Dahlia Bites Piercing Jewellery

The Dahlia bites piercing gets its name from the Black Dahlia murder due to way the face of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia, was cut. If you would like to call it by a less macabre name, dahlia bites are sometimes called Joker bites after the Joker’s scars from DC Comics. The Dahlia piercing is still a fairly uncommon type of lip piercing which may be due to its tricky placement. If your Dahlia bites are too close to the mouth they can reject or tear through the mouth whereas if they are placed too far apart they become cheek piercings. 

A Dahlia piercing is sometimes known as a joker piercing because of the comic book supervillain's well-known scars. It is one of the least common lip piercings you can get. Each corner of the mouth is pierced with a labret stud, as close to the corners as possible to create a lengthening effect. 

Many people say that Dahlia piercings hurt more than other types of lip piercing because the piercing procedure is longer. The pain of the actual piercing when the needle is going through the skin is similar to any other lip piercing and should not be very painful however it will take time for your piercer to make sure they are choosing the correct placement before piercing you. You will be getting two piercings in one sitting which can make it seem more painful. Your dahlia bites piercing should not hurt afterwards.  

Dahlia piercings take 2-3 months to fully heal. Your piercer may initially use a longer labret bar to allow for swelling. They will ask you to come back to the studio after 4-5 weeks to get the piercing bar changed to a shorter one for the rest of the healing time. This will help prevent catching and movement. It is important not to try and change your piercing jewellery yourself until your Dahlia piercing is fully healed as this can cause the piercing wound to re-open. 

Healing can take anywhere between 3-10 weeks. If the initial body jewellery irritates you after the swelling has gone down then you can return to your piercer for a change after 4-5 weeks. Dahlia piercings require careful consideration as the body jewellery will enter the outside of the mouth and exit inside.  

Dahlia piercings cost an average of £50 - £55. The price of your Dahlia bites may depend on the piercing jewellery you choose. It is usually worth paying the extra cost for high quality piercing jewellery as this can help with healing. Remember, the price of this piercing may be higher than other types of lip piercing because you are getting two piercings in one. It is important to visit an experience piercer to get your Dahlia piercing as it is a rarer form of lip piercing that must be placed in a specific location. 

Joker bites is another name for Dahlia bites piercing. The Joker Bites name comes from the infamous DC Comics supervillain. The Joker’s scars are in the same position as the Dahlia bites (named after the Black Dahlia). Some prefer the Joker Bites name due to its less macabre origin.  

After getting your Dahlia bites piercing there are some things you can avoid eating to help with healing. Avoid drinking alcohol and eating spicy or sticky foods during the first few weeks. The Dahlia piercing could be a great choice for you if you are looking for an alternative lip piercing. After the swelling has gone down, you can return to your piercer for a change of jewellery after 4-5 weeks. Shorter piercing jewellery will help prevent food debris from getting stuck in your piercing.  

The Dahlia piercing could be a great choice for you if you are willing to maintain good aftercare. After the swelling has gone down you can return to your piercer for a piercing jewellery change after 4-5 weeks. Your initial piercing jewellery will be longer to accommodate any swelling. To help reduce swelling of your dahlia bites piercing you can drink plenty of cold water or suck on ice cubes. However, you must avoid drinking alcohol and carbonated drinks during the first few weeks. 

Dahlia bites are still considered among the more alternative types of piercing. The Dahlia piercing can be paired with other piercings to fully customise your look. A popular combination is a septum piercing and Dalia piercings because this provides a balanced aesthetic. You can also create symmetry by pairing the dahlia piercing with a double nostril piercing. If you want to add more lip piercings to compliment your Dahlia piercing many people opt for either a medusa or labret piercing. 

For even more information about other types of piercing at Blue Banana check out our Piercing Guides and FAQ articles.