How To Wear Ear Weights? Quick Answer

Cover photo @juniperevergreen with our “Lotus Hoop” ear hooks

The simple answer is that dangle earrings are hanging earrings designed for stretched ears that don’t weigh much more than a pair of standard earrings.

Flesh plugs and tunnels sit in the earlobe, and “earhooks” are designs that hang down. They can be made from a variety of materials but are usually wood or brass, they can be hoops, spirals or hooks with dangling decorations. We sell drop earrings individually and some designs are only sold in pairs.

Ear weights hang from the ear in the same way, but are heavier. Ear weights are available in different weights and sizes. Unlike plugs and tunnels, ear weights don’t need to be sized exactly. For example, a 10mm ear weight only needs at least 10mm of ear stretch and will sit easily in much larger stretched ears. As such, our ear weights have a “minimum required” lobe size.

For example, if you are 12mm tall, you can carry all listed weights up to and including “For 12mm and over”. So you can wear “For 6mm and above”, “For 8mm and above”, “For 10mm as well as for 12mm and above”. But items that say “For 14mm and up” are too big for your ears.

If you are 18mm or larger you can wear any of our ear weights as we do not have any that require a hole larger than 18mm. However, you have to consider the weight. A very light weight for 6mm and up will fit in a much larger stretch but may have a tendency to fall out. Make a selection for your rags based on design and weight.

The weight range of ear weights varies from very light to heavy according to the table below. A light weight will be barely noticeable and can easily be carried all day, but a heavy weight will be noticeable. For the reasons outlined in this blog article, you shouldn’t carry heavy weights 24/7.

light 10g -20g medium 20g – 30g medium heavy 30g -35g heavy 35g +

We are always happy to answer questions about our products. You can either email us using the contact form here, or message us on Facebook or Instagram.

Share on Pinterest Ear stretching, also known as ear gauging, is the practice of stretching pierced earlobes. While it may seem like a modern trend, people have been stretching their ears for thousands of years. A blowout is one of the most common complications of ear measurement. It is a ring of scar tissue that forms behind the jewelry, giving the piercing the appearance of turning inside out. Blowouts usually occur when trying to stretch the hole too quickly. They often cause severe pain and inflammation. In this article, we’ll help you recognize when you’re dealing with an ear breakout and take a look at the best treatment options.

Ear blowing causes overstretching usually causes a blow. Stretching out the ear should be a slow and gradual process. If you increase the size of your jewelry too quickly, you can develop blisters and other complications, like lobe tears and infection. In the United States, jewelry size is measured in gauges, commonly abbreviated “g” (not to be confused with grams). Countries using the metric system often use millimeters (mm) instead of measuring devices. Standard earrings are usually 20 gauge or 18 gauge. As the earrings get wider, the measurement size decreases. So once you get to 0 gauge, the next size up is 00 gauge, which is about 3/8 inch in diameter. Sizes greater than 00 gauge are measured in inches and increase by 1/16th of an inch. It is usually recommended to go up one gauge at a time (expressed in measurements of 2) when changing to a larger piece of jewelry to avoid blowout. Many people also recommend waiting 4 to 6 weeks before increasing size. The time you have to wait may increase as your jewelry gets bigger.

Symptoms of Ear Eruptions The development of a blowout causes a ring of skin to form behind the piercing. This ring is usually red, irritated, and painful. A blowout can make the piercing appear like it’s everting. Overstretching the ear can also lead to infection. This can cause: yellow pus

itching

combustion

swelling

Tenderness You can often treat minor infections at home. However, if the infection spreads or doesn’t improve within 2 days, see a doctor. You can reduce the risk of infection by regularly cleaning items that come into frequent contact with your ears, such as B. Telephone, headphones and hats. Share on Pinterest Ear blisters after stretching. Illustration by Diego Sabogal

Preventing Ear Bluffs If you suspect you’re getting a blowout, act as soon as possible. Catching a blowout early can prevent permanent damage to your ear. Massage your ear There is evidence that massaging scar tissue can help break it up. Many people recommend lightly massaging your earlobe with an oil for 5 to 10 minutes to prevent a blowout from forming. Applying Oil Using oil on your measured ears will help keep them hydrated, which promotes stronger skin and reduces the likelihood of tears. Many types of oils are effective for keeping your measured ears moist. Some of the most common types are: Coconut oil

tea tree oil

jojoba oil

Castor Oil Start With the Right Gauge Most standard earrings are 20 or 18 gauge. It’s often recommended that you start with 16 or 14 gauge when you first start stretching your ears. Stretching your ear more than 2 gauge is often considered “the point of no return”. Once you’ve stretched your ear to this point, you’ll likely need surgery if you want the hole to close completely.

Treating Blowouts If you have a blowout, the following methods may help you treat it. Downsize your gauge If you start to develop a blowout, downsize to a smaller jewelry size. Many people recommend going down two or three sizes (e.g. 4 gauge to 6 gauge). Once your blowout has healed, you can slowly increase the size of your gauge back up, one size at a time. Flushing with Saline Solution You can clean your blowout three times a day by submerging your earlobe in a cup filled with saline solution. Pre-made saline solutions are widely available, but you can easily make your own. Simply mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of distilled water. Surgery and Other Removal Techniques In some cases, your blowout may be permanent, especially if you develop a raised type of scar known as a keloid scar. In this case, you may need surgery to remove the blowout. There are different surgical techniques to close a measured ear. One of the most common methods, known as a wedge resection, involves making an L-shaped incision and folding the earlobe over itself. Some other treatment options for keloid scars include: Laser therapy

silicone films

Freeze

corticosteroid shots

Proper Care of Ear Stretching A blowout is usually a sign that you’re stretching your ear too quickly. How to safely stretch your ears and avoid a blowout: increase one number at a time. Stretching your ear too quickly can tear the skin. Only increase your jewelry one size (2 gauge) at a time.

Stretching your ear too quickly can tear the skin. Only increase your jewelry one size (2 gauge) at a time. Wait 4 to 6 weeks before increasing in size. Wait for the inflammation and pain to subside before increasing the size of your gauge.

Wait for the inflammation and pain to subside before increasing the size of your gauge. Wet your earlobes. Applying oil to your stretched ears will help keep skin healthy and reduce the risk of tears. Many jewelers sell lubes specifically for ear stretching, but you can also use vegetable oils like coconut oil or jojoba oil.

Applying oil to your stretched ears will help keep skin healthy and reduce the risk of tears. Many jewelers sell lubes specifically for ear stretching, but you can also use vegetable oils like coconut oil or jojoba oil. Stop if you feel pain. Safely stretching the ear should not cause severe pain or bleeding. These are signs that you are trying to stretch your ears too quickly.

Share on Pinterest staticnak1983/Getty Images Ear stretching (also called ear measurement) involves gradually stretching pierced holes in your earlobes. Given enough time, these holes can be the diameter of a pencil to that of a soda can. Ear stretching takes time and effort. If you don’t do it right, you can cause permanent damage or scarring and increase the risk of infection. Many people regret having their ears stretched and are trying to reverse the process, so think carefully about it. Let’s dive into how to properly perform ear stretching, how to avoid complications or unwanted side effects, and what to do if you want to reverse your ear gauges.

What is ear stretching? Ear stretching began thousands of years ago as a form of beauty enhancement. It is still widely practiced today by communities such as the Maasai of Kenya and the Huaorani of the Amazon. The famous “Eismann,” a well-preserved human body found in Germany in 1991 and dated at more than 6,000 years old, appeared to have stretched earlobes.

What You Need for Ear Dilation The first thing you need to do is get an ear piercing. It’s as simple as going to a reputable piercing shop, getting your ear pierced, and letting the piercing heal for a few months. Choose a piercer licensed to pierce in your state. Tattoo artists and beauticians often receive additional training on the subject of piercing. There is a risk of hepatitis, HIV and other diseases when a piercer does not use clean equipment and procedures. After the piercing has fully healed, you can get all the equipment you need to enlarge your piercings. You need: Tapers

plug

Lubricant Share on Pinterest Tapers These are the long, spiky things you put in your piercings to stretch the skin. They come in different sizes (or gauges) depending on how far you want to stretch your piercing. Most tapers are acrylic or steel. It’s really up to you which ones you use. Many people recommend steel cones because they slide through the piercing more easily. But they are a bit more expensive. Cheaper tapers and cheaper plugs are often of unknown quality and can irritate the ears and slow down the healing process. The figure below shows different sizes of cones with the associated plugs. Share on Pinterest Illustration by Monica Pardo Ear buds Ear buds are the rounded pieces of jewelry you wear to keep your ear straight. They are made from a range of materials, each with its own advantages: Steel is durable.

is durable. Titanium is like steel, but lighter and less likely to irritate your ears.

is like steel, but lighter and less irritating to the ears. Silicone is a hypoallergenic material. More frequent cleaning may be required.

is a hypoallergenic material. More frequent cleaning may be required. Organic options include glass, finished wood, polished stone, or other non-artificial materials. Many plugs have “flared” sides that make them easier to plug in. It might be a good idea to stock up on them so you don’t have to worry about having trouble inserting your plugs. Lubricant Any type of safe lubricant will help the cone slide through the piercing more easily. Many jewelry stores sell commercial-grade lube, but you can also use herbal lubes like coconut oil or jojoba oil. Try not to use lubes that contain chemicals or additives, as these could irritate or infect your piercing.

