The only exception are those who, for whatever reason, cannot have their ears pierced in the first place. Ear stretching is something that you do yourself which makes sense, when you consider what a slow, long process it is. You do need to get your ears pierced first, of course.
In fact, ear stretching is really simple and low-tech. Tapers are thin cones that look a bit like spikes though some models are in a spiral shape. The taper is what will do the actual stretching. The smaller end is inserted into the piercing and it is very gradually worked through until the hole is stretched to the size of the large end of the taper.
Tapers also have a raised ridge at the large end to prevent the taper from being pushed through too far. Acrylic — These are the most affordable tapers and, consequently, the ones that most people buy. Steel — A little more expensive than the acrylic ones, but steel tapers will go through more easily and make for a more effective and efficient stretch.
They can also be sterilized, which is another advantage over acrylic tapers. Concave Steel — These are essentially the same as steel tapers with one important difference: the back is concave indented instead of flat.
The plug can be placed in the recessed area and eased through very easily. There are commercial products available that are designed specifically for ear stretching. These lubricants often have key essential oils or other ingredients that can help speed along the healing process.
If you want to avoid buying one of these commercial lubricants, you can always use a safe and simple alternative like coconut oil. Acrylic — Like they are with tapers, these are the most affordable option and widely favored as a result.
Steel — Generally a better option than acrylics, but more expensive as well. Titanium — Similar to steel but lightweight and can reduce the likelihood of irritation for people with sensitive skin. Silicone — A good material to avoid any adverse reactions, but silicone plugs get dirty more easily than the alternatives and need to be cleaned more often. Organic — This is a general category that encompasses plugs made of materials such as wood, stone, and glass.
You will also need to make sure you have single flare plugs. Single flare plugs have a lip on only one end to make it easier to insert the plug after stretching. The lipless side is then kept in place with a rubber ring. Double flare plugs have the lip on both ends and are harder to insert. They need to be pushed through a bit, which is why it is advisable not to use them until the piercing has completely healed to avoid the risk of tearing.
Tape is not an essential item for most people who want to stretch their ears. What the tape does is allow you to take a high gauge plug and add just a bit of width to it by wrapping the tape around it. For most people, sticking to the tapers will be sufficient. Polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE tape is often recommended. Bondage tape yes, that kind of bondage is another popular choice for ear stretching. Step One: Make sure your piercing is completely healed before proceeding with the stretching.
Step Two: Take a hot shower or massage the ear lobe. This will loosen up the skin and make it easier to stretch. Step Four: Lubricate the taper and your ear. Step Five: Insert the taper carefully and start gently pushing it through. There are also plugs that are fully see-through, which might cause confusion because it seems like they are tunnels at first glance. Other tunnels , however, have decorative shapes inside the actual hole, making them appear like plugs at first, but since the decoration is still inside a hole, they are still considered tunnels.
Gauges are something different altogether and even though many people tend to use it to refer to plugs or tunnels , gauges are actually a type of measurement. The smaller the gauge size, the larger the tunnel or plug will be. Gauges go from 20G the smallest all the way to 00G, which is the largest gauge size. After that, larger tunnels and plugs are referred to in inches.
The materials of your plugs and tunnels also play a part, with acrylic plugs and silicone plugs being more prone to this issue. They need to be cleaned more often and not be worn over longer periods of time. Note: Some funky smells can indicate an infection, so if you have a smell along with any oozing or pain you should take a trip to your doctor to get it checked out and potentially antibiotics.
Try to avoid putting cream on it without consulting your doctor first as it might aggravate the infection. This is called a blowout, as it looks like the piercing is turning inside out. Healing it takes time, but it can be done! Put your earlobe into the solution and let it soak for at least ten minutes! Do this at least two to three times a day, and combine with ten-minute massages each evening.
We sell ear stretching kits as well as individual tapers of varying sizes so you can start your ear stretching journey straight away.
New Designs. Single Flare vs. Double Flare Plugs Sep 28, Newsletter Keep up-to-date with the latest promotions, news and releases! What size do you stretch to first? Stretching your ears slowly is best The biggest mistake people make when stretching their ears is being impatient and trying to increase sizes too quickly. The general rules of thumb are: Always go up one gauge at a time Allow your ears to fully heal before you start a new stretch.
How long does it take to start stretching ears? How long does it take for stretched ears to close? Does ear stretching hurt? Will it? How do I insert plugs? Put lubricant on the taper , covering the narrower side until roughly the middle of the taper. Insert it into the piercing, rotating a few times to cover all sides with lubricant too. The taper should go through the piercing all the way through.
How do I insert double flared plugs? What are tapers and how do I use them to stretch ears? Push the gauge through your ear and replace it with your plugs or tunnels. Keep reading to learn how to stretch your ears to accommodate larger plugs!
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Part 1. Get your ears pierced at a trustworthy location. Although you can stretch your ears at home, you will need to get them pierced at a professional establishment. Piercing your ears at home increases your risk of infection, especially if you are stretching your ears afterward.
You will be unable to use the same sterile equipment and technique as a licensed professional. Wait weeks after piercing your ears to stretch them.
Piercings must be fully healed before it is safe to stretch. If you do not want to wait the full ten weeks, watch for signs of healing. A healed ear piercing will not be tender to the touch and will not close if the piercing is removed for longer than several hours. Signs of infection include swelling, yellow or greenish discharge, redness, irritation, and bleeding. Begin stretching your ear with a size 16 or 14 gauge. Ears are typically pierced using an 18 or 20 gauge, so 14 is the largest size you can start on and avoid damaging your ears.
Starting at any larger than this size puts your ear at-risk of tearing. Purchase a set of ear tapers at a piercing studio.
Many piercing studios offer a "stretching kit" of ear tapers in various sizes. Start with your size ear taper, depending on your chosen gauge. Make sure that the stretching kit has your starting taper size before you purchase it.
Massage an oil lubricant around your piercing. The lubricant will help the taper slide into your piercing easily and without tearing your ear. Coconut oil or jojoba oil works especially well for stretching ears.
Avoid using petroleum oil, which can get clogged in your piercing and cause infections. Push your taper through your piercing.
Most piercing tapers are smaller at one end. Push the smaller end into your piercing, paying attention to how your ear feels as you do so. Work slowly, and stop pushing the taper in if you feel any strong resistance. Pushing the taper in may hurt but should not bleed. If your ear begins to bleed, you may have chosen too large of a taper.
Remove the taper, treat and disinfect from the wound, and wait until the wound has healed before inserting a smaller taper later on. When your ear has stopped bleeding, place the earring back in to prevent the hole from closing up. Replace the taper with your plug or tunnels. Align your jewelry with the large end of the taper, hold the taper behind your ear pushing the plug or tunnel through your ear until you push it all the way through and the taper has fallen out.
Add the "O" rings then repeat these steps with the other ear if desired. Tapers are not designed to be worn as jewelry. Do not wear your tapers for any longer than several hours. Part 2. Wait six weeks in between stretches.
Do not remove your first set of plugs or tunnels for at least a week after stretching, and only remove it for the first month while cleaning them. Give your earlobes at least six weeks before stretching your ear with a taper or other method so your earlobes have time to heal. Use surgical tape to gradually increase the size over time. After you've used 3 or 4 tapers to stretch your piercing, you can use the taping method to continue increasing your size.
Wrap your plugs or tunnels with a thin layer of surgical tape and place it back in your ear. Increase the layers of tape around your plugs or tunnels every six weeks so your ear has time to heal.
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