If you’ve been into piercings for more than a minute, no doubt you’ve heard someone refer to a “flatback”, a “labret stud”, or some combination thereof. Perhaps you were wondering why everyone seems to be talking about these nifty little pieces of piercing jewelry. Well, wonder no more because that’s what we’re talking about today!
What is a labret? Bet you thought it was a piercing, but it is actually the name of the jewelry style! It’s a straight post with a flat disc end (hence the name “flatback”) which is generally considered…wait for it…. the back side of the jewelry. The front end can be anything from a charm to a gem end to a simple, plain old ball end. The style options are literally endless. That’s one reason why we love them so much but there’s more! They are also incredibly comfortable. The low profile of the flat end means that they tend to be a lot more comfortable. Ball ends can dig in if you put weight on them. If you have ear cartilage piercings and tend to sleep on them, a flatback can go a long way towards a more comfortable sleeping experience. They’re also lightweight and don’t move within piercings as much as circular jewelry making them overall just a really comfortable style to rock.
Another great thing about a labret stud is that it’s versatile! You can wear these in ALMOST any lip or ear piercing one could name. The range of lengths is so extensive that you can find an almost custom fit for your piercing. And why do they come in so many sizes? Because people do! You may have especially thick cartilage in your conch while another person may have unusually thin cartilage in their tragus. This variety means that your jewelry could wind up a bit snug or look too long for your piercing. But with flatbacks, you have options down to the millimeter. And not only that, but they also come in a range of materials as well. Got an allergy to steel jewelry? Why not try titanium! Need something temporary? What about Bioplast? There is an option for every style and color you could imagine!
Yet another nifty trend in these do-it-all wonders of the body jewelry world is the “reversible” labret. These have, instead of flat disc back ends, shaped back ends in cool styles like flowers and hearts. While you could flip these around and wear them back to front, an even cooler look to rock is to wear them in piercings where the back end is visible. For example, a conch piercing, where the back end is glimpsed here and there makes the shaped end a charming surprise for anyone who gets close enough to see. What’s sexier than a little game of peek-a-boo? And if you really can’t resist the flip, you get to rock two different looks with one piece of jewelry.
So, there it is. That’s why everyone loves the labret and favors flatbacks! Endless style options, multitudes of materials choices, colossal comfort, and the ability to rock a reverse look – what’s not to love??