How to Perform the Ear Stretch Now that you have all the materials you need, follow these steps to perform the actual stretch: Wait for your ear hole to fully heal (no swelling, discharge, itching, etc.) . Massage your earlobe to warm and stretch the skin. You can also take a hot bath or shower to increase blood flow to the ear. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Sterilize all piercing equipment with rubbing alcohol. Lubricate your piercing and taper from end to end. Begin pushing the taper through the hole, inserting the thinner side into the piercing first. go slow If you are uncomfortable, you have done too much. Insert your plug into the thicker end of the taper so you can immediately insert it into the stretched piercing. Once the taper goes all the way through, insert your plug into the hole.

How to care for your ears during and after stretching Once you’ve started stretching, the most important thing is to wait and see. If you stretch your ears too much and too quickly, you can tear or injure your ear cartilage. Here are some tips for caring for your ears during the stretching process and after you’ve finally reached your desired size: Wash your piercing with warm water and chemical-free soap at least twice a day.

with warm water and chemical-free soap. Soak your earlobes in warm, clean water with about 1/4 tsp salt per 1 cup water at least twice a day.

in warm, clean water with about 1/4 tsp salt per 1 cup of water. Massage your earlobes with coconut oil, jojoba oil, or another safe oil at least once a day to keep them moisturized and promote healing.

with coconut oil, jojoba oil, or another safe oil to keep it moisturized and promote healing. Wait at least 6 weeks between measurements, but keep an eye on your piercing. Do not go to the nearest meter if you notice any redness, swelling, or irritation after 6 weeks. Depending on your own healing process, it may take longer.

, but keep an eye on your piercing. Do not go to the nearest meter if you notice any redness, swelling, or irritation after 6 weeks. Depending on your own healing process, it may take longer. Do not touch the piercing with dirty hands to avoid introducing bacteria.

to avoid the introduction of bacteria. Make sure nothing gets caught or stuck in the piercing that could pull or stretch it, such as a loose thread.

who can pull or stretch it, like a loose thread. Don’t worry about a little smell. A calibrated ear can smell a bit due to dead skin cells that can’t be flushed out of the piercing when stretched. This is perfectly normal. But if the smell persists after washing, see a doctor. You should not see too much redness or swelling during the ear stretch. If you do, you may have torn or damaged your ear skin. Make sure to follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions. If you think you are developing an infection, see your doctor.

What precautions or side effects should you be aware of? A “blowout” occurs when you stretch your ear too quickly and scar tissue builds up in the hole. This can lead to permanent scarring. Stretching too quickly can tear your ear tissue in half or cause the skin of the earlobe to separate and hang off your head. Stretching too quickly or not caring for the ear can also lead to infection. Here are some infection symptoms to watch out for: Painful redness or swelling

bleeding from the piercing

cloudy yellow or green discharge from the piercing

Fever

lymph node swelling

What if you change your mind? A stretched ear can grow back if you haven’t stretched it too far. Extreme stretching can leave permanent holes in your earlobes. Overstretched ears can be surgically repaired. A surgeon will: Bisect the stretched earlobe hole. Remove excess stretched tissue from ear. Sew the two halves of the earlobe together. Keep in mind that this is not insurance coverage as it is a cosmetic procedure.

Having gone through the journey of ear stretching myself, I have learned many tips on how best to do it. Lucky for you, I’m ready to share.

My 0g holes complete with glass grommets and saw blade o-rings.

Not sure how to stretch your ears?

Then you are exactly right here!

Stretched ears can look great and be easy to achieve, but if you don’t know what you’re doing (and I didn’t know when I started) then you could experience a lot of pain and misery and even permanent damage to your ears. You do not want that! You want to keep your ears fabulous for years to come.

Done right, however, it is a completely safe process with minimal discomfort. As long as you’re careful and patient, you should be able to stretch your ears to the size you want without drama. And when you’re done, let the compliments roll!

Contents of this manual:

What to do before you start stretching Things you need A note on plug materials How to do your first stretch Help! I’m bleeding! The Taping Method Stretching Aftercare Troubleshooting Your Holes

The standard disclaimer “I am not a doctor, this is not professional medical advice” applies to all information on this site. I’m not a piercer either! I’m just an average person who has stretched his ears and made mistakes and learned things in the process. That’s just what I found out myself.

If you are concerned about something in your ears, see a doctor! You don’t want something terrible and permanent happening to your ears because you’ve ignored your gut feeling that something is wrong.

Tip: Get pierced with a 10g needle Still haven’t gotten the piercing you want to stretch? Then you have the option to make stretching easier by going to a professional piercer and asking them to pierce it with a heavier gauge. Piercing needles weigh up to 10g, and a needle piercing leaves less scar tissue than a gun piercing, making it easier to stretch!

Things to think about before stretching your ears

Before you start putting candles in your ears, consider the following:

How long have you had the initial hole? A piercing that is years old should be able to be straightened immediately, but you shouldn’t straighten one that has just healed. After the initial healing period, give it a month or two before you start stretching.

A piercing that is years old should be able to be straightened immediately, but you shouldn’t straighten one that has just healed. After the initial healing period, give it a month or two before you start stretching. What size do you want to stretch to? It’s worth taking a look at the types of plugs you might want to wear and finding out what sizes they come in. Also consider things like the dress code at work and how easy it will be to hide your stretched holes.

It’s worth taking a look at the types of plugs you might want to wear and finding out what sizes they come in. Also consider things like the dress code at work and how easy it will be to hide your stretched holes. Are you allergic to materials that might be used in plugs or tapers? Be extra careful with allergies and newly stretched piercings. They are not an open wound, but they are more sensitive than normal, undamaged areas of skin.

Be extra careful with allergies and newly stretched piercings. They are not an open wound, but they are more sensitive than normal, undamaged areas of skin. While you’ll be able to undo a stretch up to a certain amount — this varies from person to person — there comes a point at which that stretch is lifelong or until you can have your lobes surgically repaired. Make sure you’re ready to engage in sprawling holes before you pass the point of no return!

Tip: stretching on a budget? If your budget is really limited, here’s a tip for you: You only need one taper of each size. You can stretch each ear separately with just one, although it’s quicker to do both at the same time. Of course, you still need two plugs if you’re stretching both ears.

Things you need to stretch your ears

Tapers and plugs for each gauge between your location and target size. You can get stretching kits for this, but you should avoid acrylic plugs as they are porous and harbor bacteria that will irritate your piercing and make your ears smelly (and nobody likes smelly ears, right?).

You can get stretching kits for this, but you should avoid acrylic plugs as they are porous and harbor bacteria that will irritate your piercing and make your ears smelly (and nobody likes smelly ears, right?). Some kind of balm or moisturizer. This should contain at least vitamin E. Almond, jojoba, tea tree, rosemary, and lavender oils are also beneficial. Gauge Gear Stretching Balm is pretty great, but you can probably buy some at your local drug store or supermarket.

Moisturizer This should contain at least vitamin E. Almond, jojoba, tea tree, rosemary, and lavender oils are also beneficial. Gauge Gear Stretching Balm is pretty great, but you can probably buy some at your local drug store or supermarket. A lubricant. Petroleum jelly is okay for a well-healed piercing, but a water-based lube is great for stretching and is much safer.

Petroleum jelly is okay for a well-healed piercing, but a water-based lube is great for stretching and is much safer. For larger sizes, you may need PTFE or bondage tape to increase your strength. More on that below!

to increase your measure. More on that below! Patience. Patience is huge when it comes to ear stretching and absolutely necessary, but well rewarded. (I was impatient at times. It hurt. I learned a valuable lesson about waiting for the things you want.)

An additional note on stretching gear

As tempting as it might be to use cheap and brightly colored acrylic plugs for your new stretches, don’t. They need to be stretched for at least two weeks, and during this time a lot of bacteria will build up in the plastic. Live with boring steel or glass (although they can look really cool! Honestly!) until you reach your height goal or take a long break, and don’t wear any other material long-term.

Glass and steel are the best because they are non-porous and sterilizable. You can cook them at home and that should be more than enough, but you can also take them to your local piercer and have them autoclaved for you, usually for a small fee. Autoclaving is just lab-grade sterilization, and it’s worth it if you find your ears get infected easily. By the way, you shouldn’t use a piercer who doesn’t have an autoclave.

