How Do You Know When Your Ears Are Ready to Stretch Again

Whitney is an expert on piercings and tattoos, with experience in the trunk modification world.

A large gauge

Ear Gauging

Although information technology is a fairly old process, it is at present pretty popular for today'south younger people to non just become piercings, but also stretch them.

Even if you have a piercing that was pierced to a standard size—generally 20 gauge, 18 gauge, and 16 estimate—you tin can nevertheless stretch your ears to a larger size. What'southward more, it doesn't thing how recently yous got them pierced. It volition work even if you got them when you lot were five and you want to stretch them now that you're 21.

It takes time to stretch your piercings properly, every bit you will want to give your ear time to relax after stretching. Stretching too quickly tin can cause other concerns.

You can stretch any piercing, just the most common piercing that is stretched is the lobe piercings. Other commonly stretched piercings include the inner conch, septum, nose, abdomen push, tongue, and ear cartilage.

Piercing Gauges

The typically, lobes are pierced with a xx, eighteen, or 16 estimate, but information technology will usually depending on where you lot get to become your piercing. The mall, for example, pierces with piercing guns, so the gauge of the piercing will exist the gauge of the stud that you choose to outset off with, which is a twenty gauge.

As for other piercings, for the most part, you lot will discover that they are pierced with 14-judge piercings. Cartilage, nose, septum, omphalus, etc, are all typically pierced at a 14 gauge.

Common judge sizes are named in fifty-fifty numbers down to 00, with the size of the guess increasing as the number decreases. For instance, a 10-judge piercing is smaller than a 2-judge piercing. For sizes larger than 00, the gauges are represented by fractions.

Ear Gauge Size Chart

(by Stephen DeToma, Anomaly Studio, Pasadena, Ca)

Will They Shrink Back?

When stretching a piercing, the odds are not in your favor that information technology will shrink back to normal size. So, when you decide to stretch, be sure that y'all are prepared to handle a permanent stretch.

Just, it is not incommunicable for a stretched piercing to return to a normal size. It will depend on a few factors:

• Size of Stretch: The larger you get, the less likely it becomes that it will go back to its original size. Generally, 0 gauge has been called "the point of no return," meaning that once y'all take stretched that far, information technology's not going to go back. Over the point of no return, your ears can shrink, only they may not return to normal, merely a smaller guess.
• Length of Stretch Fourth dimension: If your piercing has been stretched for a couple of years or more, it'southward pretty well fix and probably isn't going to shrink dorsum to a completely normal size. Shrinking to a smaller judge is possible, though.
• How Information technology Was Stretched: If the piercing was stretched besides chop-chop, especially if there was resulting scar tissue, it probably won't revert very easily. If it was done with a scalpel or dermal punch, information technology definitely won't shrink.

Simply, equally everyone's trunk is unlike, the amount of shrinkage volition depend on you. But brand certain that you make every stretch as though information technology will exist permanent.

There are several different methods that you lot can utilize to stretch a piercing.

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• Tapering: This is the nearly common and safest method of stretching most soft tissue piercings, such equally ear lobes. A tapered, surgical stainless steel rod is inserted into the piercing. The smaller stop of the rod goes in beginning and the pigsty is slowly stretched every bit the wider end of the rod is gently pushed through the hole. Larger guess jewelry is then inserted backside the taper to keep the pigsty at its new size.
• Weights: This is not a recommended method, equally it doesn't stretch the piercing evenly and can thin the skin effectually the piercing, causing drooping and sagging. The weights utilize force per unit area to the piercing to aid weigh down the pigsty; you can use heavy steel jewelry as a weight. Simply brand sure that you only clothing the weights for short periods of fourth dimension, if at all.
• Dermal Dial: This method cuts away a section of mankind by "punching" a hole through it. The dermal punch method is as traumatic to the skin as information technology sounds, only it is sometimes preferred over tapering for stretching cartilage piercings, as cartilage has less blood menstruation and can be damaged under the pressure of tapered stretching. The dermal punch can also be used to stretch several gauges at one time, but it is yet only recommended for cartilage, not soft tissue. Simply brand sure that yous know that the guy who's doing your dermal punch knows what he'due south doing.

• Tapered Claws and Talons: This method uses pinchers or similar body jewelry to slowly push button through the piercing until it is at its thickest point, which, depending on the jewelry, is either at the middle or stop. This method allows you to push the jewelry through as you meet fit, allowing yourself healing time. (This is my personal favorite method, as it is the easiest and least painful.)
• Scalpeling: Scalpeling is a more extreme, nigh surgical, technique. A sharp bract is used to cutting away enough flesh to permit for larger judge jewelry. Sometimes the blade is heated enough to cauterize the peel as it cuts, and and so the jewelry is inserted. This technique is decumbent to infection and generally requires a long healing process.
• Taping: Once a piercing has already reached a large size, taping is the nigh common method to go along stretching. A plug or tunnel is wrapped with a layer of tape in order to increase the bore of the jewelry, which is then inserted back into the hole. This is repeated (subsequently each stretch has healed) until the desired size is reached.

Dermal Punch

Tips for Stretching Your Ears

It's important that you change your approximate gradually, assuasive plenty of healing time between sizes, because if you move likewise fast, you might impairment your peel enough to create scar tissue. Scars make your ear look every bit if it is cracking around the hole and also make it very hard to change gauges, whether up or downwards.

Use stainless steel jewelry for initial stretching because steel is non porous, so it will not absorb bacteria. Also, steel is heavy, and the weight volition assist the stretching process, ever so slightly. You do not desire to use acrylic or wood jewelry to stretch y'all ears because they are porous; salvage them for when your piercing has healed.

