Snake Eyes Tongue Piercing 101: What You Need to Know

Are you looking to get a hot new piercing?

Snake eyes tongue piercing is one of the hottest trends right now. It provides a unique look that's as fun and quirky as you are. But, with all the buzz around it, it's hard to get any real answers.

Snake eyes are easier to get than you'd think and aren't hard to explain. The process is straightforward and isn't dangerous, expensive, or painful. With the right piercer and good aftercare, there's little to worry about for healing.

If the ultimate guide to snake eyes tongue piercing is what you're after, then look no further. We have everything you need to know below.

What is a Snake Eyes Tongue Piercing?

When it comes to piercings, there's a ton to choose from. Piercing is a true art, and your body is the canvas - as evidenced by the popularity of body piercings. No matter who you are or your style, you can find a piercing that's right for you.

Some people opt for traditional ones, such as ear piercings. By this point, nose and eyebrow piercings are also super popular and commonplace. Facial piercings, in general, are everywhere, and oral piercings aren't far behind.

A snake eyes tongue piercing is a special kind of oral piercing. It isn't a classic stud or ring. Instead, it goes near the tip of your tongue to resemble two stunning snake eyes staring out at the world.

Now a snake eyes tongue piercing isn't the same as snake bites. They have a few surface-level similarities, but they are pretty different. So let's get into them to define snake eye tongue piercings better.

Snake Eyes, Not Snake Bites

The first major difference is that snake bites, in particular, go on your lips. The bottom lip is the most common, but your top lip also works. Going for a pair of studs or rings is typical and makes your piercings look like twin snake fangs - hence snake bites.

Snake eyes go on the tip of your tongue, not your lips. In particular, snake eyes don't sit vertically on top of your tongue but face outward. They resemble two studs but are one piece.

The two ends, which resemble studs, connect with a curved bar. This makes them trickier to do than simple studs. Snake eyes are often confused as being two piercings, but they are only one.

Throughout this guide, we will make sure to go into more depth on snake eye piercings. It's important to know what they are so you know what to look for, ask about, and expect.

It's Crazy Popular

We talked about body and oral piercings earlier and how popular they are becoming. Well, the thing about snake eye piercings is they are crazy popular. It wouldn't be unfair to say they are all the rage right now.

Part of this had to do with the fact they are oral piercings. This should come as no surprise. Tongue piercings have been at the forefront of fashion for a few years.

Don't get us wrong - a tongue piercing is still every bit as rebellious and unique as it's ever been. The main difference now is that what used to be a handful of revolutionaries, even in the piercing scene, is now a groundswell of support. Those with tongue piercings are becoming legion, and the number is only growing.

It makes sense then that people would be experimenting with different kinds. For a while, the stud ruled supreme, but that's all changing. The unique flare of snake eyes piercings is taking the world by storm - for a good reason.

It's new, eye-catching, and shows the right amount of rebellious moxy to stand out. So don't be at all surprised if you start noticing a bunch of people walking around with them in the coming months.

Learning About the Process

It's important we talk more about the process of getting snake eyes tongue piercings. We went over them pretty quickly earlier, but it's time to get specific. The way a snake eyes tongue piercing gets inserted is different than most other options.

Usually, oral piercings are vertical. However, snake eyes are at the very tip of your tongue.

So although you could go with studs, they won't look as clean or as good. Also, you'd likely have to move the studs back farther than you'd like. That would ruin the look you're going for.

What you want is two little eyes at the tip of your tongue. Your tongue itself will look like a snake peeking out past your lips. How do you achieve this look, then?

As mentioned already, the answer is a barbell with a slight curve. This has to get inserted into the tip of your tongue. Rounded ends, resembling studs, make up each end.

These rounded ends stick out and are visible. The bar itself goes into the piercing and stays hidden. Because the snake eyes tongue piercing isn't vertical, and because the bar is rather shallow, this counts as a surface piercing.

The piercing itself is also pretty straightforward. The person doing your piercings will make two symmetrical holes at the tip of your tongue. The curved bar will then get inserted into the first hole and come out of the second hole, creating a channel.

Is it Painful?

When it comes to snake eye piercing procedures, this is a frequent question. People want to know if it hurts. Of course, all piercings hurt, but there is more to it than that.

What people usually mean by this question is, does it hurt more than alternative options? Many people who get snake eyes already have other tongue or oral piercings. It's a fashion statement in itself to pair snake eyes with a middle stud, creating a little snoot for your snake.

So for most people considering snake eye tongue piercings, it won't be their first rodeo. Be that as it may, we have to be 100% honest. Personal pain levels and thresholds will always vary from person to person.

We can say that, on average, people find getting snake eyes a little more painful than studs or similar one-off piercings. What's worth noting is how that pain gets measured. Many say there isn't a crazy difference between snake eyes and getting a single stud.

A Little Note About Pain

Most people feel getting two separate vertical studs is more painful and uncomfortable. So depending on how many piercings and where they are, snake eyes might be a better pick. That is if pain and discomfort are your concern, rather than only how stylish they are.