Also, don’t get double-flared plugs that allow you to stretch. You will never get them into a new stretch and you will only hurt yourself trying. Double flares are for healed stretches only. Use single or no-flare plugs to improve measurement.

Get down to business: your first step

Alright, now you’ve got your tapers and plugs and you can’t wait to get started! Here’s how to make your first stretch painless and easy:

wash your hands Not really. wash them. Use an antibacterial soap. You don’t want germs in your piercing. If your tapers were not shipped sterile, sterilize them. Again, germs in the piercing = bad. Now you are ready to paste! With your clean hands, remove any jewelry you have in your hole and apply a little lube to the hole and taper. Not too much! You should only need a very thin coating on each one. Insert the cone as if you were inserting an earring. Watch what you’re doing and stop when you meet resistance. Don’t force it! It probably won’t go all the way in right away. That’s perfectly fine! Let your ear rest for a while. It will be swollen, so let the swelling go down before you do anything else. Read a book or check your email or something while you wait. Wash your hands again before pushing the cone in further. A little pressure while you push is okay, but stop and take a break if you feel pain. DO NOT twist the cone to get it in. If it’s too tight, rip the skin off the inside of your hole. This is painful and incredibly uncomfortable and bloody. Repeat until you get the taper all the way in. Leave it on for at least a couple of hours, ideally overnight. Later or in the morning, push the cone out further and insert your sterilized plug with your clean hands. Congratulations on successfully completing your first route!

Help, my ear is bleeding after stretching it!

No panic. It’s okay, it happens, and you probably haven’t done any irreversible damage.

You probably tore the skin on the inside of the hole or made a small tear at the very edge. That’s okay, it will heal.

Carefully remove the cone or plug you inserted. It may hurt, but you’ll likely find that it relieves a lot of pressure. Also, you’ll probably bleed everywhere. If you’re squeamish about blood, ask a friend for help.

Clean your ear and wipe it with some antibacterial wipes or wash it. Be gentle and try to stop the bleeding as much as possible.

Once your ear stops pounding, plug in a size smaller earplug. Make sure it’s clean and do it carefully.

Allow your ear to heal for a few weeks before stretching it again. I know it’s a pain, but it will be worth it in the long run.

If you’re really concerned, let me assure you that it’s okay to do this a few times. I’ve had both ears bleed a few times, especially on larger sizes, and mine have now both healed perfectly with no issues. Don’t worry! Everything will be fine. Just be careful next time.

Why PTFE/Bondage Tape?

PTFE and bondage tape have one very important property in common – they only stick to themselves, not to your skin. This is important if you are using the taping method of stretching as you don’t want the tape to stick to your ears and possibly tear the delicate skin.

The taping method of stretching

After about 0 g or 00 g, the supply of tapers will taper off. These holes are really too big for the taping stretch method, so you need to continue taping. Taping can also benefit smaller sizes (though not too small) by providing a gentler, gradual method of stretching. As? Here we go:

Take your current plug – ideally glass, but steel will do – and grab some PTFE or bondage tape. Both are readily available online. PTFE tape can be bought at hardware stores, but you have to go to an adult store to get bondage tape. Wrap a few layers of tape around your connector. Not too much! Two or three should be more than enough. Apply lube to the plug and gently insert it into your hole. Repeat twice a week until your hole is the size you want.

I personally had to use tape to go from 2g to 0g because it’s a 2mm stretch which is hard to do all at once. You might want to start there as well, or you might not have to until you reach 00g (if you go that far).

Take care of your holes after stretching

To keep your ears in tip-top condition, you should use a good quality balm or moisturizer at least a couple of times a week, ideally daily, and whenever you change out your earplugs — especially if they’re doubly flared, which is a little puts pressure on the ears when you first put them in.

Otherwise, stretched ears are fairly low maintenance. You should try wearing a glass or steel (or titanium if you prefer) plug overnight when not fully dressed, but otherwise anything goes and you can enjoy and show off your stretched holes!

Other ear stretching troubleshooting

Help, the outside of my hole is red and sore.

If the edges of your holes are red and itchy, you could be allergic to your o-rings. Black o-rings are most commonly made from a substance called nitrile, to which many people are sensitive. Switch to silicone O-rings and you should be fine!

I can’t get this taper in no matter what I do!

See taping method above. If it’s a size small or your first stretch, you might want to try a sea salt bath, massage your ears with some vitamin E oil, or stretch right after a warm shower when your ears are at their most supple. Also, make sure you only try to go one size up! Check the gauge of your tapers to make sure they are correct.

My holes have this weird swollen ring around them. . .

This is (affectionately) called “catbutt” holes and is a side effect of stretching too quickly. The best way to solve this is to go down a size and make sure to keep your ear well hydrated while the hole shrinks back. Then let it heal longer than before and try again.

If that doesn’t work, the swollen part can be peeled off (which should only be done by a professional), but this will hurt and likely leave scars. Because of this, healing times between stretches are really important.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this content is correct and truthful and does not replace formal and individual advice from a qualified professional.

© 2013 Cecil Wilde

Kayla on October 15, 2019:

Can you stretch your ears while in the hot shower? At the moment I believe in 4g, it’s been 5 months since I did it but I’m trying to find some painless ways to do it. Please help.

angie on 06.12.2017:

I’m a 2g size and honestly the most painless way to stretch is after a shower with soap his slipper and it’s clean. Then, a few hours later, I take them out and put Vasline on them, but I do it quickly. .. but aside from stretching to a size 0, does anyone have any advice to go until then

taz on 09/24/2017:

This is better than most guides I’ve seen before, I’m at 2g/6mm, I plan to increase the size but not for a few years. Only thing I have to say is that I have a couple of friends who started taping at 2g and their ears are fine. Bye!

Anna Black on November 26, 2014:

I stretched my ears to 12 ga and then 8 ga with these spiral earrings where the tip is thin and then go all the way to a slightly larger size. I didn’t read this before I did so yes my earlobe was red and I felt pain but towards the end of the stretch I started doing the following: After the shower I put on some petroleum jelly and I felt a little more stretched because my ear felt so soft because of the warm water of the shower and it was much easier.

It’s been about 3 weeks so I’m going to buy another coil. One that expands from 12ga to 0ga so I can do it over time, unhurriedly.

The problem is that I use some sort of plastic/acrylic IUD, so yes it smells funny from what I’ve read here, but I only clean it 2 times a day. I guess I screwed up a lot in the beginning, my ear had a little swollen thing around the hole and it was “ugh” but now it’s fully healed and ready to stretch more. This time I will be much more patient to avoid side effects. Thanks for the tips and I will definitely use them

Carl Junior on 07/05/2013:

This is indeed an interesting read. Great hub.

Jaye Denman from Deep South, USA on June 28, 2013:

Very interesting. Of course, I’m an old hand, for whom the desire for stretched ear piercings (as well as multiple ear, face, nose and body piercings) is completely incomprehensible. For one, I don’t see anything attractive about them, but that’s because I’m an OLD fool! 🙂

One of my grandsons-in-law has dime-sized stretchers in his ears, and I keep wondering if he’ll regret those big holes when he’s, say, 40 or 50 years old. There will probably be a lot of middle-aged women who are young now and have flowers tattooed on their stomachs (or elsewhere) whose floral tributes will look more like cabbages when they are older and live through a few pregnancies! Haha. The things that were fads during my adolescence tended to be temporary and not something to live with for the rest of one’s life. (I’m sure my style of dress in the ’60s was the source of a lot of laughs for older people back then.)

Nonetheless, I found your article on the “how to” interesting and hope your advice will be heeded by those following this trend.

Agreed and interesting

jaye

Cecil Wilde (Author) from Melbourne, Australia on June 19, 2013:

Glad you liked it Ruby!

Cecil Wilde (Author) from Melbourne, Australia on June 16, 2013:

Thank you Rajan!

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai currently in Jalandhar INDIA. on June 16, 2013:

Interesting to read!

At what strength should you start stretching your ears?

An important question to know when beginning to stretch your ears is what size your first stretch should be. For the majority of people, either 16 gauge or 14 gauge is a good starting point if you’ve only worn regular earrings.

16 gauge is a good starting point if you never wear earrings or if you’ve recently had them pierced and they’ve just healed. 14 gauge is a good size to start with if you have been wearing regular earrings every day for a long time. The difference between the 2 sizes is pretty small, but you certainly don’t want to strain it too much on your first stretch (since your ears have never been stretched before).

To what size can I stretch without permanent damage?

There are many differing opinions on the subject, but the majority of professionals in the body modification industry recommend never going larger than 2 – 0 gauge if you want your ears to fully close where you cannot see through them. However, remember that everyone’s anatomy is different, but the majority of people will be able to pull their plugs out at 2 – 0 gauge and your flaps will appear normal after 2 – 3 months of closure.