Note: You never desire to use acrylic, silicone, bone, rock, forest, or whatever other material that's not steel or titanium to stretch a piercing.

Every bit anybody is dissimilar. You will need to listen to your ain body while you are in the procedure of stretching your piercings. Don't stretch to a larger size until yous are comfy doing so.

Y'all will want to buy jewelry that is the adjacent size up to your current gauge; if your piercing is a 16 gauge, so purchase 14-gauge jewelry. You exercise non want to skip gauges because then y'all will risk complications.

Unremarkably, the longer you keep the old approximate, the easier it will be to insert the new, larger jewelry.

Practice consider that smaller gauges tend to exist easier to pop right through than larger gauges, especially if y'all have the smaller gauge in your ear for a longer period of time. And so your all-time bet for easier stretching is to look longer in between stretches. The minimum time lapse in between should be no less than two weeks.

Stretching Your Ear Piercing

1. Make sure that your hands, the piercing, and the jewelry are make clean.
2. Massage the earlobe for a few minutes.
3. Insert the larger piece of jewelry into the piercing. Depending on the size of the new approximate, information technology may not slide right in, so gently push the jewelry through. You lot may take to employ some kind of lubricant (water-based) to assist the jewelry through.

Do not force the jewelry in as you can crusade tears and bleeding. If yous have issues inserting the new jewelry, even with a lubricant, give the piercing a remainder and try once more after or the following mean solar day.

Another pick you can endeavour, is to stretch your ears in the shower. The warm water will loosen the piercing, making it a fiddling easier to slide the new jewelry carefully through the hole.

Expect some soreness equally your lobes heal and adjust to the new hole size.

Stretched Ear Aftercare

Healing a newly stretched piercing is going to exist similar to healing a make new one. It'south very important to keep the piercing clean and permit it the opportunity to breathe.

Bounding main table salt or saline soaks are important in keeping an infection from developing. The soaks volition also soothe the soreness of the piercing.

Do not use booze or ointments on a newly stretched and healing piercing.

Complications While Stretching Your Ears

Bleeding and soreness are mutual but can continue longer than necessary if you stretch too fast.

Blow-outs tin occur if you lot stretch too early on and likewise speedily before the piercing has the proper time to heal. A blowout occurs when the peel tunnel is forced out of the back of the piercng, which results in an extra "lip," or skin tissue around the edge. The lip of skin will continue to grow with farther stretching. Y'all need to downsizethe guess if this occurs; some people have to accept it removed if they insist on stretching further.

Tearing can occur when you lot stretch as well fast as well soon. This particular complexity will non heal itself, and the ear lobe will remain with a big split or opening. You lot may want to inquire about plastic surgery to right ear tearing. If your piercing tears, it's not recommended to proceed stretching subsequently yous consult assistance of a dr..

Infections can develop if the piercing is not cleaned regularly/properly, or if you employ improper jewelry.

Pictures of Stretched Piercings

(past John Durante, Laughing Buddha, Upland, CA)

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's noesis and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional person.

Janet on Baronial 18, 2019:

Is information technology normal for my right ear to be a different stretching size then my left?

Sharni on July 04, 2019:

Hi only want to ask a question I have a 3mm spacer in that I put in yesterday and was wondering why it's notwithstanding not twisting

DreadyJo on September xxx, 2017:

Been stretching since I was 16 I'one thousand now 32. I'm at 24mm which I personally call back is right for my face up however to night I'm going upward 2mm equally I've bought some lovelly blue jasper plugs. Here is how I'm going to practice information technology:

Clean ears. / new plugs

Sit in a hot bath with ears submerged for an hour.

Become a aqua based lube and put on both ear and plug

Breath

Pop in the plug.

Exit for an hr

Take out and make sure no bleeding or bow out

Make clean and dry

Pop on some smelly jelly and pop plug back in.

Done.

Alec Grand on July 19, 2017:

Hey guys, I just went from a pierced ear that hasn't had anything in it, to a 12. It hurt a bit, merely they went in with relative ease. Inside three days, the pain was completely gone, so today I decided to try to get a 6g taper thru. It worked. 0 bleeding. 0 blowout. Here'south my fox:

Wait until your ears dont hurt anymore with your current size, sanitize the taper and your ear, oil the new taper, and button information technology in until information technology doesnt desire to without force. And then, with your ear stretched pretty far, start pushing the taper in, making sure you can experience the dorsum of your ear. Brand sure you feel no lip.

If there comes a bespeak where it cant go in whatsoever more, permit it sit down there for a while. after a few minutes, try taking it out everso slightly, to twist it around, and try slowly getting it farther, while still making sure the back of your ear isnt blowing out, you lot dont hear or feel tearing, and no blood. There will be a point where the taper is almost fully in, but still isn't 100%. At this bespeak, i put the safety end on the smaller side, and left information technology there for a few minutes, played with it a piffling, twisted while making certain it wasn't over-stretched, or inside out, and made the final push button.

Ane ear took well-nigh 20-30 minutes, and information technology's well worth taking your time so you don't damage your ears, particularly if y'all're jumping sizes on your own.