In general, however, the pain is pretty standard where piercings go. A large number of people don't even consider it painful at all. A common reaction is feeling a tingle that reminds you of an itch.

Most of the time, people who get it done are pretty surprised by how easy and quick it is.

Finding the Right Person

This might be the most critical thing you need to know from the entire guide. Like with any piercing you get, the person doing it is important. You don't want to entrust your body to someone who's inexperienced or doesn't know what they are doing.

First, after you've done some preliminary research on snake eyes, start looking for pros. Don't fall for discounted rates with someone still training or a mass-market mall shop. Find someone with experience and tenure, with a large portfolio of work behind them.

Think about it like getting a tattoo. You wouldn't trust any random stranger with your skin, so why would you do the same with a piercing? Look up serious reviews online or see the word on the street about that shop.

The most important thing is to sit down with any professional piercers. Have an honest conversation with each one you are considering. Tell them what you have in mind, down to every detail.

Show them reference photos if you can. Most piercers will be familiar with snake eyes, but they might want specifics. If any piercer tells you they've never done one or don't feel comfortable, that is a red flag.

As mentioned earlier, snake eyes are safe when done right. That said, there are always risks. You want someone you have 100% confidence in, and you will do the best job possible.

This will reduce any risks or chances of mistakes.

A Pro Should Give You the Details

There is another thing worth mentioning. Any reputable piercer will walk you through every possible health or safety issue.

Often they have a printout of the risks, how it works, and how you should do aftercare. They want to provide you with as much info as possible before you make your decision. Anything less, and you might want to consider someone else to do your snake eyes.

Choosing the Material and Style

One of the great things about an oral piercing is you have a world of options available. Studs and rings of various shapes, sizes, colors, and materials are yours to take. This ensures that your piercing is as unique and personal as you are.

The problem with snake eye tongue piercings is that your options seem a little limited at first. At the risk of sounding like a downer, you're stuck with a barbell with two rounded ends. That doesn't mean you have to give up hope, however.

The length of the bar and the size of the rounded balls are fair game - within reason. Everything still has to fit on the tip of your tongue, after all. By playing with material and color, you can also dramatically affect the look.

You could go for glistening black orbs to sell the snake eye look. You could also go for some razzle-dazzle with some gold. That said, there are a few things to consider.

The Material

First of all, remember that your piercing lives in your mouth and tongue. It's going to come into contact with your teeth and gums. Basic eating and drinking are also going to add to any erosion.

It should go without saying, but don't pick any materials which are dangerous or bad for your health. A safe place to start is with steel, and we mean the surgical kind. Surgical steel is always made to be implant grade to minimize infections or complications.

Steel is by far the most common option you'll see and one of the most affordable. It's important to never go for anything made of alloys like nickel. These can trigger allergic reactions and can mess up the healing process.

In some cases, using bad material can even increase the risks of piercing rejection.

Gold

A much more flashy option is gold, but this, too, has considerations beyond only the price. For years, gold was the choice for tooth fillings and implants for a good reason. It's super clean and sterile metal.

Gold doesn't react with anything. You won't have to worry about bacterial infections or similar issues. It can also look incredible, depending on your preferences.

One thing to consider, though, is that not all gold is the same. 14K gold should be the minimum you look for if you go this route. The reason is pretty straightforward.

Gold is one of the purest metals, but we don't usually get it that way. Often we buy and see gold as part of an alloy containing other metals. Some of these metals can cause allergies in cheap alloys or increase the risk of infections.

The higher the karat count, the more pure and thus safe the gold would be. If you go too far, though, and get 24K gold, it will be so soft you could bend it with your fingers like a paperclip.

That isn't ideal for anything you want living in your mouth and implanted in your tongue.

Niobium

Another material worth a shout is niobium. Known as element 41 on the periodic table, this material is hypoallergenic. This makes it a pretty good pick for most body piercings, and the range of potential color options is gorgeous.

The only downsides are that niobium isn't that cheap and isn't implant grade. Look into the material options that are available to you and your budget. Do your research and make sure you pick one that's as safe as it is amazing.

The Shape

In terms of shape, I'm sorry to say you are going to have limitations again. Regardless of size or style, it needs to be smooth and rounded. Think about it for a second.

Your piercing will live right where it will come into the most contact with other surfaces. It will bang and grind on your teeth and gums, for example. Anything you eat or put in your mouth will also be a factor.

The bar also has to slide into your tongue and out the other side without issue. The last thing you want is sharp edges or corners gouging out a piece of your tongue or scraping your gums. Having either of those things happen is a great way to delay the healing process and cause dangerous infections.

Make sure that whichever snake eye tongue piercing you get, it's smooth and safe.

Costs

Like with a lot of things in the world of body art, the pricing is going to vary. In general, you can expect to pay roughly $40 to $100 to get a snake eye tongue piercing done. A number of factors are going to go into this calculation.