There are other factors that affect the durability of your size as well. One of the biggest factors is when you’ve been stretching too quickly and skipping sizes. Skipping sizes and stretching too quickly will actually tear your skin more than it actually stretches it, so your holes can become much bigger and more permanent in the long run. To optimize your chances of having normal-looking lobes when you decide to take them out, make sure you don’t skip sizes and wait at least a full month between each stretch.

If you’ve stretched to a really large size and decide it’s not for you, there’s always the option of surgery. Club inversions have become quite popular these days, so this is always an option to consider if you’ve stretched really hard and want your lobes to look like the average person’s.

How long should I wait between each stretch?

Many people make the mistake of stretching too quickly, which can cause long-term damage to your lobes. Most professionals recommend waiting at least a full month between each stretch. A full month is generally enough to give your last stretch time to heal and also to help your lobes loosen up a bit for the next stretch. The slower you go, the prettier your lobes will be in the long run, so waiting even longer than a month is highly recommended. While temptation is sometimes hard to resist, when you’re ready to stretch it’s always best to give it some time, you’ll thank yourself in the long run.

All about tapers and how to stretch your ears with a taper

Tapers are a great way to start your ear stretching journey. A cone is a straight piece of steel or acrylic that is small on one side and larger on the other. Introducing a taper will make your piercing larger. The first thing you need to know about tapers is what the difference between the different styles is and which one you should choose.

acrylic cone

Acrylic skittles are an inexpensive type of skittle that are quite popular as they are the cheapest. They will get the job done, but acrylic can never be sterilized and is a little harder to penetrate than steel. If you’re on a budget, acrylic is fine, but using steel cones for stretching is highly recommended.

Basic Steel Cone

Simple steel cones are a good option for those on a budget but looking for better quality than acrylic. These tapers can be fully autoclaved and sterilized for safe and clean stretching. Steel cones slide through much easier than acrylic cones and are of much better quality. The only problem with these is that they have a flat back so when inserting your plugs you need to have a really steady hand to get them through according to the taper.

Concave steel cones (best to use)

Concave tapers are the best and highest quality tapers. Like the simple steel cones, they can be fully autoclaved and sterilized for safe and clean stretching. They’re also slightly longer in the stretchy area so they don’t hit your piercing as bluntly as you push them through. And the best thing about the concave tapers is that they have a concave back (a depression at the end of the taper) so the plugs actually fit into the taper. That makes them just perfect; You can insert your taper, insert the plug into the back of the taper and pull through for an extremely easy stretch. No need to keep your hand steady or anything, just insert the cone and the connector is ready for easy pull-through. These are usually a bit more expensive, but for the few bucks more it’s worth it.

So you’ve decided on your taper, now it’s time for the stretch

So once you’ve decided which taper style to use, the next part is the stretching. The first thing you need is a lube to use on your cone. Lubricant makes the cone super smooth so it slides through really easily. We recommend using a sterile lubricant such as Surgilube.

Lubricate your ears and also the taper. Then simply insert the cone to the base of the larger side. If you need a few minutes to get through it, that’s fine, no need to rush it. Once it’s through, just grab your plugs and follow the taper.

How to stretch your ears using the tape wrapping method

Once you get a larger size (generally around 0 gauge) using the tape wrapping method is a good option for stretching and it’s the method almost everyone over 1 inch uses. The way the tape wrapping method works is that you take a set of studs of your current size and wrap 2-3 pieces of tape around your studs to slowly increase the size of your piercing. It is highly recommended that you use a set of individual flare tunnels for each size you use this method with, as you can wrap the tape around your plugs and tuck the excess into the back of the tunnels. (See image below) The good thing about the tape wrapping method is that you can really take your time and slowly increase the size of your piercing without the healing issues of tapers. Just do 2-3 wraps a week and usually after about 1-2 months you will have reached the next size. It’s a lot slower than using tapers, but it’s a really efficient and gradual way to stretch with minimal risk. There are 2 main types of tape that are best to use.

PTFE tape

PTFE is a great and inexpensive tape to use for stretching. The good thing is that it’s very reasonably priced, non-sticky so it just sticks to itself, super thin so you can slowly increase your size, and it doesn’t irritate your ears like some tapes do (e.g. tape). It’s about ½ inch wide, so it fits well with almost all plugs under 1 inch.

bondage tape

Bondage tape is another great piece of tape that can be used for the tape wrapping method. The good thing about bondage tape is that it’s self-adhesive (so it won’t stick to skin, hair, clothing, etc.), it’s 2 inches wide so it will fit any wearable area of ​​plugs (even really big wearable areas, which are often larger), and it is smooth and skin-friendly. Although more expensive than PTFE tape, it is highly recommended.

Will stretching too quickly and skipping sizes damage my ears?

Stretching your ears too quickly and skipping sizes is a common problem that can cause serious damage to your piercings. If you skip sizes and stretch too quickly, you’re actually tearing your skin more than you’re actually stretching. Human skin only has a certain elasticity, so going too big and too fast is enough to cause your skin to tear and tear. It is highly recommended to wait at least a full month between each stretch and never skip sizes so your ears have minimal chances of long-term problems. The slower you go, the fatter and healthier your ears will be in the long run (which is really important if you plan on going up a size).

What is a blowout and how to fix it?

Air bubbles are another common problem, generally caused by stretching too quickly or skipping sizes. This problem occurs when the fistula (inside your piercing) is actually being pushed out through the back of the piercing. A blowout is a small flap of skin that hangs over the rim of your earplugs. Although it’s generally not too noticeable if it occurs in the back of your ears, it can limit the type of earplugs you wear and you’ll generally need to wear earplugs with a larger wearable area (to make room for the blowout ). If you skip sizes or go too fast on a burst that has already occurred, it often just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

The best way to get rid of a blowout is to take the post out as soon as you notice it and downsize 2-3 sizes to allow your piercing to start healing itself. While it’s never 100% guaranteed to go away, chances are pretty good it’ll go back to normal if you downsize immediately after it appears. However, if you let the blowout heal without shrinking it, it will generally heal for good and become permanent that way. There are many ways people have tried to get rid of healed blisters, but the most common method is to shrink the skin and use oils like jojoba to moisturize and soften your skin. There is also an option to have it surgically removed, which is highly recommended if you have the means to do so.

Ringing in Ears, What Causes It and How to Fix It?

Once your ears start to stretch, a common problem that everyone has is the “ear funk” problem. Ringing in the ears is basically the dead skin cells on the inside of your ears that get trapped in the inside of your fistula (the skin inside your piercing). Most of the dust in your own home actually comes from dead skin cells shedding from your body, ear sparks come from the same thing. If you wear pegs for several days, dead skin cells will start to build up on your jewelry and when you remove the pegs they can be very gross. The way to get rid of this problem is to either wash your ears daily in the shower or just wear organic earplugs. Organic earplugs are porous, so they soak up all the ear candy, keeping your ears dry and smelling fresh.

Other common questions about ear stretching

How to use dual flare plugs

Many people have the problem that they can no longer put their double flare plugs in if they have never worn them. A double flared plug is a plug that has flares at both ends (the flares are actually slightly larger than the actual center). Double flare plugs are perfectly fine to wear, but they can be hard to come by at times (especially at sub-0 gauge sizes). There are some tips on how to introduce them that will make it a lot easier. The first thing that will help her penetrate is to use lube. Any water-based lube will help get them on and off easily. Also, you should paste them at an angle. If you try to force them right into your ears, they will have a much harder time fitting through. Deploying them at a slight angle will give them enough leverage to get through.

However, for sizes below 0 gauge, they often need to be stretched a little larger to fit through. The bigger you stretch, the easier it is for double flares to get in, making the smaller sizes much harder to get through. If you’re trying to fit a set of double flares under 0 gauge, it’s good to try a little tape (see tape wrapping method info above) to loosen your ears a bit and insert the plugs.

Use jojoba oil to moisturize your piercing and to care for organic plugs

Jojoba oil is an all-around great product. Its best uses are to soften skin, reduce scar tissue, thicken lobes and moisturize. By massaging jojoba oil onto your lobes daily, it will help thicken them and keep them healthy over time. It also helps reduce the size of blisters over time when massaged daily. Jojoba is also great for organic jewelry. By using it to hydrate your wood or buffalo horn/bone plugs, it will help protect them for long-term use.

How to care for organic plugs and body jewellery

Organic plugs are parts made from living things like wood, buffalo horn and bone, coral, shells, etc. However, organic plugs generally don’t require much more maintenance than your average set of plugs. However, materials like wood expand and contract when they get wet. Certainly, to avoid cracking and swelling, it is best to keep them as dry as possible. If you buy a set of organic earplugs that aren’t super expensive, then just wear them and don’t worry about whether they’re wet or not. But if you have a nice set that you plan to keep for years, then keeping it as dry as possible is highly recommended. Also, organic pieces that are inlaid or where multiple materials are used (e.g. multiple inlaid woods) then you definitely want to keep them dry to avoid breakage or cracking.