ISH on April xxx, 2017:

I have 2 unlike ear lobe pigsty sizes 5/viii's due north 00g can i b able to combine them to brand my ear lobes bigger

shannon on March 31, 2017:

im xv years old and i have been stretching since February 2017. im already at a 6g almost 4g one calendar month later. The only sad role is ive been using acrylics but ive had no problem with them. my goal is 00g. anyone got whatsoever advice? Cheers :)

Rachel on December 30, 2016:

Hullo, this is my third attempt at stretching from 7mm to 8mm. Information technology'due south been well-nigh half-dozen weeks from I last attempted. I lubed up my taper with gauge gear afterwards a hot shower and it slipped right in. I followed it through with a tunnel, which was a footling catchy to go secured. That was 2 days ago and my ear is still ruddy and throbbing.. is that normal or should I arrest mission immediately??

dntbhrt on September 23, 2016:

I have had my earlobes at a 00 approximate for 4 months now. is going from a 00 guage to a 1/2 inch as well big of a spring?

dntbhrt on September 22, 2016:

I had my earlobes at a 00 gauge for four months at present. Is it a large jump to get up to a 1/2 inch?

cameron j8052 on August 28, 2016:

OK.. Just so nobody gets injure, there'south a ton of bad information here. I'm 25, been stretching my ear lobes since age 17 on and off. The way I did information technology: I had my tattoo artist pierce me at a 14 horseshoe, wore that for half dozen-8 weeks. The initial piercing needs time to heal. Give it that. 2 months should be fine. Clean it equally directed by your piercing artist. STRETCHING: I used a friend'southward kit, and confronting my ain advice (I was immature) went from my 14ga. horseshoes to the 10ga. tapers he had. At present, I will say, I have used acrylic always, because it's easier to go and cheaper for the virtually role. I have never had trouble, but if your ear looks fucked upwardly or you're allergic, don't risk it. Employ the steel or titanium in that instance. Back to stretching, I kept the 10's in for near a month, then 8'southward for a month, 6'due south for a month, 4's for about 2 months (I was able to notice that this one took a while to heal.), and then got to a 2ga. and left it at that for years until just recently. I've ever wanted to become 00ga. only when I was younger, my 0ga tapers just wouldn't go in without also much pain. ii to 0 is a large jump. Let me make that clear! Some people need to use a 1ga. intermediate taper to make the jump, OR use PVC/similar record on your two's. Just measure accurately. Add .5mm to each side and yous're at a 1ga. Anyways, I've had my Nix 0ga. acrylic tapers in for a few days at present, loving the size and await, however my correct ear was haemorrhage earlier subsequently twisting my tapers effectually. (Due to the trauma of a 2mm leap from 2 to 0, I recommend lathering them in neosporin and not touching them whatsoever. Not even to twist it. For a week or ii.) Then from here I'll probably give information technology a solid i-3 months before making my "concluding" bound to 00ga! This is likewise a 2mm jump. Hot shower, lots of neosporin, don't push also damn hard, and go on them clean. Enjoy!

Emma on July 21, 2013:

I stretched my ears from a 4mm to 5mm around 2-3 weeks agone. I apply vitamin e oil and a surgical steel taper and placed surgical steel plugs in my ears. It had been at a 4mm for 2 months and the stretch had been extremely piece of cake and it only skid in nicely. Nonetheless recently a crimson ring has formed at the back of the hole, information technology's not pussy or a bubble. I went to a professional pierce and she told me that at that place was nothing wrong with it, as I left I noticed her girl had her ears stretched with an acrylic taper at nearly 8mm, so they don't seem very trustworthy or they'd know that it's non the correct fashion to stretch ears. Is my ear ok?

Whitney (author) from Georgia on June 27, 2013:

Everyone's body is differently, so you want to look enough time in-betwixt stretches to ensure that the lob is fully healed. Use metal to stretch, every bit it isn't every bit porous. You want to avoid using acrylic and wood, but if yous observe metallic horseshoes that taper or just metal straight tapers, they should be fine.

Morgan on May 28, 2013:

I am gathering as much knowledge as possible earlier I beginning to stretch my ears in hopes of doing it properly and with as little problems and undesired outcomes as possible. I still have a question though. I have read that it is non advisable to use taper as jewelry, just what else is one supposed to clothing while stretching? I know what one should await a few weeks before going from size to size to allow the ear to heal and go accepted to being stretched at the new size, and so I figured information technology would exist ok, and even recommended, to wearable the taper while waiting. How long would you say it is safe to wearable a taper while stretching before making the change to jewelry?

erick on November 10, 2012:

People who suddendly have swelling or redness afterwards been gauged to a size for a while, from personal feel information technology could be from how your sleeping and what you are wearing in your ear. Tapers can finish upwardly causing your lobe to twist to an ackword position that would lead to this trouble

JS

ChaoticDren on October 29, 2012:

I have a question I currently have a 2g steel taper in my ear, I have had in for 2 days. Tin can anyone experienced tell me how long I should look until I put the next size (0g) in and how can I when put it without having to buy a taper for 0g? I'g kind of strapped for money at the moment existence an fine art student, advice would exist profoundly appreciated.

Lili on August 02, 2012:

I think I had similar a 12 for well-nigh 4 months and I always felt similar my right ear was never fix but I placed on a 4 and it injure like a bitch. The left ear ate it up like a man.

alex on May 10, 2012:

I went to a size 7/8 in two months!! no blowout

Ms on May 06, 2012:

Ive stretched my ears all the to an inch and it went dorsum and closed right up I had the inch for 5 months I used plastic tapers and used neosporin to push my tapers in and yeah information technology does hurt but you get over the hurting

Eghan on Apr twenty, 2012:

@DanielTAD don't worry if that strech hurts the almost and so far. I simply streched from an eight to a half-dozen and mine didn't hurt as much as the x to the 8(but that's because I did that 1 too quickly). From the eight to the 6 is the first time you truly size upward and entire mm, each i before that is a fractional. Don't worry, rub your ears with some hot water and endeavor. It should be okay !

brittany on Apr 13, 2012:

I started gauging my.ears from the regular piercing to a 2 estimate, ripped my earhole into an x and bleed, I took em out Nd a week later put in a four, the four went in, hurt like a bitch though, for two weeks afterward it was swollen, throbbing, haemorrhage and lots

of pus. So took em out and had some else shove them back in, hurt but correct later on that they went to normal. E'er since then my gauges have been fine no blow out whatsoever $six. This was ii years ago. Now I'thou at a 9/16 and my 5/8th won't go in, I've has my 9/xvi for almost 5 months so why the problems now?

lori-erin-woods from Alaska on April 12, 2012:

@David, some people have skin that is easier to stretch. Just because your friend could stretch that much in a very short menstruum of time doesn't mean anybody can. To be safety you should only stretch one judge size until the pigsty is healed once more.

