Earlobe stretching has been a popular piercing trend for many years.
But while the trend continues to gain popularity, there has also been an increase in the number of people seeking earlobe repair surgery. In fact, earlobe repair is now one of the most requested procedures in America. Improper ear stretching is partially to blame.
So before you rush out to buy an ear stretching kit, there are some things you need to know about ear gauging.
Following these 10 steps on how to gauge ears will help you avoid complications like infection, scarring, and permanent damage to your ear lobe.
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Ear stretching, or ear gauging, is the gradual process of stretching your ear piercing to increase the size of the hole in your earlobe.
While it may feel like gauge ears are a newer trend, the practice is thousands of years old.
The process is completed using long spiky tools called tapers, circular ear jewelry called plugs, and lubricant. The hole is methodically stretched by increasing the gauge sizes of jewelry in the hole of the piercing over time.
A lot of time and care are required to complete this process correctly.
If proper care is not taken, gauge ears can cause scarring, infection, and even permanent earlobe damage that requires surgery.
If you’re thinking about ear stretching, you will need to get pierced first.
If your earlobes aren’t already pierced, you can book an appointment to do so. Earlobe piercings are one of the least painful piercings because there is no cartilage located on the lobe. But your new piercing will require some healing and aftercare.
Make sure you do your research and find a piercing salon or studio that has great reviews and a good reputation. You will be able to choose studs for your ears which will stay in your lobes for 6-10 weeks.
You will need to make sure your new piercings have fully healed before you attempt to stretch the holes. You will know your ear has healed when it is no longer tender.
Once your earlobe piercings have fully healed, you can begin to think about stretching your ears.
Gauge sizes represent the size or width of a post or jewelry piece entering the ear. Gauges run from 20 gauge (smallest) to 00 gauge before measuring by inches.
The standard earlobe piercing size is 18 gauge. It’s recommended that you start by stretching your earlobe hole to 16 or 14 gauge. Beginning with anything larger than that can cause irritation, scarring, or infection.
Before you begin, you will need to put together an ear stretching kit. Your kit should include tapers, plugs or tunnels, and a lubricant.
Tapers are long spikey posts that you insert into the hole of your piercing to begin stretching the skin.
They are typically made from steel or acrylic. Steel tapers insert into the hole a bit easier, but they are a bit more expensive.
You will need to make sure you are purchasing the right gauge size. If you aren’t sure, ask for assistance when you’re purchasing them.
Plugs and tunnels are decorative gauge earrings that essentially “plug” the hole of the piercing.
Plugs are solid circular pieces that are inserted into your hole after you have stretched with a taper. Plugs can be made of steel, titanium, silicone, or organic materials like stone, wood, or glass.
Tunnels do the same thing, but they are just hollowed-out plugs. Tunnels expose the inner part of your stretched hole.
Plugs and tunnels should also be purchased in the gauge sizes you are stretching to.
You will also need a natural or plant-based lubricant like jojoba oil or coconut oil to help lubricate your skin.
Avoid using chemical-based lubricants as these can irritate your piercings and cause complications with your healing.
Before you begin ear stretching, you will need to prepare your ear.
Take a hot shower or apply a warm compress to the site of your piercings on the ear lobe. The warm water and moisture will help lubricate your skin to make stretching easier. Make sure the piercing is clean and dry.
Gently massage the ear to help get the blood flowing. This will help make the process easier as well.
Wash your hands with soap and water and make sure your hands are clean and dry.
Begin sterilizing your tapers and plugs using rubbing alcohol. Rub the entire surface of the taper from top to bottom.
If you’re concerned about using rubbing alcohol on your plugs, you can also use warm water and antibacterial soap.
Applying the safe lubricant you purchased to your taper and plugs will help the jewelry glide easily through the hole of your piercing.
Using the plant-based oil you purchased, apply the lubricant to the entire surface of the taper up to the middle of the post.
Apply lubricant to the surface of the plugs as well. Jojoba oil is a great choice of lubricant because it can help make your plugs shine.
After you have applied lubricant to your jewelry, begin sliding the taper through the hole using the spiky end.
Push the taper through the hole slowly and gradually until it reaches the largest part in diameter. The taper should be able to enter the hole easily, without too much pain or resistance. If you are struggling, it’s possible the gauge is too large and you should stop immediately.
Once the thickest point of the taper is through the hole, spin the taper a few times. This will help you stretch to the new size.
While the taper is in your ear, prepare the plug or tunnel you will be inserting.
Align the end of the plug or tunnel with the thick end of the taper. Gently push the taper all the way through the hole of your piercing with the plug or tunnel following shortly behind.
As the taper exits the hole, begin pushing the plug or tunnel into the hole. If your jewelry has o-rings, you can add these to the outside of the hole once the plug or tunnel is fully inserted.
After you have successfully stretched your ears, you will need to prioritize care the same way you did with a fresh piercing.
To avoid infection, you must massage and clean your gauge ears at least once a day. Make sure you always wash your hands well before touching your ears. Avoid using towels that may get stuck in the area or cause irritation.
Don’t be alarmed if there is a slight odor. That smell is often caused by dead skin on the site of the hole. However, the smell should improve after you’ve cleaned it.
Much like a fresh piercing, your ear will require time to heal each time you increase the gauge sizes. After all, you have stretched your skin and created impacted the tissue of your earlobe.
You should wait a minimum of 6 weeks before increasing the gauge size again. Failure to wait this period can cause irritation, infection, scarring, and permanent tissue damage.
It can also cause a blowout, which is a buildup of scar tissue around the outside of the piercing. Blowouts can make it appear as though your piercing is turning inside out. This often happens when someone tries to stretch their ears too quickly.
If you have a blowout, speak to someone at a piercing studio or a salon about it. They will be able to give you advice on how to care for and treat a blowout so you can get back to stretching your ears without worrying about hanging skin.
If you plan on continuing to increase your gauge sizes over time, some tips can help you succeed.
If you would like to stretch your ears naturally without purchasing additional tapers, you can do so using surgical tape. Simply wrap the surgical tape around your tapers and use a lubricant to slide the wrapped tapers into your ears.
The tape must be medical-grade tape. Other tapes can harbor bacteria and be bad for your ears.
Sometimes people will “weight” their ears by hanging heavy earrings from the bottom of their tunnel. While it’s believed this can speed up the process of stretching, it’s not an ideal way to stretch holes gradually. The earrings will stretch the bottom of the hole faster than the rest of the hole.
There is a lot to consider before stretching your ears.
If you don’t take the proper care or rush the process, you can cause permanent damage to your earlobes. You may even require surgery to reverse the ear stretching process.
By following these 10 steps, you can gauge ears carefully and methodically, without any major complications.
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