It’s also really good to use jojoba oil on organic jewelry to keep the pieces looking fresh and polished. All you have to do is put a tiny drop on your fingers and rub the jojoba oil into the stoppers and they will look like a fresh new pair.

Measuring devices vs. plugs which word is correct?

The topic of gauges vs. plugs is one of the biggest debates in the body modification industry. We thought it would be easier to do a video on the subject, so here is where Chris talks about it.

I think I have an infection, what can I do?

If you notice problems like extreme swelling, redness, discharge, itching, and flushing, you most likely have an infection. Infection can be a serious problem, so it’s best to take care of it as soon as possible. If you’ve recently had your ears stretched and are having all of the above issues, then surely your best bet is to downsize and let your ears go back to normal. Also, wearing jewelry made of steel or glass is best worn with an irritated piercing (these materials minimize the risk of prolonging the infection). If you feel like it’s getting to be too much or is a serious problem, your best bet is to see a local doctor and get it checked out. Leaving it off for a long time can cause serious problems, so get it checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

AB stretching guide

Arctic Buffalo has your guide to all things ear stretching. Here we give you the general terms you need to get started and the resources you need to familiarize yourself with. The guide details the initial stretching process and various methods to comfortably and safely get you to your desired size. We’ll teach you methods of long-term stretching and how to reach your goal size without injuries, infections, and breakouts. We also go over the best cleaning practices for your ears and jewelry.

dive in!

Common Terms

Ear Taper – A tapered object (use only A tapered object (use only steel or glass) used to stretch a piercing such as an earlobe. Go to Tapers

Earplugs / ear tunnels (eyelets) / ear spacers – jewelry to wear in your stretched earlobe. Jewelry to wear in your stretched earlobe. Go to Plugs/Tunnels

Ear stretching (not “measuring”) – The process of stretching/increasing the diameter of a piercing. The process of stretching/increasing the diameter of a piercing. Go to the best plugs for stretching

O-rings – Rubber or silicone rings that hold the jewelry in place in your earlobe. Rubber or silicone rings that hold the jewelry in place in your earlobe. Go to O-Rings

Double Flared Ear Plugs – Earplugs that are flared at both ends.

Single Flared Ear Plugs – Ear plugs that are flared at only one end. These plugs usually have an ear tip that is flared at only one end. These studs usually have an o-ring to hold the jewelry in place. Go to individual flare connectors

Non-Flare Ear Tips – Ear tips that are non-flare and require two ear tips that are non-flare and require two o-rings to stay in place. All jewelry comes with all O-rings required to wear. Go to No Flare Plugs

Vernier caliper – a device used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object. Ideal for measuring glass, a device used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object. Ideal for measuring stone wood and steel dowels and tunnels. A measuring wheel measures studs from 18g to 1″. For larger studs or to measure the length of your body jewelry, you will need digital calipers. Go to calipers

Autoclave – Sterilization with high-pressure steam performed in an autoclave machine

Started

If you have healed regular earring piercings and wear earrings regularly, start with our Single Flare Glass Plugs. The starting point for most people is 14g, which is only slightly larger than a regular earring. If you were pierced with a piercing gun, you are probably around 20g.

If you have recently healed from a normal ear piercing, you may want to start with 16g plugs just to be on the safe side. There is no such thing as stretching too slowly, but stretching too fast can cause scars and injuries and prevent ears from healing evenly and properly.

Find out what size your earlobe piercings are. Most standard piercings start at 16g or 14g but can be made larger upon request. Years of wearing long, dangling earrings and pulling on your piercings can make your piercings bigger! Professional piercers can measure your ears to see how big they are.

Decide on a breakpoint

It’s a good idea to have a general idea of ​​how far you want to go with your ear stretching journey. If you want to enjoy the temporary benefits of wearing plugs and tunnels but don’t want to commit to the look permanently, it’s important to consider the size at which you need to stop stretching to allow your ears to fully heal again shut down. Everyone is different and many factors such as Factors such as your skin’s elasticity and the time and method of stretching can affect this. Most people can go from 2g (6mm) to 00g (10mm) and expect their ears to revert back to a normal piercing after a few months of healing. If you don’t want to have ears stretched forever, be sure to stretch slowly and never skip sizes. Skipping sizes and stretching too quickly will tear your skin more than it actually stretches. This can make your holes much bigger and more permanent in the long run. To maximize your chances of having unstretched-looking lobes, make sure you stretch one size at a time and wait at least a month between each stretch (see chart below).

The slower you stretch, the healthier your ears are! The slower you go, the thicker your lobes will be in the long run, and that’s very important if you plan on going to a large size.

stretching methods

Single Flare Glass – Our Single Flare Glass Plugs are our recommended method of stretching (often referred to as “dead stretching”). Many buyers have had great success with these connectors. We offer them in 1mm increments from 2mm to 28mm. The less stretch means faster healing time and less scar tissue. The backs of these plugs are rounded for easier insertion. The plug’s wearable is quite long to accommodate any initial swelling. Be sure to lubricate the earplugs and your ears before stretching. Go to Stretching Plugs

Single Flare Steel – Like our glass single flare plugs, but made of stainless steel. The Single Flare Steel Plugs are available in a larger size range (1.6mm – 38mm) and we have 3 different kits ready to take you to specific common milestones. Go to Steel Plugs

When stretching over 38mm the tape method is preferred (NEVER USE SILICONE TO STRETCH).

Tape Wrapping – Once you’ve reached a larger size (generally around 0g or 8mm), the tape wrapping method is a good option for stretching. It’s the method almost everyone over 1 inch or 25mm uses. To stretch using the tape wrapping method, take a set of your current size plugs and wrap 2-3 pieces of tape around them to slowly increase the size of your piercing. Only use PTFE or bondage tape. Remove the tape and clean the jewelry and your ears. Apply new tape daily. It is also recommended to apply jojoba oil or other skin nourishing oil daily to keep your skin hydrated and more elastic. Tape can harbor bacteria, so it should not be reused or left on for several days.

Do another 2-3 wraps every one to two weeks to further increase the size of the plug. After about 1-2 months you should have reached your next size. It is highly recommended to use a set of individual flared plugs or tunnels so you can easily trim off the excess tape. The good thing about the tape wrapping method is that you can really take your time and slowly increase the size of your piercing without the healing issues of tapers. It’s a lot slower than using tapers, but it’s a really efficient and gradual way to stretch with minimal risk. Go to the band

stretching process (taper method)

Please note that we do not recommend this method, but you do.

So once you’ve decided what size taper to use, the next part is the stretching. The first thing you need is a lube to use on your cone. Lubricant makes the cone super smooth so it slides through easily. Lubricants make stretching easier. While you’re out to get a new taper, stock up on some jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, or GaugeGear Stretching Balm (neosporin and petroleum jelly aren’t good ear stretching lubes).

Lubricate your ears and also the taper. Slowly insert the cone to the base of the larger side. If it takes you a few minutes to get through it, that’s fine, don’t rush it. Once it’s through, grab your plugs and follow the taper.

When stretching, one stretch should start by pushing the taper in from the front, and the next stretch should be pushing in from the back. Repeat this process a few times. This helps prevent scar tissue from forming and stretching more easily.

Some people say that taking a hot shower before stretching helps stretch your ear a bit. Also, massaging to get the blood flowing is a good way to increase elasticity in the earlobe before stretching.

take your time

Stretching too quickly and skipping sizes is a common problem that can cause serious damage to your piercings. When you do this, you tear your skin more than you actually stretch it. Human skin only has a certain elasticity, so going too big and too fast is enough to cause your skin to tear and tear.

It is highly recommended to wait at least a full month between each stretch and never skip size so your ears have minimal chances of long-term damage. The slower you go, the fatter and healthier your ears will be in the long run (which is important if you plan on going up to a large size).

This is a good ear size chart for determining how long to wait between stretches:

16g to 14g – 1 month

14g to 12g – 1 month

12g to 10g – 1.5 months

10g to 8g – 2 months

8g to 6g – 3 months

6g to 4g – 3 months

4g to 2g – 3 months

2g to 0g – 4 months

0g to 00g – 4 months

Blowout and injury prevention

No bleeding or pain should occur during the stretching process! A little tingling is okay, but if you feel pain or see blood, you are stretching too quickly and should stop, shrink and wait for your piercing to fully heal before attempting to stretch it further.