David on March 28, 2012:

I'm sad but the poster of this Hub is kinda impaired. Reading through some of the comments its obvious. Don't mean to be hateful merely you're simply wrong. I started at a 12, no large bargain. Went to a 8, then a 6, and a 2. I intend on going to a 00 really before long. Just put money in my pay pal to purchase them. Yeah, information technology hurts, but that's nigh it. I've had friends go from a 20 to a 00 and not tear or blow out. Information technology hurts like a bitch but that's about it. No scar tissue either. Likewise reading I saw that you said you shouldn't wear plugs at small sizes? Why not? They wouldn't exist fabricated if you weren't supposed to habiliment them, they also wouldn't be sold in packs. There is no divergence from wearing a taper and wearing a plug, other then the plug is easier to sleep in and it gets in the way less.

kevin on March 27, 2012:

I've been gauging for four years now once y'all go past 00 use tape for the safest easiest mode to go use pvc tape.

Mariella on March 21, 2012:

@Tucker Trujillo I merely stretched my ears for 0 to a 00 what I did was but wait a month or so and when you feel you're fix wash your easily, employ a lubricant of some sort, and apply stainless steal tapers. Mine but slide correct in(:

LuNa on March 21, 2012:

I simply started n it started haemorrhage n i started freaking out north took information technology out idk what to exercise ):

Tucker Trujillo on March 17, 2012:

Hey! I'g at a 0 right at present and I'k just not certain what the best way to become nigh going to a 00 is, if someone experienced could help that would stone! Thanks :)

Erin on March sixteen, 2012:

Im xiii and my Ears are an inch!

adfr on March 14, 2012:

am at v/eight right now and i try putting my 3/4 in bout it wont go in my eaqrs so mode should i do

emosamy5 on March eleven, 2012:

ya i had a qwastion im at 3/iv and i just tryed putting a 7/viii taper in and it wouldn't get in and its been two months since im last stretch so should i start taping the single flar tunnel or push the taper in harder?

mark on March 04, 2012:

i was at a 2g in both ears and i wanted to become to a 0g. information technology's a 2mm jump. i got information technology almost all the manner through and it started to drain a lil so i stopped and now i but put 3 layers of medical tape on my 2g plugs and im going to go up a layer everyday until i go to a 0g.

Joe on February 21, 2012:

I have my ears pierced but not gauqed . Can I put ^ ga in ?!

Tristin on February 21, 2012:

So I am at an inch and have been for about ii months now and woke up this morning and my lobe hurt and was reddish and looked kinda like a slight blow out but perhaps just bloated and inflamed was wondering if it was possible for it to accident out in my slumber somehow

Junior on February 21, 2012:

Alright then I went from a 2 to a 0 and my ears were throbbing for three days when I took them off to see what was wrong my ears started to bleed, I want to know what can I use to clean them and how long will it take

DanielTAD on February 19, 2012:

So this is what goin down,I got my ears pierced a few months agone at 20g and yeah absurd. So my friend gave me his old kit,and the smallest size was 14g so I stretched. Good enough I didn't feel anything. But besides that, I haven't skipped sizes. But now I'g at 8g trying to stretch to 6g and im using tapers and they hurt like shit!!! This is the only size that has hurt this bad. I have the tapers in just halfway and I'm going to proceed slowly pushing them past hr. Is this a adept idea? Oh and by the way, I cleaned the whole kit to save infection. And one more thing, I'm 13 and merely going to a 4g for now. cheers for your assistance.

Andrea on February nineteen, 2012:

Then Yesterday My Aunt Bought Size 2G And I've Been Wanting To Get My Ear'south Guaged So My Crazy Aunt Decidided To Gauge My Ears I Went From A Normal Ear Pearcing To I Size 2G . I Took It Like A Animate being .. So After The Fact That I've Been Reading That I Shouldn't Exist Skipping Sizes I'1000 A Footling Concerned So I'll Do An Update To Let You lot Know If I Have Whatsoever Complications Or Problems So Far Everything Expect's Great &; I Love How My Guages Wait Nice &; Make clean Oh &; Btw I'm Only 13Yrs. (x

andie on Feb 17, 2012:

but gauged them... size 14 cu there wasn't any xvi.... should i sleep with them in? yes no maybe? :/ aid!

Brandon Nunez on January 28, 2012:

well that is some crazy stuff simply i am at 7/eight about to movement up to an 1inch

Ben on Jan 27, 2012:

@Kristina

Hello there!i'm 17, and i went from a regular piercing to a 6 to a ii, now at 0 looking for 00. just anyway i've had no issues with my lobes, they've been fine the whole way. merely give it enough healing time and if it'southward ii much don't force it.

