The Dahlia piercing is named after Black Dahlia. It is a posthumous name given to the horrific and mysterious murder of an American actress, Elizabeth Short, in the 1940s, who died with a smile on her face. The Dahlia piercing gets its name from here since it offers a tense aesthetic that befits the name.
It is also called by a less grim name. It is referred to as the Joker bite, which is named after the Joker scars from the DC comics. The iconic feature of the Dahlia piercing is the two piercings located at the corners of the mouth. For those who intend to draw attention to their lips, this piercing gives them an alluring look.
This piercing is relatively lesser in popularity than other types of piercing. Its rarity makes it hard to get an experienced piercer since it requires precise placement to get its aesthetic feel. Read on to learn everything you need about getting a Dahlia piercing.
What is A Dahlia piercing
As stated above, this lip piercing is named after the murder of Black Dahlia, an actress murdered in 1947 and was left with a smile on her face. The Dahlia piercing got its name from here since it is done on the mouth corners giving the person a curved smile.
It is also called the Joker piercing because it has two holes on the corner, similar to the Joker smile in the DC comic. The Dahlia piercing gives you an alluring look since it increases the attention to the lips by making them more visible.
If you intend to opt for a lip piercing, this is one that you should consider since it is not even as prevalent among people and in the piercing communities. Admittedly, Dahlia piercing gives an alluring and unique look among friends and in the piercing community and even attention.
But since it is not popular, the chances of finding an expert in this lip piercing are pretty rare, so you need to put in a lot of work to get an expert in Dahlia lip piercing. Moreover, dahlia piercing has to be done on exact points to achieve the correct aesthetic piercing placement.
Pain
Before getting any piercing, most people usually wonder about the level of pain that accompanies it. The Dahlia piercing doesn’t cause you pain. This piercing is less than other lip and facial piercings on the pain scale.
However, since the Dahlia is pierced in two places, you must undergo the needle twice. You can opt for getting the second perforation a week after the first so that the pain of the previous one has lessened. People who have undergone different piercings, including the
Dahlia piercing, rate the piercing a four out of ten. This means that this piercing causes relatively less pain than other piercing types. But, you should note that pain level usually depends on the individual resistance to handling pains or the state of mind.
Since you will undergo two different perforations, you should expect some pain. When you experience excessive pain, painkillers might be of help. But, this pain usually depends on your pain tolerance and your mind, so the Joker piercing might not be painless to you like other types if you have a high pain tolerance.
Healing time
Since Joker piercing is usually done in two sittings, the healing process might be more than other types of piercings. Generally, the Joker piercing takes about twelve to twenty weeks to completely heal, based on the personal healing power and skin type.
Similar to other types of healing, you might go through a similar healing process for the Joker piercing, such as tenderness, redness, inflammation, and swelling during the initial stage of the healing process. However, since the piercing occurs in the cheeks, the swelling might be higher than in the lips.
Cost
Dahlia piercing costs a little higher than the average cost of other piercings. The price is also affected by the piercer and how much they charge. Most Dahlia piercing costs a moderate sum of about $70.
Finding a Dahlia expert piercer might be difficult in some locations. So you need to perform your research properly. Ask friends or those from the piercing community for expert Dahlia piercers. The emphasis is to ensure you get the best piercer, so you don’t affect your health.
An expert is also vital because the Dahlia piercing has to be inserted and placed accurately with the proper technique to ensure that infections don’t increase. So, when you get an expert Dahlia piercer, you shouldn’t be too conscious of the price tag. Instead, your priority should be on your safety, then the money used in getting a Dahlia piercing.
Aftercare
The Joker piercing is highly susceptible to infections from mouth-borne bacterias, migration, and rejection from constant cheek movements. However, if you practice correct aftercare, you can avoid many complications.
Perform a sea salt soak every day and mouth thrice rinsing with salt water
The Dahlia piercing is located close to the molar, where most of the chewing is done. This is unlike other lip piercing types situated towards the front of the mouth. Due to this, it is pretty easy for food to enter into the piercing that is healing. So, to remove the debris, you should perform a sea salt soak about two or three times every day throughout the healing process.
After eating, you can also gargle salt water to clean the backside of the piercing. You can also use a mouth rinse for healing oral piercing, but you shouldn’t use mouthwash. The alcohol they contain can irritate your piercing and result in prolonged healing.
Take proper caution when chewing
Dahlia piercing is uniquely located, so it can be pretty easy to chew on the jewelry, which might result in a broken tooth. Likewise, tugging at the piercing can result in a piercing rejection. Therefore, during the initial weeks of healing, you should stick to soft foods as you acquaint yourself with the jewelry.
Maintain good oral hygiene
Since bacteria can quickly grow in your mouth, you should endeavor to brush your teeth between meals. Cleaning your mouth often gives your piercing an excellent chance to heal correctly.
Cleaning Guide
To clean the outside of the piercing, you will need a saline solution. You can buy one at the piercing shop or make it in your home by mixing ¼ teaspoon sea salt in 8oz of warm water. Pour the saline solution on a clean towel or pad and gnarly hold on the outside of the piercing for some minutes.
Doing this softens the debris that might be stuck to the piercing. After that, gently pat the jewelry off and get rid of the towel when done.
When cleaning the outside of the piercing, use a non-alcoholic mouthwash after drinking or eating. Then, repeat the saline soaks and rinses once in the morning and night to ensure the piercing remains clean.
Side Effects
Every facial piercing entails some level of risk. The risks associated with Dahlia piercing include:
- Jewelry migration and rejection
When there is an unusual or poor placement of the Dahlia piercing, it might trigger initial jewelry rejection or migration. So, it would be best if you tried wearing the best jewelry material to reduce rejection risks.
- Tooth and gum erosion
When the jewelry is ill-fitted, it might result in tooth or gum erosion. So, you should ensure you change to a piece of better-fitting jewelry when the Dahlia bites completely heals.
- Scarring
Scarring is not a normal experience. So, you should consult your doctor or piercer when you experience extended swelling or bleeding.
- Piercing bump or infections
to prevent infections and bacteria growth, you should endeavor to clean your piercing twice every day.
Jewelry Styles
Small and cute studs are best suited for Joker piercing. Then, of course, you can consider curved barbells to make yourself prettier and sexier. But, the flat disc labret stud is the most familiar jewelry style used for the Joker piercing.
These small beads are inserted on the mouth’s side, adding more details to your smile. Most Dahlia piercings are punctured with a 14 gauge needle. However, if you love daintier jewelry, you can opt for a Joker piercing with a 16 gauge needle.
You can also use a labret stud for several styles, such as gemstones, charms, and classic balls. Of course, you can select from your preferred stud to get a perfect Joker piercing look, but curved rings and barbells are perfect for captivating and attractive looks.
Summary
Dahlia piercing is one of the alternatives that people choose when considering piercing. You can pair this piercing with other piercings to customize your looks. An accepted and well-liked combination is the septum piercing and the Dahlia piercing since it gives you a balanced aesthetic.
If you love symmetry, pair the Joker piercing with a double nostril piercing. For others, adding either a labret piercing or a medusa piercing can complement their Dahlia lip piercing.