To avoid blistering when stretching the ears, make sure to gradually increase the size. Do not stretch until you have healed from the previous stretch. Another tip to avoid blowouts is to use a lubricant while stretching. The lube will keep your ears hydrated and protected better than dry stretching. We strongly recommend using GaugeGear Stretching Balm. Rub the balm into your ears just before stretching and rub some on the jewelry you plan to use for stretching. It acts as a lubricant and nourishes the skin. It is also great for everyday use to keep your skin soft and nourished. Go to GaugeGear

Cleaning and care

Keep it clean and hydrated! Take sea salt baths (1/8 teaspoon sea salt dissolved in a cup of warm water) twice a day for the first week of healing. Use ear care solution to remove crusts or small bits of gritty tissue coming out of your ears. You should clean your ears at least daily (we recommend twice) during the stretching process.

Jojoba Oil Benefits

Jojoba oil is an all-around great product. Its best uses are to soften skin, reduce scar tissue, and moisturize. It also helps reduce the size of blisters over time when massaged daily. Go to jojoba oil

infections

If you notice problems like extreme swelling, redness, discharge, itching, and flushing, you most likely have an infection. An infected ear can be a serious problem, so it’s best to get it taken care of as soon as possible. If you’ve recently had your ears stretched and are having all of the above issues, then surely your best bet is to downsize and let your ears go back to normal.

If in doubt, consult a doctor. Don’t ignore any infection that won’t heal! Wearing jewelry made of steel or glass is best for an irritated piercing (these materials minimize the risk of prolonging the infection). Don’t ignore an infection that won’t heal!

Additional takeaways

Invest in a set of calipers! They are not very expensive and are worth their weight in gold for the headache they save you in determining and understanding the size.

All organic jewelry should be kept dry but moisturized. Avoid showering or swimming with wooden stoppers. This causes the wood to warp and expand with the shower steam, opening small pores for bacteria. Jewelry made of wood, bone and horn should be oiled with vitamin E oil at least once a month. If not cared for properly, they break!

Don’t skip sizes when stretching. This can cause ear blowouts or other unwanted effects on your piercing, including infection and skin tearing. Go up one size at a time. Patience, grasshopper.

Weights are not a good method of stretching, as this puts more pressure on the underside of the piercing and can cause your piercing to rupture.

Stretch only with surgical steel, titanium or glass. DO NOT stretch with silicone, acrylic, wood, bone or horn. Silicone and acrylic cannot be autoclaved, so even after washing with antimicrobial soap, traces of bacteria may still be present. This is fine for a healed piercing, but not fine for stretching or wearing in a newly stretched ear. Organic materials are porous. Freshly stretched skin can heal into these pores, essentially fusing your skin into the jewelry. Organic is beautiful and natural, but only for well-healed skin.

Be sure to search the internet for personal accounts from people of lobe stretching. Educating yourself with as many resources as possible is always a good idea!

Clean your ears! They are like a fresh piercing! You need to clean them at least once (preferably twice) a day while they’re healing! Saline is a really good investment. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide to clean your ears. Hydrogen peroxide is cytotoxic (cell-killing), meaning it kills ALL cells, both good and bad. Do not use Neosporin or other ointment creams. These can prevent air from getting to your ear and slow down the healing process.

Ear stretching is a specific type of body modification that affects the earlobe. Many people straighten their ears so they can wear “spacers” or earrings with holes in the earlobes. Stretching your ears can be a fun way to decorate your body, but you need to understand how to care for the stretched skin in order for it to heal properly. Here’s what you need to know about how it can affect your health.

Ear stretching allows people to wear unique types of jewelry in their ears known as “spacers” or “gauges.” Some people perk up their ears at cultural traditions, while others just like how it looks. You can certainly stretch your ears with the right tools, but you should first understand how it affects your health.

Ear stretching is the process of expanding an earlobe piercing hole over a period of several months. This is a type of aesthetic body modification. Some people stretch the hole just a little to accommodate larger earring pins. Other people stretch their ears until it is possible to see through the hole. ‌

Effects of ear stretching on your health

If you choose to stretch your ears, you need to make sure you do it slowly and carefully. After all, your skin doesn’t stretch on its own. If you irritate your ear or stretch it too quickly, you can suffer what is known as a “blowout.”

Blowouts occur when you stretch the ear too quickly. The inner ring of skin around the piercing will become red and irritated and possibly even lumpy. It will most likely be itchy or painful, and you may also get an infection.

These breakouts are the result of your skin being stretched too far and not healing properly. Instead of slowly growing new skin cells in the stretched area, the stress caused micro tears that became irritated. Overstretching your ear even slightly can lead to a slight blistering, which can be reversed with the right care. However, the blowout could become permanent if it becomes infected.

You should also know that after a certain point, your earlobes will not return to their original size on their own. If you stretch your ears beyond 2 gauge (6mm), you will likely need surgical help to restore them to their original shape.

Make your ears pop, this is how you do it

Have you ever had problems with your ears on an airplane? Where out of the blue do your ears seem clogged? Your neighbor probably suggested chewing gum. And you probably don’t even understand why this is sometimes effective. Here are a few tips on how to pop your ears when they feel congested.

your ears and pressure

It turns out your ears are pretty good at controlling air pressure. Thanks to a useful little part of the anatomy called the Eustachian tubes, the pressure in your ears is able to regulate, adjust and equalize the pressure in their environment. Usually.

There are some situations where your eustachian tubes might have trouble adjusting and irregularities in air pressure can cause problems. There are times when you may be suffering from an uncomfortable and often painful condition called barotrauma, which occurs when fluid builds up behind your ears or when you’re sick. This is the same situation you experience in small amounts when flying or driving around particularly high mountains.

Normally, you will not even notice gradual pressure differences. But when these changes come on suddenly, or when your eustachian tubes aren’t working properly, you may experience bloating, pain, and even a crackling sound in your ears.

What is causing this crackling?

Hearing crackling in your ears is a bit unusual in everyday life, so you’re understandably wondering where that’s coming from. The crackling sound is often compared to the sound of “Rice Krispies”. In many cases, you’ll hear air bypassing blockages or obstructions in your eustachian tubes. The cause of these blockages can range from constipation to a malfunctioning Eustachian tube to unregulated changes in barometric pressure.

Neutralizing the pressure in the ear

Any crackling, especially at high altitudes, is usually caused by pressure imbalances. In this case, you can try the following technique to neutralize ear pressure:

Yawning: Try yawning for the same reason that swallowing works. (If you can’t yawn whenever you want, try thinking of someone else who yawns, that will usually work.)

For the same reason that swallowing works, try yawning. (If you can’t yawn whenever you want, try thinking about someone else who yawns, that will usually work.) Frenzel Maneuver: Okay, try this tactic. Pinch your nose, close your mouth, and make “k” sounds with your tongue. Clicking can also work.

Okay, try this tactic. Pinch your nose, close your mouth, and make “k” sounds with your tongue. Clicking can also work. Toynbee Maneuver: This is really just elaborate swallowing. With your mouth closed, pinch your nose and swallow. Drinking a mouthful of water (which helps you keep your mouth closed) can help.

It’s really just tedious swallowing. With your mouth closed, pinch your nose and swallow. Drinking a mouthful of water (which helps you keep your mouth closed) can help. Try swallowing: the pressure in the eustachian tubes is neutralized when the muscles used for swallowing are activated. Incidentally, this is also the reason why you should chew gum on an airplane; chewing causes you to swallow, and swallowing forces the ears to equalize.

The pressure in the Eustachian tubes is neutralized when the muscles used for swallowing are engaged. Incidentally, this is also the reason why you should chew gum on an airplane; chewing causes you to swallow, and swallowing forces the ears to equalize. Valsalva Maneuver: If you’re still having trouble, try this: pinch your nose, close your mouth, but instead of swallowing, try to blow out (don’t let air escape if you can help). In theory, the air you’re trying to expel should flow through your eustachian tubes, equalizing the pressure.

medicines and devices

If these maneuvers don’t help, there are specially made devices and medications to help regulate ear pressure. The cause of your barotrauma and its severity will determine whether these techniques or medications are right for you.

In some cases, special earplugs work. In other cases, this could mean a nasal decongestant. It all depends on your scenario.

what’s the trick

The real trick is figuring out what works for you and your eustachian tubes.

However, if you find that the feeling of having a blocked ear doesn’t go away, you should call us for a consultation. This can also be a symptom of hearing loss.

From RMHP

6 moves that stretch hard-to-reach muscles

Show your body some love with these unique stretches

Most people are familiar with simple stretches like forward bends, but how much do you know about stretching those hard-to-reach muscles?

From your pecs to your inner thighs, here are 6 unique stretches you need to know about. You’ll get to the right places and your body will thank you later!

1. Standing shin extension

Let’s start with an often neglected body part – our shins. Stand up straight, using a wall or chair for balance if necessary. Bend both knees slightly. Keeping one foot on the ground, place the toe of the straight leg behind your grounded foot so that your big toe touches the ground.