For starters, you need to consider where you go and the reputation of the piercer. A well-known and established boutique in the city is more likely to hit $100. A less well-known or cheaper option might go down to $35.

As mentioned earlier, you want the best person for the job. Bargain hunting is well and good, but remember that you usually get what you pay for. A fair share of reputable piercers can do the procedure for around $60-$70, and you won't have to worry as much.

Now, something that is going to impact the overall price of getting this piercing is material. Steel won't cost you anywhere near as much as niobium or gold. Some people go crazy and try for real gemstones.

This isn't recommended at all. Stick to materials that are pure, clean, and have a track record in surgical use. With steel, you'll get a good bang for your 60 or so bucks.

With gold, you can outdo the $100 ceiling with ease. Remember what we said about alloys, though? If you splash the cash on gold, don't go for anything plated, and stick to 14k or above.

Is it Safe?

You may have heard it said that snake eye tongue piercings aren't safe. Well, that's both true and somewhat not true. Like most things in life, it's a question of proper care and attention.

It's also a question about managing risk and making a choice for yourself.

Why would people say it isn't safe? There are two main reasons. The first has to do with how and where the piercing goes, and the second is because of what happens afterward.

The Potential Impact of Horizontal Tongue Tip Placement

So the snake eye tongue piercings go horizontally on the tip of your tongue. We've already talked plenty about that, but why could that be a bad thing?

It turns out that two of the major muscles in your tongue connect right at the tip. These control a good deal of how your tongue moves and acts. The curved bar that makes up the snake eye piercing runs through both muscles.

If done the wrong way or at too large a size, this can cause some issues. Beyond discomfort and extra swelling, it could limit tongue mobility. This is super true while you wear it.

The jury is still out on long-term impacts on your muscles. If you wear it all the time for a long period (think years or decades), it might weaken your tongue muscles somewhat. This is why it is super important to get a pro you trust and to go over all of the potential risks with them.

With proper care and attention to detail, you can minimize many of these risks.

Heightened Risks of Infection and Rejection

The second safety factor occurs after the piercing gets done and is healing. Because the piercing is at the very tip of your tongue and close to your teeth and gums, this creates risks. This guide has mentioned them several times.

One of the reasons some piercers don't like doing snake eyes is that they can have a higher risk for infection or rejection. This type often rubs and bangs on your teeth and gums, causing irritation and soreness. If taken far enough, it can cause bleeding and infections.

Any trauma, especially during the healing process, can cause infections. This is manageable with proper care, but the risk is still there for you to consider. You don't have to panic or change your mind about getting snake eyes, but you have to be responsible.

Any oral piercings are extra prone to infection in general. You eat and drink a lot of things which will lead to debris building up in your mouth and around the piercing. This can cause issues, and open sores from chaffing will only make it worse.

In terms of rejection, trauma increases the risk. Rejection is when the piercing won't heal the right way. The piercing might feel loose, and the hole won't stay the way it should.

The best way to avoid these problems is to find and listen to a reliable pro. Pay attention to the aftercare instructions and follow them religiously. If you do that, then you shouldn't have any problems.

Healing and Aftercare

When it comes to healing and aftercare, you can expect to take things more seriously. The healing process will take longer than a typical oral or tongue piercing. You can expect the swelling to go down in about a month and for full healing to take between 2 and 3 months.

Some people will heal faster or slower, so take this with a grain of salt. Those who have had other tongue piercings will realize that this is almost twice as long as the normal time. This is because of the unique risks and irritations which having your piercing so close to your teeth and gums causes.

Aftercare

For aftercare, a few things are crucial. For starters, you should gargle with antiseptic mouthwash or salt water. Do this when you wake up, go to bed, and after every meal.

You should even do this after you've drunk anything more than water. You should keep this up for the entire healing process, up to around 3 months. It sounds crazy but trust us.

You want to keep your mouth, piercing, and wounds as clean as possible. Never, and we mean ever, use a mouthwash that's alcohol based. You want to minimize swelling and avoid things that will irritate your healing wounds.

Stay away from booze, spicy food, and anything that could cause irritation. Instead, try to stick to soft foods for at least the first 2-4 weeks or until the swelling subsides.

If the swelling doesn't ease up or you feel extended periods of pain and discomfort, take it out. Go back to the piercer, as they might have to give you a different size. A good rule of thumb is if it isn't getting better, take it out and then talk to a pro, whether the piercer or a doctor.

Above all, follow the specifics of the aftercare plan your piercer gives you.

Snake Eyes Tongue Piercing

There's a lot to know about snake eyes tongue piercing. It's all the rage right now, and it isn't as hard to understand or as difficult as people think. It's safe, unique, and crazy stylish.

Of course, if you get any piercings done, you'll need a place to shop for jewelry options. Why not check us out at Body Pierce Jewelry? We have a wide selection and many more articles to read, and if you have any questions, you can always contact us.