October 31, 2024

Snake Eyes Piercing: Danger, Cost, Healing, Pain, Jewelry, Sizes, Risks, Aftercare

The standard tongue piercing passes vertically through the center of your tongue and heals relatively quickly. However, there's more than one way to pierce a tongue. If you are craving something a little more unique than the standard, consider the Snake Eyes piercing for your next tongue piercing.

Fast Facts:

Placement: Through the tip of your tongue.
Cost: $35-$100.
Pain: 3-4 out of 10 on the pain scale.
Healing time: 2-3 weeks.
Jewelry: Curved barbells (banana barbells).
Risks: Swelling, infections, rejections, tooth decay, gum disease, and speech impediments. It is considered a very risky piercing.

What Is a Snake Eye Piercing?

Tongue piercings can be a fun way to stand out, and Snake Eyes piercings are one of the most unique tongue piercings you can get. A Snake Eye(s) piercing is also called a horizontal tongue piercing. It’s placed at the tip of your tongue and involves going from side to side.

With a Snake Eye piercing, you have a horizontal curved barbell going through the tip of your tongue. The idea is that when you show your tongue, it looks like two snake eyes peeking out of your mouth.

Popular jewelry options are a curved barbell (banana barbell) with two metal balls, though you can get spikes, crystals, or other designs.

What's Good About This Piercing?

The main appeal of the Snake Eyes tongue piercing is that it can make your tongue look like a snake. This effect is achieved by piercing the tongue horizontally near the tip.

Then, a curved barbell is inserted into the new piercing. Once secured, your tongue should mimic the look of a snake with the two balls on the end of the barbell serving as the snake's eyes.

Are Snake Eyes Piercings Dangerous? Why?

A Snake Eyes piercing can look cool, but it can also be harmful to your health.

Why is the Snake Eye piercing dangerous? When you speak, the front of your tongue makes contact with your teeth. Because the piercing will click against your teeth, it's possible to chip or crack teeth with it. Constant exposure to metal can also erode your gums.

In some cases, Snake Eyes piercings can also cause speech impediments.

Your tongue is a whole collection of muscles, and in many cases, a Snake Eye tongue piercing compresses those muscles together and gets in the way of your ability to speak. Speech impediments will often last even if you have the piercing removed.

Does Snake Eyes Piercing Mess up Your Teeth?

All oral piercings are known to increase the risk of oral problems like gum recession, tooth damage, and poor hygiene. With that said, Snake Eyes piercing can increase that risk even further due to the placement of the piercing at the tongue's tip, which puts it directly behind your teeth.

Can Snake Eyes Piercing Paralyze You?

Accidental paralysis from a tongue piercing is extremely rare, but not impossible. There are two major nerves running down either side of the tongue that control movement, sensation, and taste. These functions will be affected if the nerves are damaged in any way.

A standard piercing that passes vertically through the middle of the tongue usually sits between both nerves and is relatively safe from damaging them.

Because the Snake Eyes piercing passes horizontally, there is a greater likelihood of injuring one or both nerves. However, piercing the tip of your tongue is unlikely to injure the nerves in any significant way.

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Snake Eyes Piercing Cost

How much is the Snake Eyes piercing? The Snake Eyes piercing may start at $35 or go up toward $100.

That being said, tongue piercings, including the Snake Eyes piercing, can vary greatly based on where you go and what type of jewelry you choose. Implant-grade titanium is a cheaper metal while something like 14K gold would shoot the price up.

Snake Eyes Piercing Healing Time

A Snake Eye piercing usually takes 2 to 3 months to heal. However, this is contingent on proper aftercare.

You must follow your piercer’s instructions to keep the piercing clean. You’ll also need to be careful of what you eat, avoiding spicy foods, hard foods, and other items that could irritate the wound.

Snake Eyes Piercing Healing Stages

Stage 1: First Week

Your new piercing will be swollen, sore, and inflamed for the first few days. Your first piece of jewelry will be slightly longer to accommodate the swelling. You will also experience occasional bleeding, which should subside little by little with each day. During this time, you will be instructed to swish a saline solution in your mouth multiple times a day to prevent infection.

Stage 2: After 2 Weeks

After 10-14 days, you might notice that the swelling is almost gone. At this point, it's important to change your jewelry for a smaller or shorter piece. Doing this prevents accidental dental or oral damage from wearing loose-fitting metal inside your mouth. When you're ready to change your jewelry, it's best to go back to your piercer to have this step completed in a safe and sterile environment.

Stage 3: After 1 Month

By now, your tongue piercing should be close to complete recovery. Any pain, swelling, and inflammation will be dramatically reduced, and you may start feeling like your tongue is back to "normal." However, you should remember that piercings heal from the outside in, so you still have a few more weeks to go. You can use this time to continue adapting to your new piercing.