Keep that toe on the ground, and then without moving your toe, “pull” your leg forward. You’ll know it’s working when you feel a nice stretch through your shin. Repeat with the other leg.

2. Eagle arms

Massaging your upper back is pretty easy, but stretching it can be a little trickier. “Eagle Arms” is a stretch that’s common in yoga classes and gives you a nice stretch in your upper back and shoulders.

Here’s an excellent tutorial on how to stretch eagle arms, and it even includes mods for beginners.

3. Door assisted chest stretch

Don’t forget that the pecs in our chest get tensed and tight like any other muscle—even with stretching, they need some TLC.

First, stand in a narrow doorway and place your hands on either side of the door frame. With your feet shoulder-width apart, lean forward and into the stretch. You can even move your hands higher to deepen the stretch and target additional areas of your chest muscles. If you have balance problems, please consult a physician before doing this or any other stretch or physical activity.

4. Cross-legged stretches

Give your hips and legs a full stretch with this fun looking but effective stretch.

Lie on your back, then bring your knees to your chest. Cross one leg over the other while grasping both ankles with your hands. Bring both legs to your chest and stop when you feel the stretch. Try holding it for 30 seconds before moving on to the next page.

5. Frog range

This is another excellent hip stretch. Start in a tabletop position on all fours, stacking your shoulders over your wrists and keeping your knees under your hips. Spread your knees and go wider than hip-width while pointing your toes outward.

Slowly move your hips back and between your feet. You’ll feel a deep stretch, but if it’s too much, relax and keep working on flexibility.

6. Inner thigh stretch

Inner thigh stretches can be tricky, but this stretch will certainly help.

Stand tall with your feet flat on the floor and your feet shoulder- or hip-width apart. Bend into a squat, then position your elbows inside your knees. With an elbow on each knee, bring your hands together and apply pressure to your knees by pushing them apart with your elbows. As you stretch, look straight ahead and keep your chest up.

You can do these stretches before or after your workout, or whenever you like

Clear Mind Jewelry

Quantity Decrease quantity for frog ear weights Increase quantity for frog ear weights

Inspired by a tree frog, these ear weights were designed, rendered and 3D printed before being cast in silicon bronze in-house.

The ear weight is approx. 10 cm x 4.5 cm x 2 cm. Minimum tab size 4 gauge, no maximum recommended size with hook design. They weigh 60 grams (each).

The ear weight has been given a beautiful black patina and then polished back to reveal detailed textures in the branch.

Sold as a pair.

Due to its construction, this weight is not suitable for sizes under 4 gauge, it has no recommended maximum club size.

Silicon bronze is a beautiful gold colored metal. Silicon bronze is nickel and lead free but contains copper. Bronze will naturally patinate over time from physical contact and moisture.

Also available in other metals. (We currently do not offer plating, only solid cast metals)

Our jewelry is not made for people with fresh piercings or newly stretched ears. Please request a metal data sheet if you have metal allergies.

For reasons of hygiene and health, wearable body jewelry cannot be returned or refunded.

All items made to order have a minimum processing time of 1 week.

Having gone through the journey of ear stretching myself, I have learned many tips on how best to do it. Lucky for you, I’m ready to share.

My 0g holes complete with glass grommets and saw blade o-rings.

Not sure how to stretch your ears?

Then you are exactly right here!

Stretched ears can look great and be easy to achieve, but if you don’t know what you’re doing (and I didn’t know when I started) then you could experience a lot of pain and misery and even permanent damage to your ears. You do not want that! You want to keep your ears fabulous for years to come.

Done right, however, it is a completely safe process with minimal discomfort. As long as you’re careful and patient, you should be able to stretch your ears to the size you want without drama. And when you’re done, let the compliments roll!

Contents of this manual:

What to do before you start stretching Things you need A note on plug materials How to do your first stretch Help! I’m bleeding! The Taping Method Stretching Aftercare Troubleshooting Your Holes

The standard disclaimer “I am not a doctor, this is not professional medical advice” applies to all information on this site. I’m not a piercer either! I’m just an average person who has stretched his ears and made mistakes and learned things in the process. That’s just what I found out myself.

If you are concerned about something in your ears, see a doctor! You don’t want something terrible and permanent happening to your ears because you’ve ignored your gut feeling that something is wrong.

Tip: Get pierced with a 10g needle Still haven’t gotten the piercing you want to stretch? Then you have the option to make stretching easier by going to a professional piercer and asking them to pierce it with a heavier gauge. Piercing needles weigh up to 10g, and a needle piercing leaves less scar tissue than a gun piercing, making it easier to stretch!

Things to think about before stretching your ears

Before you start putting candles in your ears, consider the following:

How long have you had the initial hole? A piercing that is years old should be able to be straightened immediately, but you shouldn’t straighten one that has just healed. After the initial healing period, give it a month or two before you start stretching.

A piercing that is years old should be able to be straightened immediately, but you shouldn’t straighten one that has just healed. After the initial healing period, give it a month or two before you start stretching. What size do you want to stretch to? It’s worth taking a look at the types of plugs you might want to wear and finding out what sizes they come in. Also consider things like the dress code at work and how easy it will be to hide your stretched holes.

It’s worth taking a look at the types of plugs you might want to wear and finding out what sizes they come in. Also consider things like the dress code at work and how easy it will be to hide your stretched holes. Are you allergic to materials that might be used in plugs or tapers? Be extra careful with allergies and newly stretched piercings. They are not an open wound, but they are more sensitive than normal, undamaged areas of skin.

Be extra careful with allergies and newly stretched piercings. They are not an open wound, but they are more sensitive than normal, undamaged areas of skin. While you’ll be able to undo a stretch up to a certain amount — this varies from person to person — there comes a point at which that stretch is lifelong or until you can have your lobes surgically repaired. Make sure you’re ready to engage in sprawling holes before you pass the point of no return!

Tip: stretching on a budget? If your budget is really limited, here’s a tip for you: You only need one taper of each size. You can stretch each ear separately with just one, although it’s quicker to do both at the same time. Of course, you still need two plugs if you’re stretching both ears.

Things you need to stretch your ears

Tapers and plugs for each gauge between your location and target size. You can get stretching kits for this, but you should avoid acrylic plugs as they are porous and harbor bacteria that will irritate your piercing and make your ears smelly (and nobody likes smelly ears, right?).

You can get stretching kits for this, but you should avoid acrylic plugs as they are porous and harbor bacteria that will irritate your piercing and make your ears smelly (and nobody likes smelly ears, right?). Some kind of balm or moisturizer. This should contain at least vitamin E. Almond, jojoba, tea tree, rosemary, and lavender oils are also beneficial. Gauge Gear Stretching Balm is pretty great, but you can probably buy some at your local drug store or supermarket.

Moisturizer This should contain at least vitamin E. Almond, jojoba, tea tree, rosemary, and lavender oils are also beneficial. Gauge Gear Stretching Balm is pretty great, but you can probably buy some at your local drug store or supermarket. A lubricant. Petroleum jelly is okay for a well-healed piercing, but a water-based lube is great for stretching and is much safer.

Petroleum jelly is okay for a well-healed piercing, but a water-based lube is great for stretching and is much safer. For larger sizes, you may need PTFE or bondage tape to increase your strength. More on that below!

to increase your measure. More on that below! Patience. Patience is huge when it comes to ear stretching and absolutely necessary, but well rewarded. (I was impatient at times. It hurt. I learned a valuable lesson about waiting for the things you want.)

An additional note on stretching gear

As tempting as it might be to use cheap and brightly colored acrylic plugs for your new stretches, don’t. They need to be stretched for at least two weeks, and during this time a lot of bacteria will build up in the plastic. Live with boring steel or glass (although they can look really cool! Honestly!) until you reach your height goal or take a long break, and don’t wear any other material long-term.

Glass and steel are the best because they are non-porous and sterilizable. You can cook them at home and that should be more than enough, but you can also take them to your local piercer and have them autoclaved for you, usually for a small fee. Autoclaving is just lab-grade sterilization, and it’s worth it if you find your ears get infected easily. By the way, you shouldn’t use a piercer who doesn’t have an autoclave.

Also, don’t get double-flared plugs that allow you to stretch. You will never get them into a new stretch and you will only hurt yourself trying. Double flares are for healed stretches only. Use single or no-flare plugs to improve measurement.

