elevated pieces. You can browse a few options in our Lookbook.

We pierce Ashley piercings with 16g ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium flat back posts with threadless push-pin tops. Initial post length typically falls around 7/16” (11mm) or 1/2” (13mm) depending on your lip’s tissue depth and projection.

The flat back post is the correct jewelry type for an Ashley piercing. The flat internal disc sits against the inner lip tissue without creating the pressure or movement that a curved barbell would introduce at this angle. The threadless push-pin top is secure, low-profile, and easy to change once the piercing is fully healed.

Because the inside disc is in contact with the teeth and gums during daily life, we are attentive to sizing from the start. Initial jewelry is sized to accommodate swelling while keeping the disc small enough that it is not creating unnecessary friction against the inner mouth. We will guide you on what to watch for if irritation develops.

Ashley Piercing Process

Ashley piercing process


We begin with a careful assessment of your lower lip — its shape, projection, and tissue depth, the position of any visible vascularity, and how jewelry will sit centered on the lip’s front surface. Centering matters more here than with almost any other lip piercing. We take our time with the marking.

Once placement is confirmed and approved together, the piercing is done with a needle. A taper guides the jewelry into place. The process is calm and unhurried. If you are nervous, that is completely normal — we will talk you through every step.

A Note on Longevity

Ashley piercings carry a higher likelihood of migration or rejection over time than piercings anchored in cartilage or deeper tissue. This is true of most through-lip placements, and it is not a reason to avoid one — it is a reason to get it done carefully and maintain it well.

Thoughtful placement, correct jewelry sizing from the start, and consistent aftercare significantly improve long-term outcomes. Some clients wear Ashley piercings for years without issue. Others find that the placement shifts over time regardless of care. We will be honest with you about what your anatomy supports and what realistic long-term expectations look like. A piercing that lasts starts with a placement designed to last.

Spa-like environment

Expert, state-licensed piercing professionals

Support for proper healing

14k solid gold + implant grade titanium

Need to cancel?

We get it, life happens. If you cancel at least 24 hours before your appointment, your piercing fee will be refunded in full.

Questions? Give us a call or email us at 815-782-2533 support@stackedpiercing.com.

Ashley Piercing

$70.00

Ashley Piercing Information

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Pain Level 4-7/10

Because the needle passes through the lower lip rather than the softer tissue below it, most clients find the Ashley more noticeable than a standard labret. The sensation is brief, and the tenderness that follows settles over the first few days. Individual experience varies based on lip anatomy, tissue depth, and personal threshold.

 
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Ashley Piercing Healing Timeline

Healing Time: 3-6+ months

Ashley piercings heal on a longer timeline than due to the through-lip path and the constant movement the tissue is subject to. Eating, talking, and daily expression all interact with the piercing throughout healing. Even when things look calm on the surface, the tissue inside the lip may still be working.

Particular care around eating — avoiding hard, crunchy, or very spicy foods early on — and keeping the area clean after meals makes a real difference. We will walk you through a full aftercare approach so you know what to expect and what to protect.

 
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Downsizing

A piercing begins in the studio, but the healing happens with you. We require a six-week check-up for every client, so we can take a look at how things are healing, talk through any questions, and offer guidance.

Because Ashley piercings involve a through-lip path, we are particularly attentive to how the jewelry is sitting at the six-week mark — both on the outside and how the internal disc is resting against the inner lip. If an adjustment serves the healing, we will make it then. If everything is settling well, we leave it.

 

Piercing Aftercare

What to do, what to look out for, and when to contact us.

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Keep It Simple

  • Wash your hands before touching it
  • Clean with sterile saline while healing
  • Dry gently with clean disposable products
  • Do not twist, spin, or rotate the jewelry
  • Avoid sleeping on that side
  • Avoid pressure from headphones, helmets, hats, or phones when possible
  • Don’t change the jewelry early
  • Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, ointments, or harsh cleansers
  • Our bodies heal the piercings; saline just keeps it clean. Anything else can be irritating since it’s an open wound

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Normal Healing Signs

During healing, it’s normal to have:

  • Mild swelling
  • Tenderness
  • Some crusting
  • Occasional redness after being bumped or cleaned
  • A piercing that feels fine one day and slightly irritated the next

APP guidance notes that some bleeding, swelling, tenderness, bruising, itching, and whitish-yellow discharge that dries into crust can all be part of normal healing.

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When to check in

Reach out if you have:

  • Increasing pain instead of gradual improvement
  • Significant swelling that doesn’t settle
  • Jewelry that feels too tight
  • Embedding concerns
  • Heat, spreading redness, or discharge that seems unusual
  • A bump that keeps getting worse

Cancellations

If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, your deposit will be kept and treated as the cancellation fee. If you cancel before the 24 hour window, your piercing fee will be refunded in full.

Rescheduling

Need to move your appointment? You can reschedule without a fee as long as it’s more than 24 hours in advance. There will be a link to reschedule in your appointment confirmation email.

Late Arrivals + Documentation

Arriving more than 5 minutes late or not having the required documentation will be treated as a cancellation, and your deposit will be retained. If you’re running late, call us 815-782-2533 — if availability allows, we may be able to move you to a later time.