Care

How to change your top

Once your piercing is healed, swapping your Ashley is easy. It just depends which system you have, and taking it slow the first time. Here is how, for both.

Before you start

  • Only change your jewelry once your piercing is fully healed. If it is new or irritated, leave it to your piercer.
  • Wash your hands before you touch anything.
  • Do it over a closed sink or a towel, so a tiny top cannot roll away or go down the drain.
  • Have your new top clean and ready before you remove the old one.

Which system do you have? Most of our pieces are internally threaded, meaning the top screws on. The Ashley Brilliant is threadless, meaning the top pushes in. Every product page tells you which, so check yours if you are not sure.

Internally threaded

The screw on system, most of our pieces

Internally threaded titanium Ashley labret, decorative top and threaded post shown separately
  1. Hold the flat disc steady behind your lip with clean fingers, so the post cannot spin.
  2. Grip the top and turn it counter clockwise to unscrew. It can be snug at first, that is normal.
  3. Once it is off, take your new top and line the thread up straight.
  4. Turn clockwise until it feels snug, then stop. Do not force it. Over tightening strips the thread.

Threadless

The push in system, the Ashley Brilliant

Threadless titanium Ashley labret, push pin top and post shown separately
  1. Hold the post steady.
  2. To remove the top, pull it straight out with gentle, even pressure. Do not twist.
  3. To fit a new one, line up the little pin and push straight in until it seats and holds.
  4. Give it a very light tug to check it is secure. Done.

A few tips

If a threaded top will not budge, do not reach for pliers. Dry your fingers, get a firmer grip, and try again calmly. A clean rubber glove or a grippy cloth gives you traction without scratching the metal. Change your jewelry a little less often than you are tempted to, since every swap is a small stress on the piercing. And if you drop the top, this is exactly why we said to close the drain first.

If your piercing is new, sore, or you are not certain it is healed, do not change it yourself. Your piercer is the right person to help, and to tell you when you are ready.

Need spare tops or a fresh look?

Shop all Ashley studs