The first time you insert a lip ring in a healed piercing it can be somewhat confusing. Lip piercings are done with two kinds of jewelry--captive bead rings and labret studs. A captive bead ring uses pressure to hold a bead between two prongs, while a labret stud consists of a flat back, a bar, and a bead. When your piercer inserts your first labret stud, he uses a longer bar than you actually need to allow for swelling. When your piercing has healed, you can put the back and the front bead onto a shorter bar.
Step 1
Wash the outside of your lip with antibacterial soap and swish mouthwash in your mouth for 30 seconds.
Step 2
Grip the flat back of a labret stud with a piece of sterile gauze. You may wish to wear latex gloves to help you get an even better grip on your jewelry.
Step 3
Twist the front bead counterclockwise to unscrew it. If you find that the bead is particularly tight, grabbing the bar with a hemostat while you twist the bead may help. Your piercer will have hemostats if you don't, and can show you how to use them.
Step 4
Unscrew the flat back from the current bar and screw it into the new one.
Step 5
Insert the stud from the inside of your lip. You may find that you need to press the back against your lip with your thumb while screwing in the front bead, since the bar no longer sticks out.
Step 6
Remove a captive bead ring by grasping the bottom of the ring on the outside of your mouth with the thumb and forefinger of one hand. Use the thumb and forefinger of the other hand to push the bead out horizontally.
Step 7
Insert a new captive bead ring by twisting the prongs of the ring apart horizontally. Do not attempt to pull the prongs apart vertically, as this can bend the middle of the ring and make it difficult to insert the new bead.
Step 8
Insert the ring through the back of your lip and push the two prongs back together horizontally.
Step 9
Look at the bead to find the two indentations. Seat one indentation on the bottom prong of the ring.
Step 10
Push the bead gently until you feel the top prong snap into the top indentation.
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial soap
- Mouthwash
- Sterile gauze
- Latex gloves (optional)
- Hemostat (optional)
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