When you first decide to stretch (gauge, for some people) your ears, they will be around an 20ga to 18ga, or (.81mm to 1.02mm).
To get started, buy tapers from a website that sells body jewelry, or a “Hot Topic” store at your local mall. Buy sets of tapers labeled “14 gauge” or “12 gauge” (if you choose to skip a size). Make sure you have something to lubricate your ears.
Many people recommend jojoba oil for lubrication during stretching and to help “thicken” your lobes later on. The oil will help make them healthier, but it will not “thicken” your ear lobes. If you don’t want to spend money on jojoba oil, just use Neosporin.
When starting to stretch, remove your “normal-size” earring, and begin to take your Neosporin and massage your ear lobes with it. Spread a little on the taper, and with one slow movement, push it into your piercing hole. It may hurt, but stretching your ears can sometimes hurt.
After stretching your ears for the first time, leave in the tapers, (or what you had chosen to stretch with) for at least as long as it takes for the tenderness of your ear lobes to go away. Many people recommending waiting from a month to six weeks, but as long as your ears do not hurt, and are healed, you should be ready for your next stretch!
When I started stretching, I was at an 18ga, and I stretched to 12ga one night, without any lubrication at all. I cannot stress how important it is to lubricate your ears!! Using Neosporin can also help, because it helps heal the stretch. Also, try stretching them right after you get out of the shower, when your ears are softer.
With stretching your ears it's vital you read your bodies signs and wait until it feels right. Some people can stretch up every two weeks and others it's best to wait a month between stretches. Everyone's bodies are different.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to soak my ears in the bath before each stretch that way they don't rip!
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um. neosporin clogs the ears and makes it hard for them to breath, which makes them heal slower. you should really wait at least a month before stretching to the next size and use a water based lubricant. hot topic used acrylic tapers/plugs so be careful because it can cause irritation.
ReplyDeleteNever skip sizes and never leave the taper in your ear. This article is full of bad advice. Go get your info from a knowledgeable source.
ReplyDelete