Removing snake bites piercing jewelry is straightforward once you know what type of jewelry you’re wearing and how to get a grip on small, tight pieces. Most snake bites use either labret studs (flat-back posts) or rings, and each comes out differently. The key is clean hands, a little patience, and knowing which direction to twist.
Identify Your Jewelry Type First
Snake bites typically use one of three jewelry styles, and the removal technique depends entirely on which one you have. The most common is the flat-back labret stud, a straight post with a flat disc on the inside of your lip and a decorative top on the outside. These come in either internally threaded or externally threaded versions, but both unscrew the same way. To check, gently twist the front piece. If it starts to turn, you have a threaded stud.
The other common options are captive bead rings (a hoop held together by a small ball that sits in a gap) and circular barbells (horseshoe-shaped pieces with a ball on each end). Standard gauge for snake bites ranges from 14 to 18 gauge, with post lengths or diameters between 6mm and 10mm.
How to Remove Labret Studs
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching anything. Dry them completely, since wet fingers slip on small jewelry. If you have latex or nitrile gloves, put them on. The added friction makes a huge difference when gripping tiny, smooth metal pieces.
Reach inside your lip and pinch the flat back disc between your thumb and index finger. Hold it steady. With your other hand, grip the decorative top on the outside of your lip and twist it counterclockwise. Once it loosens, keep twisting until the top comes free, then gently slide the post out through the back of your lip. Repeat on the other side.
If the top won’t budge, don’t force it. Dried skin cells and buildup can essentially glue threaded pieces together over time. Try soaking a clean cotton pad in warm water and holding it against the piercing for a minute to soften any crust. Then try again with gloves. Some people find that hemostats (small locking clamps, available at most pharmacies) help hold the flat back steady while they twist.
How to Remove Rings
For captive bead rings, wash and dry your hands, then position your thumb on one side of the bead and your index and middle fingers on either side of the bead on the opposite side of the ring. Push the bead outward with your thumb while steadying the ring with your other fingers. The bead should pop free from the tension of the ring. Once the bead is out, gently rotate the ring open and slide it out of the piercing.
For circular barbells, unscrew one of the two balls by twisting it counterclockwise. Once the ball is off, slide the horseshoe shape out of the hole. Avoid using pliers or tools directly on the jewelry, as metal on metal can scratch the surface and create rough edges that irritate the piercing channel on the way out.
Make Sure Your Piercing Is Ready
Snake bites typically take two to three months to heal. If your piercing is newer than that, removing the jewelry could cause the hole to partially close while you’re trying to get the second side out, making reinsertion painful or impossible. Piercings heal from the outside in, so a piercing that looks fine on the surface can still be raw inside the channel. If you’re removing jewelry just to swap it for something new, wait until healing is fully complete.
A new piercing (less than a year old) can start closing within hours to a single day once the jewelry comes out. If you’re removing your snake bites permanently and want the holes to close, that works in your favor. For piercings you’ve had longer than a year, the tissue is more stable and closure takes anywhere from a few days to several months. Very old piercings may leave a small visible mark even after they close.
What to Do If You Suspect Infection
If the skin around your piercing is red, hot, swollen, or oozing pus, do not remove the jewelry on your own. Pulling jewelry from an infected piercing can trap the infection beneath the skin by allowing the hole to close over it. Leave the jewelry in and see a doctor. Signs that need prompt medical attention include red streaks spreading from the piercing site, fever, swollen lymph nodes, or numbness and tingling near the area.
Minor irritation, like slight redness or a small bump, is different from infection and usually resolves with proper cleaning. If you’re unsure which you’re dealing with, err on the side of keeping the jewelry in and getting a professional opinion before removal.
Clean the Area After Removal
Once both pieces are out, spray the piercing sites with sterile saline wound wash (available at any drugstore). Gently pat dry with clean gauze or a disposable paper product. Avoid using towels, which can harbor bacteria. Clean the jewelry itself with rubbing alcohol or mild soap if you plan to reuse it later.
For the first few days after removal, continue spraying saline on the sites once or twice daily. The holes are still open wounds, even if they’re shrinking, and keeping them clean prevents irritation while the tissue closes.
When to Visit a Piercer Instead
If you’ve tried gloves, warm soaks, and hemostats and the jewelry still won’t move, a professional piercer can remove it quickly. Most studios charge around $10 for jewelry removal, and many will waive the fee if you’re also getting new jewelry or a new piercing that day. It’s a quick visit, usually just a few minutes, and piercers have specialized tools designed to grip small threaded pieces without damaging them. There’s no shame in asking for help. Tight jewelry is one of the most common reasons people walk into a piercing studio.