A labret piercing (also known as a tongue pillar) is located on a person’s face, below the lower lip but above the chin. There are shapes of labret piercings that can be found in various positions, although they are most commonly found centered on the face. The term “labret” is frequently mispronounced. Contrary to popular belief, the term is not derived from the French language, and therefore the “t” should be pronounced. Traditionally, the labret piercing was a representation of a person’s status within their particular society. In ancient cultures, for example, specifically the Aztecs and Mayans, only men from that particular society could wear labret piercings to emphasize the fact that they belonged to a higher place in the caste system.
Similarly, whenever a mask was made within the American Northwest Coast Indian society, a labret shape would be fashioned into the piece if that mask was a representation of someone of high status. This form of body jewelry is often worn as an expression of one’s personality in this country. While a labret piercing may contain a stud or ring, cosmetically, most people seem to prefer wearing a stud. Another reason for this could be due to the fact that labret studs are much more practical and easier to change than rings.
With the variety of studs available today, choosing to wear a labret will give you more opportunity to be creative and versatile with your body jewelry. Once the piercing has healed, it is arguable that wearing a labret is the most comfortable of all piercings. This is due to the fact that labret studs have a flat disc that sits comfortably against the gums, so they do not cause irritation. This also means that labret studs are suitable for use in many other body piercings. They would be ideal for ear piercings, for example, as their flat back means the studs are less likely to get caught in clothing or hair.
Materials that can be used to make labrets are titanium, colored titanium, stainless steel, and plastic retainers. Due to their nearly invisible appearance, plastic studs are ideal for use in situations where you would prefer your piercing to be more discreet, such as during work hours or when attending a job interview. Depending on the position on the face, various types of labret piercing are available. In a vertical labret piercing, for example, a curved barbell protrudes from the top of the lower lip and the center of the upper chin. A snake bite piercing is where two studs are used to resemble snake fangs, thanks to their position on the face.
Similarly, spider bite piercings are named for the way they are depicted on a person’s face; they consist of two labret posts that are placed side by side on the same side of the face. The final type of labret piercing, a lowbret, sits as low on a person’s face as possible. With the wide range of labret earrings available and the ability to design your own body jewelry now, you really can get creative. Now that Valentine’s Day is coming up, you could wear a heart button to show your sensitive side. Or perhaps you could choose to incorporate your favorite gemstone into your labret stud.