DearestDaniiel on January nineteen, 2012:

@ Alyssa Hello! I am at 7/viii stretching to ane" mayhap 1 1/2" and i had problem getting to seven/eight. The all-time matter to practise is just oil your ears with Jojoba oil (yous tin find it at natural nutrient stores) and that thickens lobes. Yous have to just become with the menstruation. I didn't know if i could go upward to an inch but i am trying information technology out and if my lobes are thin, i'll just downsize. My suggestion would exist to tape your ears to 7/8 with teflon tape. Its very inexpensive, nonporous tape that wont stick to your ears. Since you've been at 3/4 for a while, i assume you have a pretty rad gap in between your ear and the plug when you lot pull down? Wrap it with tape until you lot tin can put it in with no gap, but its not painful to put in. Then, add ane-ii wraps everyday and shortly, you will be at seven/8ths! I hope it helps. :)

Kristina on January 18, 2012:

im xv and i went from a normal size earring to a 12... is that bad?? should i become to a 10 side by side ? ive had information technology in for about 3 weeks and i wanna change is information technology rubber to?

Alyssa on January x, 2012:

Right now im at 3/4ths, and my aunt for christmas got me a gorgeous pair of glass plugs... But they're vii/8ths. I'm concerned that my lobes wont stretch that much more. So my question is when do y'all know you shouldn't stretch more? I've been stretching slowly for years. And I've been at this size for the last twelvemonth. my lobes don't seem thinner in ane spot or some other or seem overly thin, simply they definitely don't have the bounce back they used to haha. Anything would help, thanks

kane on Dec 27, 2011:

jus startn out i went from a twenty to a 10 on the 23rd of this month and i love it im ready to become big

KrypticKid on Dec 25, 2011:

Yo I'k Em, I've been stretching my ears for six months, and I'yard prepared to get to 0g. I've been taking them approximately a calendar month at a time and information technology seemed to suffice, except when I went to my current size, 2g, my ears bled for a twenty-four hour period or and then whenever I removed my tapers to make clean them and I was inquiring whether this was bad or somewhat normal. I'one thousand just a stupid kid trying to distort her trunk a bit, I as well have 3 lip piercings, septum, eyebrow, and rings upwards my ears. Ah life is skillful. :P

max on December 25, 2011:

i went from the smallest size to an viii in ane day

Amber-Rose on Dec 24, 2011:

I Started at a 6G,Than went to a 4G and at present I'm at a 0G,

I Know its not good to skip Gauges just I get information technology washed by a Piercing creative person,And they always propose to skip,and so,..

but yes every time i go larger it hurts a lot,Probably because I skip,..

Btw.This site really gives goo information,Well done !

FoxxNastiee on Dec 21, 2011:

I Stretched Mines From A 16 to a 00 and from 00 to ane/ii and from 1/2 to 5/viii in simply three days .

one of my ears is at three/4 , the other withal at 5/8

jen on December 19, 2011:

just went to a 6g from an 8g :three progress has been made~

Aiden Elizabeth on December 02, 2011:

Too, i was wondering if tapers are all-time to utilize for stretching to an inch.

Aiden Elizabeth on December 02, 2011:

it only took me almost a year to get to an inch, actually an exact year lol

i just stretched mine up, my right ear stings alittle bit only it'll finish. i only had ONE accident out, and you can barely tell its there!

lolsees on November 26, 2011:

im at inch and a quarter its all about taking your time if you take your fourth dimension your ear will be able to grow stronger and arrange to having a estimate in there so afterward you can stretch farther if you lot become a blow out when it gets big information technology looks like a but hole lol merely as well if you take a blow out rub emeu oil on information technology everyday one time a day they will go away over fourth dimension and it you wanna move up fast apply the tape method every two weeks i should know i been a piercer for 4 years

LH213 on November 24, 2011:

i had my ears pierced for most 2 years before i just in a 14g and i skipped sizes i went to a 10g then to a 8g so to a 4g and and then to a 2g and i simply recently put in a 0g and i hurt a picayune just im fine similar its all about your hurting tolerance actually if u can take hurting then skip i mean its ameliorate then wasting your money on a pair of guages your just gunna wear for a little while u know so my advice is to just do wht u want when it comes to guaging if u wanna skip and so skip and if u don't then don't its equally uncomplicated every bit that

Sam on November 21, 2011:

Suck it up and take it like a gnaw, i stretched my ears from a 20 to a 2 then 00 3 days later, and their doing grrreat, i programme to accept them to a one-half inch by christmas

Tristynn on Nov 21, 2011:

I'yard currently gauging my ear too a seven/16 and I've had previous blow outs with these . I was wondering what should I do likewise ease the earing in ?

pabss on November 18, 2011:

Im on size two 2 and my goal is 00's. I started jiu jitsu and am wondering if whatever of y'all have tips for me to continue my piercings rubber?

Whitney (author) from Georgia on November 16, 2011:

Stretching frequency volition depend on how fast your torso heals and when your body is ready. The fourth dimension frequency between stretches will non be the aforementioned for everyone.

Heather on November 15, 2011:

Anyone have a round about estimate on when to stretch to the next size? like i heard a calendar week or so ...

Sam Ertle on November thirteen, 2011:

I only went upwardly from a 0 to a 00 earlier today, no tapers or annihilation. I did lube upwards the new tunnels only there was a lot of haemorrhage. I already knew near of what was in this commodity but decided I'd be fine. And now I'yard going to take to deal with torn scarred ears. But if you follow the communication in this article you lot should exist just fine. Take your time and DON'T Strength THE JEWELRY THROUGH.

Sam on November 12, 2011:

Hey i was wondering, im at a eight guess right now would information technology be okay if i get to a 2? i accept vitamin E oil could i do it?

me on November ten, 2011:

dang, when i gauged my ears, i jumped to a 18 to a eight approximate.accept it similar a fauna and just don't waste your money on size 14 16 or any. no matter what its going to hurt. bad. tip is, once you approximate your ears play with information technology, like turn information technology, or whatever, then once yous guess it another size its less pain. and at present im at a 00, and about to become to seven/16. and it was painless.

dori on November 05, 2011:

okay so right now i believe i have and 8 in my ear only im not sure and i want to go to halves but im scared that's to big what should i do?

