Tongue Piercing
A tongue piercing sits along the midline of the tongue, a few centimetres back from the tip to protect your teeth. It's one of the quickest piercings to place, though swelling in the first few days is normal. We pierce with a 14 gauge straight barbell, and our SK Certified piercing specialists will guide you through aftercare in detail.
- Pain level
- 3 to 4 / 10
- Method
- Needle
- Minimum age:
- 13 years*
- Jewellery type:
- Straight barbell View jewellery options
- Downsizing:
- 2-4 weeks
- Fully healed:
- Minimum 4 months
Two Piercings From $80
Get two of your favourite standard piercings for just $80 when pierced with selected surgical steel jewellery. Read more
Pain is subjective, so treat this as a general guide rather than a guarantee of what you'll feel. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.
* Available from 13 years with parental consent, 16 years and over without. Check our ID and consent requirements here.Note: in WA you must be 18 years to get pierced without parental consent.
What Is A Tongue Piercing?
A tongue piercing is positioned along the midline of the tongue, a few centimetres back from the tip to protect your teeth. It's a quick, popular piercing that heals faster than many people expect once the initial swelling settles.
Good oral hygiene is essential in the first few weeks, since the mouth carries more bacteria than most piercing sites. Our SK Certified piercing specialists will walk you through this in detail. Read more on our piercing info page.
What To Expect
Here's how your experience at SkinKandy unfolds from the moment you arrive.
How We Pierce
We pierce every tongue with a single-use hollow needle, never a piercing gun. Our SK Certified piercing specialists are nurse-trained and certified in infection prevention, so you're looked after from consultation through to aftercare advice. Read more about our approach on our piercing info page.
Choosing Your Jewellery
Every tongue is typically pierced with a 14 gauge straight barbell. Browse our tongue jewellery collection to see what's available.
Step By Step: Your Tongue Piercing Experience
- Your piercing specialist will mark the midline placement, a few centimetres back from the tip.
- We pierce with a single-use sterile needle for a clean, precise channel.
- A 14 gauge straight barbell is fitted, chosen with extra length to allow for initial swelling.
- You'll get full aftercare guidance before you leave, with a strong focus on oral hygiene.
BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE
Find Your Nearest Studio
Ready to book in? Check our age, ID and consent requirements before your visit so you know what to bring.
Nearest studios
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Aftercare
Healing takes time, and swelling in the first few days is completely normal for a tongue piercing.
Your Daily Routine
Stick to a simple daily routine and stock up on the right products from our aftercare collection. For the full step by step, read our aftercare guide.
- Clean with sterile saline twice daily, especially after eating.
- Be mindful of alcohol, smoking and oral hygiene while it heals.
- Stick to soft, cool foods for the first few days while swelling settles.
When Can I Change My Jewellery?
We recommend downsizing between 2 to 4 weeks once the initial swelling has gone down, with full healing taking a minimum of 4 months.
- Pierced
- Day one
- Downsizing:
- 2-4 weeks
- Fully healed:
- Minimum 4 months
Jewellery For Your Tongue Piercing
The right barbell makes all the difference to comfort while your tongue heals, and to how it feels day to day once settled.
Starter Jewellery
We pierce every tongue with a 14 gauge straight barbell in 316L surgical steel, chosen to support healing from day one.
Building Your Stack
Once you're healed, explore our full tongue jewellery collection for shorter, everyday styles.
Not Sure What Metal Suits You?
If you're torn between finishes, our guide on silver, rose gold or gold can help, or browse everything by material to compare options.
FAQs
What is a tongue piercing?
A tongue piercing sits along the midline of the tongue, a few centimetres back from the tip to protect your teeth.
Does a tongue piercing hurt?
Most people rate it a 3 to 4 out of 10, though swelling afterwards can feel more uncomfortable than the piercing itself. Pain is subjective, so treat this as a general guide rather than a guarantee of what you'll feel. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.
How long does a tongue piercing take to heal?
Full healing takes a minimum of 4 months, though initial swelling usually settles within the first week or two. See the average healing time by piercing type for how it compares.
What jewellery is used for a tongue piercing?
We typically pierce with a 14 gauge straight barbell, chosen with extra length to allow for initial swelling.
When can I downsize my tongue piercing?
We recommend downsizing between 2 to 4 weeks once the initial swelling has gone down. Read why downsize your piercing for more on timing.
Will a tongue piercing affect my speech or eating?
You may notice a temporary lisp and need to eat soft, cool foods for the first few days while swelling settles, but this passes as it heals.
Can a tongue piercing damage my teeth?
Playing with the jewellery against your teeth over time can cause wear, so it's worth being mindful of this habit. See our piercing info page for more.
Can I get a tongue piercing as part of the two piercings from $80 deal?
Yes, this piercing qualifies for our two piercings from $80 deal when paired with another standard piercing and selected surgical steel jewellery.
Explore More Tongue Piercings
A tongue piercing pairs with a tongue webbing piercing for a different, more discreet style. Check our piercing info page for more, or explore below.