Get down to business: your first step

Alright, now you’ve got your tapers and plugs and you can’t wait to get started! Here’s how to make your first stretch painless and easy:

wash your hands Not really. wash them. Use an antibacterial soap. You don’t want germs in your piercing. If your tapers were not shipped sterile, sterilize them. Again, germs in the piercing = bad. Now you are ready to paste! With your clean hands, remove any jewelry you have in your hole and apply a little lube to the hole and taper. Not too much! You should only need a very thin coating on each one. Insert the cone as if you were inserting an earring. Watch what you’re doing and stop when you meet resistance. Don’t force it! It probably won’t go all the way in right away. That’s perfectly fine! Let your ear rest for a while. It will be swollen, so let the swelling go down before you do anything else. Read a book or check your email or something while you wait. Wash your hands again before pushing the cone in further. A little pressure while you push is okay, but stop and take a break if you feel pain. DO NOT twist the cone to get it in. If it’s too tight, rip the skin off the inside of your hole. This is painful and incredibly uncomfortable and bloody. Repeat until you get the taper all the way in. Leave it on for at least a couple of hours, ideally overnight. Later or in the morning, push the cone out further and insert your sterilized plug with your clean hands. Congratulations on successfully completing your first route!

Help, my ear is bleeding after stretching it!

No panic. It’s okay, it happens, and you probably haven’t done any irreversible damage.

You probably tore the skin on the inside of the hole or made a small tear at the very edge. That’s okay, it will heal.

Carefully remove the cone or plug you inserted. It may hurt, but you’ll likely find that it relieves a lot of pressure. Also, you’ll probably bleed everywhere. If you’re squeamish about blood, ask a friend for help.

Clean your ear and wipe it with some antibacterial wipes or wash it. Be gentle and try to stop the bleeding as much as possible.

Once your ear stops pounding, plug in a size smaller earplug. Make sure it’s clean and do it carefully.

Allow your ear to heal for a few weeks before stretching it again. I know it’s a pain, but it will be worth it in the long run.

If you’re really concerned, let me assure you that it’s okay to do this a few times. I’ve had both ears bleed a few times, especially on larger sizes, and mine have now both healed perfectly with no issues. Don’t worry! Everything will be fine. Just be careful next time.

Why PTFE/Bondage Tape?

PTFE and bondage tape have one very important property in common – they only stick to themselves, not to your skin. This is important if you are using the taping method of stretching as you don’t want the tape to stick to your ears and possibly tear the delicate skin.

The taping method of stretching

After about 0 g or 00 g, the supply of tapers will taper off. These holes are really too big for the taping stretch method, so you need to continue taping. Taping can also benefit smaller sizes (though not too small) by providing a gentler, gradual method of stretching. As? Here we go:

Take your current plug – ideally glass, but steel will do – and grab some PTFE or bondage tape. Both are readily available online. PTFE tape can be bought at hardware stores, but you have to go to an adult store to get bondage tape. Wrap a few layers of tape around your connector. Not too much! Two or three should be more than enough. Apply lube to the plug and gently insert it into your hole. Repeat twice a week until your hole is the size you want.

I personally had to use tape to go from 2g to 0g because it’s a 2mm stretch which is hard to do all at once. You might want to start there as well, or you might not have to until you reach 00g (if you go that far).

Take care of your holes after stretching

To keep your ears in tip-top condition, you should use a good quality balm or moisturizer at least a couple of times a week, ideally daily, and whenever you change out your earplugs — especially if they’re doubly flared, which is a little puts pressure on the ears when you first put them in.

Otherwise, stretched ears are fairly low maintenance. You should try wearing a glass or steel (or titanium if you prefer) plug overnight when not fully dressed, but otherwise anything goes and you can enjoy and show off your stretched holes!

Other ear stretching troubleshooting

Help, the outside of my hole is red and sore.

If the edges of your holes are red and itchy, you could be allergic to your o-rings. Black o-rings are most commonly made from a substance called nitrile, to which many people are sensitive. Switch to silicone O-rings and you should be fine!

I can’t get this taper in no matter what I do!

See taping method above. If it’s a size small or your first stretch, you might want to try a sea salt bath, massage your ears with some vitamin E oil, or stretch right after a warm shower when your ears are at their most supple. Also, make sure you only try to go one size up! Check the gauge of your tapers to make sure they are correct.

My holes have this weird swollen ring around them. . .

This is (affectionately) called “catbutt” holes and is a side effect of stretching too quickly. The best way to solve this is to go down a size and make sure to keep your ear well hydrated while the hole shrinks back. Then let it heal longer than before and try again.

If that doesn’t work, the swollen part can be peeled off (which should only be done by a professional), but this will hurt and likely leave scars. Because of this, healing times between stretches are really important.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this content is correct and truthful and does not replace formal and individual advice from a qualified professional.

© 2013 Cecil Wilde

Kayla on October 15, 2019:

Can you stretch your ears while in the hot shower? At the moment I believe in 4g, it’s been 5 months since I did it but I’m trying to find some painless ways to do it. Please help.

angie on 06.12.2017:

I’m a 2g size and honestly the most painless way to stretch is after a shower with soap his slipper and it’s clean. Then, a few hours later, I take them out and put Vasline on them, but I do it quickly. .. but aside from stretching to a size 0, does anyone have any advice to go until then

taz on 09/24/2017:

This is better than most guides I’ve seen before, I’m at 2g/6mm, I plan to increase the size but not for a few years. Only thing I have to say is that I have a couple of friends who started taping at 2g and their ears are fine. Bye!

Anna Black on November 26, 2014:

I stretched my ears to 12 ga and then 8 ga with these spiral earrings where the tip is thin and then go all the way to a slightly larger size. I didn’t read this before I did so yes my earlobe was red and I felt pain but towards the end of the stretch I started doing the following: After the shower I put on some petroleum jelly and I felt a little more stretched because my ear felt so soft because of the warm water of the shower and it was much easier.

It’s been about 3 weeks so I’m going to buy another coil. One that expands from 12ga to 0ga so I can do it over time, unhurriedly.

The problem is that I use some sort of plastic/acrylic IUD, so yes it smells funny from what I’ve read here, but I only clean it 2 times a day. I guess I screwed up a lot in the beginning, my ear had a little swollen thing around the hole and it was “ugh” but now it’s fully healed and ready to stretch more. This time I will be much more patient to avoid side effects. Thanks for the tips and I will definitely use them

Carl Junior on 07/05/2013:

This is indeed an interesting read. Great hub.

Jaye Denman from Deep South, USA on June 28, 2013:

Very interesting. Of course, I’m an old hand, for whom the desire for stretched ear piercings (as well as multiple ear, face, nose and body piercings) is completely incomprehensible. For one, I don’t see anything attractive about them, but that’s because I’m an OLD fool! 🙂

One of my grandsons-in-law has dime-sized stretchers in his ears, and I keep wondering if he’ll regret those big holes when he’s, say, 40 or 50 years old. There will probably be a lot of middle-aged women who are young now and have flowers tattooed on their stomachs (or elsewhere) whose floral tributes will look more like cabbages when they are older and live through a few pregnancies! Haha. The things that were fads during my adolescence tended to be temporary and not something to live with for the rest of one’s life. (I’m sure my style of dress in the ’60s was the source of a lot of laughs for older people back then.)

Nonetheless, I found your article on the “how to” interesting and hope your advice will be heeded by those following this trend.

Agreed and interesting

jaye

Cecil Wilde (Author) from Melbourne, Australia on June 19, 2013:

Glad you liked it Ruby!

Cecil Wilde (Author) from Melbourne, Australia on June 16, 2013:

Thank you Rajan!

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai currently in Jalandhar INDIA. on June 16, 2013:

Interesting to read!

Ear stretching is a specific type of body modification that affects the earlobe. Many people straighten their ears so they can wear “spacers” or earrings with holes in the earlobes. Stretching your ears can be a fun way to decorate your body, but you need to understand how to care for the stretched skin in order for it to heal properly. Here’s what you need to know about how it can affect your health.

Ear stretching allows people to wear unique types of jewelry in their ears known as “spacers” or “gauges.” Some people perk up their ears at cultural traditions, while others just like how it looks. You can certainly stretch your ears with the right tools, but you should first understand how it affects your health.

Ear stretching is the process of expanding an earlobe piercing hole over a period of several months. This is a type of aesthetic body modification. Some people stretch the hole just a little to accommodate larger earring pins. Other people stretch their ears until it is possible to see through the hole. ‌

Effects of ear stretching on your health

If you choose to stretch your ears, you need to make sure you do it slowly and carefully. After all, your skin doesn’t stretch on its own. If you irritate your ear or stretch it too quickly, you can suffer what is known as a “blowout.”

Blowouts occur when you stretch the ear too quickly. The inner ring of skin around the piercing will become red and irritated and possibly even lumpy. It will most likely be itchy or painful, and you may also get an infection.

These breakouts are the result of your skin being stretched too far and not healing properly. Instead of slowly growing new skin cells in the stretched area, the stress caused micro tears that became irritated. Overstretching your ear even slightly can lead to a slight blistering, which can be reversed with the right care. However, the blowout could become permanent if it becomes infected.

You should also know that after a certain point, your earlobes will not return to their original size on their own. If you stretch your ears beyond 2 gauge (6mm), you will likely need surgical help to restore them to their original shape.