Hope Jimenez on November 03, 2011:

Wellll. This seems old but whatever. Hey I'm xv and I've been stretching my ears for about 5 months at present. Granted I didn't know nearly ANY of this. I did NOT stretch my lobes considering "anybody was doing it" I did it because I wanted to. And I'm very patient and so waiting for two weeks between each stretch isn't too bad. I'yard currently at 4s and I bought my Batman plugs about a calendar week agone. The plugs are 0s and I know I should buy 2s and And so movement upward to my 0s but..... Temptation is getting the best of me... Skilful thing I tin can't size up with the Batman plugs. I'll just await. And I tend to take out my tapers for hours and slide them dorsum in... I wanted to know if this was a bad thing? I mean... They don't hurt just I wanted to make sure this wouldn't permanently damage my ears.

Thanks!

Abby on October 29, 2011:

alright so im stupid and have been "stretching" i guess is the give-and-take, my lobes since i was 14. ive had my ears pierced since i was 2 months old. im 17now. i have my lip pierced and gauged to a petty 14 no large bargain. im at a two gauge in my ears right now... well actually my right ear is a 2, and my left ear is a 4, considering ive been struggling to get my 2nd 2g in my left twelvemonth all day. i put the 4g in my ear for now the fourth time ii days ago. my right ear was easy, and im having problems with the left. the highest ive ever gone up to was a 00 but my mom made me take them out, i was at that size when i was most 15 i call back. im trying to become dorsum up to by at least a 0 because i bought batman gauges last night and they are 0s. i go up a size about every 2 days, and that's why im stupid. but oh well im young. but my problem iiiiis, how do i get my 2 to go in easier, i tried numbing them, i tried icing them, i tried warming them up, i tried everything. any advice for this stupid 17 year old trying to destort her body ?

The D on Oct 28, 2011:

Help me, im 21 and i have had this piercing for 4 months and i had ane.6 mm stretch (it is more like an earring as it is small)and im trying to get 5mm at present, Merely im gentle and i can handle pain like whatsoever other man, but i tried 2-3 methods just the pain of stretching is very bad and i started and stopped 2 times.

So any Detailed tips or tricks to practice information technology and how long information technology should take.

Thanks

MattieMurderous on October 27, 2011:

I'm 20 and i've been sizing for about iii months and i'm already at a 2.It did hurt skiping a few sizes but non besides bad since i have a somewhat loftier pain tolerance.I'm going upwards to ii inches.I'1000 really excited to get to 1 1/8's since i'll stick with that for a bit earlier i starting moving closer to 2 inches.:)

rochelle thompson on October 26, 2011:

i'm at v/viii at present and i used acrylic tapers and such through most of my stretching fourth dimension except from ane/2-5/8 with no trouble at all. when i sized up then i used the taping method but my lobes are getting really dry. should i just put lotion on them or what would help best?

Suzanne on October 21, 2011:

@Tessa

Everyone I know that has stretched ears just did it without even asking for their parents' approving, and once the parents noticed, they couldn't really exercise anything about it except complain. Personally, I waited until I moved out to stretch my ears.

WJ on October 20, 2011:

Ok, and then I've been gauging for well-nigh a year and a half and I'm 17. I'chiliad trying to gauge to five/eighth but it hurts like a bitch. I've had my 9/16th in for most 2 months and I was pretty sure I was ready to approximate. Am I not fix to gauge upwards? I mean I never ever had to await this long to gauge up. It's been smooth sliding after 00. If I'm not set, how much longer should I wait?

Tessa on October 17, 2011:

I plough 15 in three days, and ive had my ears pierced for 4 or 5 months now and i continue looking at the jewelry on ebay, and all the jewelry i desire i would have to stretch my ears, but that doesn't bother me. My mom is majorly confronting it but not against as much as me getting my lip pierced... but the trouble i have is im decorated 24/7 i do volleyball year round, and i also doing wieght lifting everyday, and sometimes twice solar day. just i just want to know from those that have their ears stretched, did y'all talk to your parents about doing it or did you only do information technology? or how did you lot convince your parents to let you stretch your ears?

Leeluh on October xiii, 2011:

I simply used acrylic'south to gauge my ears from a half dozen to a iv and it's pretty painful. im agape it could exist infected. Whatsoever tips?

Ashley on October 13, 2011:

All you footling 12, 13, and xiv year old KIDS who are at 0 and 00. You lot actually are simply doing it for the trend.

Knock it off.

Kenna on October xiii, 2011:

Aha Im but xiv and i NEVER wore my regular earrings and i decided to estimate, so i trotted on downwards to Hottopic and purchased me some neat 10G pinchers and stuck em right in. Information technology only hurt a footling and in almost a calendar week im planning to go upward to an viii(:

Shelson:D on October 04, 2011:

i've had my ears peirced for a petty over a yr now, and i think i want to start gauging my ears. i'm 13, and i think the small ones look cool, i definitely don't want to get large gauges. but i'm not sure if my mom will let me offset gauging. x3 am i able to get false gauges for at present?

Lela Acron on September eighteen, 2011:

The easiest stretch is going from 0 to 00 in my stance. I didn't even have to stretch Just lubed them so stuck them in. my opinion to all starting off start your stretch at 10 or 8 if yous have had earrings for a while. I found my ears were already stretched to an eight from the weight of all my earrings I had worn over the years. Tapers where the but thing I used up to 00 use them with vitamin E oil and it should be a cakewalk. Besides if you are not sure if y'all want to proceed your gauges y'all should probably not practice it at all. I plan to go to a 1 inch and volition never take them out.

