Angel fangs are two vertical labret piercings placed side by side on the lower lip. Each is a curved barbell that enters below the lip and exits on its top edge, so the finished look is four beads: two sitting along the lip line and two beneath it.
Like a single vertical labret, nothing passes into the mouth. That is the appeal, and it is a genuine one.
First, the name
Piercing names are informal, and this is one of the worst offenders. Angel fangs and angel bites are different piercings on different lips, and the names are close enough that people book the wrong one.
- Angel fangs: two vertical labrets, lower lip, four visible beads.
- Angel bites: two separate studs above the upper lip, two visible ends.
Some studios also use “angel fangs” loosely for other paired arrangements. Describe what you want rather than naming it, or better, show your piercer a photo. Any piercer worth booking would rather look at a picture than guess which definition you are using.
The anatomy is the deciding factor
A single vertical labret already needs a lower lip with enough height and projection for a curved bar to sit inside without pressure at either opening. Angel fangs need that, plus enough width to place two bars side by side with real space between them.
That is a demanding combination, and it is why this is among the placements piercers decline most often. Two bars crowded together in a lip that cannot carry them will press against each other’s channels, and the result is migration in both rather than one.
Your piercer will assess your lip in profile as well as head-on. If they say your lip suits one vertical labret but not two, that is worth listening to: a single one placed well beats a pair placed badly.
Pain
About 4 out of 10 each, the same as a single vertical labret and slightly more than a standard lip piercing, because the needle travels through more tissue.
Swelling is the practical issue. Four openings in one lip produce noticeably more swelling than a single piercing, and for the first three to five days the lower lip feels stiff and speech feels clumsy. Plan soft food.
Healing
Two to three months, healing in parallel.
- Days 1-5: peak swelling across the whole lower lip, all four openings tender.
- Weeks 1-4: swelling drops, crusting at every opening. This is more visible than with piercings that exit inside the mouth, because all four are on show.
- Weeks 4-12: the channels mature internally.
Downsize both at three to six weeks. A curved bar left long rocks in its channel, and movement is what produces irritation bumps on this placement. With two bars there is twice as much to go wrong, so do not put the appointment off.
Aftercare
Simpler than paired piercings that exit inside the mouth, because there is no inside to manage. Sterile saline twice a day on all four openings, patted dry with clean paper towel, nothing else.
Be deliberate with food for the first fortnight. The two lower beads sit exactly where a cup rim and a fork go. Small bites, cold and soft, and no picking at crusting. The aftercare guide has the full routine.
Jewelry
Two curved barbells, 16 gauge, implant-grade titanium, 12 to 14 mm to start, downsized to 8 to 10 mm. The curve is not cosmetic: a straight bar in a curved path presses on both openings and will not settle. Threadless or internally threaded only, so nothing sharp passes through a healing channel. See the materials guide.
Matching ends across both bars are the usual choice, since the symmetry is the point.
Related placements
- Vertical labret: one of the two, and the sensible place to start.
- Snake bites: paired lower-lip piercings that do exit inside the mouth.
- Jestrum: the vertical arrangement on the upper lip.
Cost
$80 to $160 for the pair in a US studio, plus jewelry. It costs more than paired studs because each vertical placement takes longer to assess and mark, and the marking is the part you are paying for. Tip 15 to 20 percent.
Frequently asked questions
What are angel fangs piercings?
Two vertical labret piercings placed side by side on the lower lip, so four beads show: two along the top edge of the lip and two below it. Each is a curved barbell that stays inside the lip and never enters the mouth.
Is angel fangs the same as angel bites?
No, and the names are close enough to cause real mix-ups. Angel bites are two separate piercings above the upper lip. Angel fangs are two vertical labrets on the lower lip. Describe the placement you want rather than relying on the name.
Do angel fangs hurt?
About 4 out of 10 each, the same as a single vertical labret. The needle travels up through the body of the lip rather than straight through the thin part, so each takes a moment longer than a standard lip piercing.
Can everyone get angel fangs?
No. They need a lower lip with enough projection for a curved bar to sit inside, and enough width to fit two of them side by side without crowding. This is one of the placements a good piercer turns people away from most often.
Are angel fangs safe for your teeth?
Yes, in the sense that matters. Like a single vertical labret, nothing sits inside the mouth, so the gum recession and enamel chipping associated with standard lip piercings largely do not apply.
How long do angel fangs take to heal?
Two to three months, healing alongside each other. Four openings all sit on the outside, so crusting is more visible in the early weeks than with piercings that exit inside the mouth.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for oral piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/oral-aftercare/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy) - Oral piercingshttps://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/oral-piercings
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This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.