Stage 4: After 2-3 Months

If there are no complications, most people are healed completely after 2-3 months. You can tell that your piercing is completely healed if you're no longer experiencing symptoms like pain, swelling, or discharge. Any symptoms that linger beyond three months may be a sign of infection or an underlying condition.

Snake Eye Piercing Pain

On a scale of 1 to 10, many people classify a tongue piercing at around a 3 or a 4. Compared to cartilage and skin piercings, tongue piercings are on the lower end of the pain spectrum.

Some people report that the clamp holding your tongue hurts more than the piercing itself. However, the level of pain you experience will vary based on your pain tolerance.

Snake Eyes Piercing Pros and Cons

There are potential pros and cons to getting a Snake Eyes piercing. Possible pros are:

It caters to an edgy look.
It’s relatively low on the piercing pain scale.
It’s easy to hide if you don’t love visible piercings.
It’s unique.

Potential cons include:

Oral piercings present health risks because of eating, drinking, and the bacteria in your mouth.
Possible risks include swelling, infections, rejections, tooth decay, gum disease, and speech impediments. It is considered a dangerous piercing.
You may be limited in what you eat and drink for weeks or months after getting the piercing.
You’re a little more limited when it comes to jewelry options.

If you’re looking for a unique oral piercing, the Snake Eyes piercing good be perfect for you. Consider what it looks like, and all of the potential pros and cons, before making your decision.

How to Eat With Snake Eye Piercing?

After you get a Snake Eyes piercing, tongue pain and irritation can make it hard to eat normally. For the first couple of weeks, stick to soft or blended foods. After each meal, rinse out your mouth with a sea salt solution or diluted mouthwash.

Be sure to brush your teeth twice daily to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth!

Snake Eye Piercing Jewelry

For a Snake Eye tongue piercing, you need a curved barbell to mimic the look of snake eyes. Rings are not recommended. Regarding materials, go with safe metals like implant-grade titanium and 14-karat gold.

1. Snake Eye Piercing Barbells

Snake Eyes Piercing: Danger, Cost, Healing, Pain, Jewelry, Sizes, Risks, Afrecare

Ashley Piercing Jewelry Snake Eyes Piercing Jewelry Curved Barbell Implant-Grade Titanium $18.9, SHOP NOW.

Curved barbells (banana barbells) will keep the ball ends in the right place to look like snake eyes! For Snake Eye piercings, you would need barbells that are thinner than traditional tongue barbells.

2. Snake Eye Piercing Rings

You wouldn't want to use rings for this piercing, as they won't look like the eyes of a snake.

Can You Use Eyebrow Piercing for Snake Eyes?

Yes. The go-to jewelry for Snake Eyes piercings is a curved barbell, which also happens to be popular for eyebrow piercings. As long as the gauge and length are of the appropriate size, you may be able to wear an "eyebrow piercing" to complete your Snake Eyes look.

Snake Eye Piercing Size

It's important to note that the size of the jewelry used for a Snake Eye piercing should be carefully selected by a professional piercer to ensure proper healing and prevent any complications.

Gauge

The size of a Snake Eye piercing is typically smaller than a traditional tongue piercing. Snake Eye piercings are usually done with a 16-gauge (1.2mm) or 14-gauge (1.6mm) needle.

If your tongue is on the small side, your piercer may opt to pierce you with a 16g needle instead, which measures about 1.2 mm in thickness.

Length

The average length of a Snake Eyes barbell is between 12-16 mm (1/2 inch-5/8 inch). Your actual size depends on your tongue's anatomy and your personal fit preference.

For best results, ask your piercer to measure your tongue and recommend an appropriate size after your swelling has gone down.

Safe Materials

1. Titanium: About $20-$40

Titanium has a reputation for being the best metal for piercings for many reasons. It is lightweight, hypoallergenic, durable, non-corrosive, and won’t tarnish.

Its non-porous nature reduces places bacteria can hide, promoting healing.

Titanium is also hypoallergenic, meaning it is less likely to cause allergic reactions. Titanium is nickel-free. Its high density-to-strength ratio means your jewelry is very durable.

A lower density also makes titanium lightweight, a big plus in many user's eyes. Finally, the metal comes in many colors because you can anodize it.

The only real downside to titanium jewelry is that you will pay more for all those positive traits. Shop for implant-grade titanium with designations like ASTM F-136, ASTM F-67, or ISO 5832-3.

2. Solid Gold: About $40-$200

This metal will not rust or tarnish. It is also easy to decorate and shape. The added alloys in 18k, and especially 14k, make them more durable than 24k gold pieces.

One downside to gold jewelry is the price tag, which is expensive. Another concern will be that the metal is soft, making it susceptible to bends, breaks, and gouges. Gold can also be heavy, especially with more pure karat ratings.

3. Surgical Steel: About $5-$30

Surgical steel is nonreactive. However, even surgical-grade steel may contain small amounts of nickel that could cause allergic reactions in those with skin sensitivities. Choose a different option if you are concerned about irritation or a nickel allergy.