Victoria on September 07, 2011:

thanks for the tips, i accually started at estimate 12 about ane month agone, now im at estimate 10, n' im using tapers to strech, it doesn't hurt ATall, lol idid an experament to see if my ear would go dorsum to the original shape , and information technology did! but i acually left it out besides long and i could barely put my regular earing in! LOL ,anywaysthanks 4 the tips.. kpce :)

Megan on September 02, 2011:

I first stretched my ears when I was 12 and this was back in 2002. My best friend and I actually didn't use tapers or any gauge at all, we used straws, and yea at this point I know information technology wasn't the brightest idea but at present hers are at a 0g. A couple of years ago I let mine heal up and they had been at a 0g for three years, and they grew all the way dorsum upwardly. Now I'one thousand at a 7/16th and have had no trouble using the plastic tapers from hottopic. I'm almost 100% positive that the peeps in tribes who stretch their lobes don't run out to their nearest hottopic to buy tapers, they've been using bone and other natural fabric since the beginning, therefore, information technology can't be too bad. Happy Stretching folks!!

robert on September 01, 2011:

honestly i love my ears :D

im at 30mm and im non stoping until i hit 2" lol i took my gauges out when i was an inch to see if they would go back equally an experament and it letrally depends on your torso because mine shrunk back to around half inch in abuot ii in a half weeks.. then i started stretching once more and now at 30mm in fact i was just at 28mm just a few seconds ago until i decided to put em in lol then decided to look up "easiest" means to stretch your ears and honistly its a loooonnngggg process :D

z on August 31, 2011:

What's the point in stretching if y'all're only going to stretch it so information technology "looks like there's a stud in my ear"? Why do it? Sounds similar you're doing it to delight a grouping of friends or something. And no, a smaller size judge will Not bar you from higher...

Alex on August 31, 2011:

So I just stretched my correct lobe with a surgical steel taper, just the tunnel is a bitch to get in. It'southward not flared, merely it but won't. Would leaving in the taper for a little chip assist? Oh, and I used Holey Butt'r, which helped a lot in getting the taper through. I used to use rubbing alcohol, because I didn't want to use balm. I'm stretching my lobes to a 6g from an 8g correct now. It stings a niggling fleck, but eh. I took an Advil and now it's fine. But yes, would leaving the taper in for a fleck help to get the tunnel in?

Laina on Baronial 27, 2011:

Honestly information technology depends on YOU! I went from 10s to 0s in 2 weeks! And I used acrylic spirals for stretching. Then, information technology's different for anybody, because my ears are healthy and healed!!

Jayne on August 24, 2011:

This is VERY useful. I'm currently at 00g and I am planning on stretching to 7/16ths soon. It'due south been over a twelvemonth or then since I've stretched and I wanted to brand it as shine as possible. Cheers and so much for the tips.

Chris on August 19, 2011:

I swear some ideas people have are inane. Every bit for skipping sizes, It can be done without ripping/ blowout. Although non everybody is the same.I went from 14g to 8g myself, didn't skip any sizes across that and certainly would not recommend it because once you get up to 8g the increments seem to go larger. Equally far equally the waiting period is concerned from my personal experience, give it the time to heal and usually if you are ready to stretch there volition exist a bit of excess infinite in your piercing or the jewelry merely wants to fall out.I accept e'er used this as guideline for when it is good to stretch and never had a blowout or tear.Just allow your torso tell yous when information technology is ready. I had mine upwardly to 9/xvi inch and they healed up to 4g.I've also known people that had upwards to an inch and it healed upwards to effectually 00g or 7/xvi inch ( Tin can't tell for sure.)

I was also wondering where I could purchase bondage tape, equally I'chiliad wanting to re stretch mine to at to the lowest degree 3/iv inch and heard it is easier to work with than teflon record.

f on August 17, 2011:

Some earrings wait similar mesomorphic jewels, merely the squeeze is actually gauged moderately; I'm not certain what the exact gauge would be for those which look similar this.

Stupid person on August 16, 2011:

Okay, and so I waited exactly ii weeks to stretch from a 4 to a 2, but during this procedure, my loves started to burn; not the normal sort of, minor discomfort that I've previously expierenced while stretching, but a somewhat unbearable pain that I couldn't much tolerate. Five minutes later, I took my two'due south out with the intention of putting my four's back in to wait longer, simply I noticed what seemed like to a blowout on my left lobe. I immidently cleaned the hole and put my iv's back in through the side of where I retrieve the blowout is and continue to practice this daily. The tapers I used to stretch to a 2 are steel, and the plugs I have in at present are acyrilic, merely my question is...do I need to downsize to a 6, or am I okay with sticking to my 4'southward?

nikki on August xv, 2011:

Hey i actually have a question that may be a trivial stupid. Just i have only started gauging my ears I'g at a 14g at present an wanting to go to a 12g so to a 10g in fourth dimension after my ears heal properly only while i was ordering me some 12g stainless steel circular barbells they asked me to pick my gauge then my size...Well what did they mean by my size like a 2mm for 12g is that right?

Dustin13 on Baronial 14, 2011:

my ears are at 00g and i'yard just 13 and non sure if i will nevertheless want me ears spaced when i get older and was wondering if they will even so close???

chelleydee33 on July 29, 2011:

I've stretched my lobes for years. I let them shut up sometimes and then current of air upwards stretching them again. For some reason this time the plugs don't expect centered in my earlobe. In that location is nothing wrong with the whole (no tears, blow out or anything like that) they're just non centered. Any means to fix this?

Nick on July 28, 2011:

hey i don't even have my ears pierced even so but am interested in getting them pierced. i only wanna go to about twelve. might information technology become back?