Steel combines iron and carbon, improving its strength and ability to resist fracturing.

One of the pros most people cite for steel jewelry pieces is the lower price point. Steel is also a durable option. These pieces are low maintenance because the steel does not corrode, rust, or tarnish.

Weight is the top complaint for those using steel jewelry pieces. Steel can be less comfortable if worn in piercings for long periods.

When Can I Change My Snake Eyes Piercing?

Due to swelling, the first time you change your Snake Eyes piercing will be about two weeks after you receive it when it's time to size down to smaller jewelry.

After that, you can change your Snake Eyes tongue piercing once it has healed completely, which should take around 2-3 months. It's not unheard of to take longer than three months for some individuals.

This is because the tip of your tongue is extremely important for eating and pronouncing words and will likely move a lot during the healing process.

How Long Does a Snake Eyes Piercing Take to Close?

If your piercing is less than a year old, your piercing will begin to close within a few hours of taking out your jewelry and may close completely after a few months.

If you've had your piercing for several years, the closing process will be much slower, and you may still maintain a small hole where the piercing used to be.

Snake Eyes Piercing Risks

As you can see, Snake Eye piercing is a very risky one. Most reputable piercers consider it to be unsafe and refuse to do it. Here are some of the major risks:

1. Infected Snake Eyes Piercing

Any piercing can get infected. But since your mouth harbors so many bacteria, it's especially easy for a snake eye tongue piercing to get infected.

If your piercing is infected, you may notice green or yellow pus leaking from the piercing site. You also might see red streaks extending outward from the site.

2. Swollen Snake Eyes Piercing

All infected piercings will have some swelling. But if your piercing is very infected, your tongue will have redness and swelling that extend far beyond the piercing itself.

In severe cases, your tongue can swell enough to partially block your airway and make breathing harder. It's important to catch infections early, so be sure to make an appointment with your doctor if you notice signs of infection.

3. Snake Eye Piercing Rejection

Sometimes, your body may see your piercing as a foreign body and try to push it out. If your body is rejecting a piercing, you may see it shift positions or start to come closer to the surface of your tongue. You also may see the piercing holes getting larger.

If you think your Snake Eye tongue piercing is rejected, talk to your piercer for advice on what to do.

4. Other Risks

Many people (and piercers) steer clear of this piercing because of the severe damage to the teeth and gums it can cause. Compressing the muscles in the tongue can lead to speech issues, but it also can make it harder to eat.

Are Snake Eye Piercings Illegal?

The Snake Eyes tongue piercing is illegal in the entire state of Oregon. However, piercing shops anywhere in the world can decline to perform certain piercings by their own discretion.

You may encounter shops that will refuse to perform the Snake Eyes tongue piercing due to the risks, even if you're not a resident of Oregon. If this is the case for you, the best way to find a reputable shop is through a referral from a local person who has the Snake Eyes piercing.

Snake Eyes Piercing Aftercare

How to take care of a Snake Eyes piercing? If you've gotten piercings before, you know that the right aftercare is necessary to prevent infection and minimize pain. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth healing process:

Don’t speak or move your jewelry more than necessary.
Only touch the piercing if your hands are clean.
Eat soft foods until your pain starts to get better.
Cold foods and beverages can be soothing and help reduce swelling.
Avoid eating spicy, salty, acidic, or hot-temperature foods or beverages for the first two weeks (no specific foods need to be avoided).
Rinse with water (bottled or filtered) thoroughly after every time you eat, drink or smoke.
Don't chew gum or anything else that may harbor bacteria.
Avoid kissing or any other sexual activity involving your mouth.
Clean your piercing with alcohol-free and hydrogen peroxide-free mouth rinse. Plain clean water works too. Bottled or filtered water is preferred.
Use hypoallergenic jewelry like implant-grade titanium and 14- or 18-karat gold. Surgical-grade steel may contain small amounts of nickel that could cause allergic reactions.
Don't move the piercing unless you're cleaning it. Pulling on a piercing early in healing is painful, but it also can get in the way of healing or damage the piercing itself.
Wait until your piercing heals before changing out your jewelry.
Watch for potential signs of infection and consult your piercer or doctor if it becomes infected.

You should ensure you get pierced by someone experienced and reliable who utilizes the right cleaning and sterilization procedures. You’ll also need to choose high-quality jewelry that you aren’t allergic to. After you get your piercing, be sure to follow all instructions from your piercer.

How to Clean Snake Eyes Piercings?

Cleaning a tongue piercing is a bit different from cleaning other piercings. Instead of dabbing cleaning solution onto your piercing, you just need to use alcohol-free and hydrogen peroxide-free mouth rinse. Plain clean water works too. Bottled or filtered water is preferred.

You will want to floss, brush and use mouth rinse at least twice a day. Ideally, you should rinse your mouth out every time you eat, smoke, or drink alcohol.
Gently brush the jewelry with a clean toothbrush regularly to avoid plaque buildup.