Hana on July 06, 2011:

The Beginning Time I stretched my ears i went from a normal 20g to an 8g. Information technology hurt like hell just my ears eventualy healed. I use just acrylic to stretch. I besides discover that if your constanly playing with your plugs and pulling on them information technology makes the holes stretch graudualy.I don't even demand tapers to stretch I can only put the bigger plugs in. Maybe its merely me merely i haven't had any bug with stretching with acrylics. I've been stretching for a yr and a one-half and they are sitting at 9/16. I Have no Bug with them and I don't even practise one-half the shit that's recommended for after care.

carmenmare on July 03, 2011:

okay so im been stretching my ears for a while now, and i want to go dwn to a 0 but im trying and trying and its so painful and it doesn't want to go in alll the mode just half, what do i practise? i tryed the shower and lub fifty-fifty lotion alcohol and null......... its never been painful until now and i desire a 0 and stay here merely i need to know some other way to arrive become in. should i get drunk and try that LOL

Kittyboo on June 30, 2011:

So I was wondering if I could go from a 14 to a 4 I have done it earlier with no issues at all. What do y'all think?

Chay on June 30, 2011:

I'chiliad 16 and I actually want to judge my ears, just I'm scared my ear won't compress back and I won't get excepted into higher and all of that. I simply want it to look similar the stud of an earring is in my ear, and so nothing too large, simply I don't know what size to become.

Kimi on June 23, 2011:

Wow, just maxim, alot of you are Really immature, listen you, im only 17, but im merely stretching to a 6g. Just brand sure you all are considering the consequences of skipping sizes, and also that you really want to practise it non just considering everyone else is, if I did information technology when everyone else started I could probably fit my fist through my ear, really really call back about it before doing, equally mentioned in the article, it may exist permanent. I put my 12g swirly earrings in right away, but considering my ears were previously gauged to an 8g, and that was over a year agone, so, it shows that anybody'south ears heal and shrink differently. Everyone doing this please exist careful and take good care of the piercing.

Anyhow, thanks Whitney for posting this, it truly was a lot of aid! Keep up the great piece of work.

Much dearest

chaza gh on June 17, 2011:

i went from a 12 gauge to a 0 in two weeks nothings happened everythings fine but it hurts a lot!

Maryrose Omundson on June 07, 2011:

Wow. That's weird. I'm hoping to become upwards to a 1 1/2

Gauging youngg on June 05, 2011:

okay well

im pretty sure what i only used to stretch my ears was acrylic

im 14 and im at 12

i had the regular 14g peircing

if i keep the acrylics in

will the bacteria cause MAJOR problems or volition it just be bacteria

Bailey on June 03, 2011:

I am a professional person piercer, and reading these comments makes me lose hope in people. Its actually not that difficult to understand.

No, you shouldn't skip sizes. Just because yous *tin* doesn't hateful yous should.

Using acrylic to stretch your ears (once again, is doable) is totally unsanitary, and even though its possible, isn't appropriate.

If you have just had your ear pierced, the proper healing time is 6-8 weeks. Stretching before this is simply plain risky.

You are a moron if you are piercing yourself with safety pins and paper clips. if you lot want something pierced, relieve up for it and get it done professionally or inquire your parents. Doing it yourself is simply... Stupid. For people that think humid a safety pin or pouring alcohol on it makes it sterile, it doesn't.

Use your common sense. Don't take piercing communication from friends, people at the mall, or Hot Topic employees. You wouldn't get to a shoe store asking questions almost your health. Don't put faith in people that accept no professional training.

If you're stretching your ears quickly because you lot're impatient, perchance yous need to rethink the entire process. Ear stretching is an aboriginal, spiritual ritual that is being totally disrespected by a agglomeration of impatient teenagers. Stretching slowly also allows yous fourth dimension to consider what you are doing to your body. If you are worried near getting jobs, thinking y'all are going to take them out somewhen, or hoping your ears will grow back to normal... Don't do it. Its every bit simple every bit that. Ear stretching is supposed to be a commitment you make with your body, not a snap conclusion made to be like your friends.

Furthermore, if you can't beget to stretch properly, and then don't do information technology. Salvage up a niggling at a time and become them stretched by a professional, or purchase a pair of tapers at a time and save up. If you're truly interested in the lifelong commitment of ear stretching, then having to wait for it shouldn't bother you. In fact, many see it as part of the process. Its supposed to exist an evolution that you pay attention to and respect, not just an uneducated determination made because anybody is doing it these days.

If yous skip sizes, pierce yourself, stretch too quickly, or any number of bad decisions, its as simple as this: look blowouts, complications, infections, scar tissue, and problems.

Be smart almost it. It is body modification later all.

Kayla J on June 01, 2011:

Hahaha, some of the people that comment hither say the stupidest things. It fabricated my night reading this. Great article, btw.

Teagan on June 01, 2011:

I've been gauging my ears recently, I got them pierced about a month ago, and I had the piecer who did information technology stretch them for me (from 14G to 8G with bone screw tapers)and I desire to go from 8 to six, simply I'one thousand scared to go a tear or blow out, I'm using A&D for lubrication. I make sure to take an extremely hot shower first, my ears are healed, but it's simply been a week since last stretch, will it be okay to go from 8 to 6 when my new spirals get in (drinking glass 6G)???

Haylee on June 01, 2011:

I've strected with silicone, and acrylic and never got infected, besides I strected every ii weeks amd was fine. Some ppl just don't heal equally quick

Mike m on May 26, 2011:

Ive used tapers to stretch. I'grand at a 6g now. But from a 10g to an 8g i used a tunnel, had no pain at all. Now from my 6g taper, i'm going to a 4g tunnel, What exercise you think?

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Source: https://tatring.com/piercing-types/Stretch-Your-Ears

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