You can express yourself in a bold and stylish way through the look of large stretched ears. If you always have to stretch your earlobe to get the gauge (piercing plug) in, you can do this yourself at home. Go to a piercer to make a hole in the ear, then use professional equipment such as a taper and surgical tape to stretch the hole over time. As long as you stay patient and live a good clean life, you can safely stretch your piercing.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Inserting the First Taper in the Ear
Step 1. Ear piercing in a trusted place
Although you can stretch your piercing yourself at home, you should still leave your piercing to a professional. Piercing your own ear can increase your risk of infection, especially if you stretch it afterwards. You can't use sterile tools and techniques like those of a professional piercer.
Step 2. Wait 6-10 weeks after the piercing if you want to stretch it
The piercing must heal completely so that you can stretch it safely. If you don't want to wait 10 weeks, watch for signs of healing. A healed ear piercing is painless to the touch and the hole does not close when the piercer is removed for several hours.
Avoid stretching the ear if the piercing has an infection. Some signs of infection include: swelling, yellow or greenish discharge, irritation, redness, and bleeding
Step 3. Start stretching the ear from 16 or 14g (gauge)
Ears are usually pierced in 18 or 20g so 14 is the largest size you can start stretching without causing damage to the ear. Starting a stretch larger than this increases the risk of tearing the ear.
Step 4. Purchase a set of ear tapers at a professional piercer
Many piercers sell taper "piercing stretch kits" that come in a variety of sizes. Start with a 16-14g taper (depending on the taper you're using). Make sure your piercing stretch kit includes a taper of this size before you buy it.
Step 5. Apply lubricant around the piercing
The lubricant makes it easy for the taper to get into the piercing without tearing it. You can use coconut or jojoba oil to stretch your piercing. Do not use petroleum oil because it can clog the piercing and cause infection.
Wash your hands before massaging lubricating oil on your ears
Step 6. Insert the taper into the piercing
In general, tapers have one end that is smaller. Push the small end into the piercing hole, feeling it against your ear as you do so. Do this slowly, and stop pushing the taper if you have trouble getting it into the hole.
Pushing the taper into the piercing may be a bit painful, but it shouldn't bleed. If the ear is bleeding, the taper may be too large. Remove the taper, then treat and clean the wound from germs, and wait for the wound to heal before inserting a smaller taper. If the blood is not flowing, put the earring again so that the hole does not close
Step 7. Replace the taper with a plug or tunnel
Align the piece of jewelry you want to wear with the tip of the larger taper, hold the taper behind your ear while pushing the plug or tunnel into the piercing hole until the taper releases. Add an "O" shaped earring, then repeat this step on the other ear if desired.
- Once the taper is inserted into the piercing, you can immediately replace it with a plug or tunnel.
- Tapers are not designed to be used as jewelry. Do not wear the taper for more than a few hours.
Part 2 of 3: Stretching Your Ears To Be Wider
Step 1. Wait 6 weeks before you stretch it again
Do not remove the first set of plugs or tunnels you put in for at least a week after your piercing has been stretched, and only remove it within the first month of stretching to clean it. Wait at least 6 weeks before you stretch your piercing using another taper or other method to give the earlobe time to heal.
Step 2. Use surgical tape (surgical tape) to gradually widen the size of the piercing over time
After using 3 or 4 tapers to stretch the piercing, you can use the surgical plaster method to increase the size of the hole. Wrap a thin layer of surgical tape over the plug or tunnel, then slide it back into the ear.
- Try this method if you run out of tapers and don't want to buy any more.
- Add a bandage to the plug or tunnel every 6 weeks to give the ear time to heal.
Step 3. Use earplugs to allow the piercing to stretch quickly
Weighted plugs or tunnels can stretch the ear canal quickly, but the results are uneven. Use earplugs for the short term, and never wear them overnight. Replace the ballast with a regular plug or tunnel after a few hours to prevent damage to the ear.
Step 4. Try using tappered claws to stretch the piercing painlessly
The pointed claw or talon is worn by pushing it into the piercing (like a regular taper), but can be used as jewelry. Pointed claws are the easiest and most comfortable (painless) stretching method because you don't have to take things in and out of your piercing often.
Part 3 of 3: Treating Stretched Ears
Step 1. Clean your ears with antibacterial soap 2 times a day
To prevent infection, wash your hands before you touch your ears. Apply an antibacterial cream around the edges of the piercing to prevent further infection. If done more than 2 times a day, the piercing can become irritated.
Clean the dry skin or crust around the piercing using a cotton bud
Step 2. Massage the earlobe for about 5 minutes every day
Massage the ear once or twice a day (preferably immediately after you clean it). This helps speed healing and prepares it for the new size taper to enter. Apply jojoba oil or vitamin E oil while massaging the lobes to keep the piercing elastic and soft.
Step 3. Remove the plug or tunnel one week later for cleaning
To prevent your piercing from smelling bad or getting infected, remove the plug or tunnel one week after you put it on, then wash it with antibacterial soap. Rinse the plug or tunnel before you put it back in your ear. when the plug or tunnel is removed, apply jojoba oil or vitamin E oil in and around the piercing.
Once you've finished your ear stretch and 6 weeks have passed since your last stretching session, you can insert and remove the plug or tunnel at will without shrinking the hole
Step 4. Watch for signs of infection
Some of the most common signs of infection include: swelling, redness, and a yellow or green discharge. Remember, not all of these signs indicate that the ear has developed an infection. You may only experience mild irritation of the ear. However, if you experience 2 or more symptoms of infection, go to a piercer or health clinic for treatment.
- Go to the doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of a severe infection, such as thick discharge that smells bad; reddish streaks from the piercing; fever or feeling cold; nauseous; dizziness or disorientation; or mild infection symptoms that last more than a week.
- Check your lymph nodes for signs of infection. Another sign of infection is swollen lymph nodes.
Tips
- Make sure you get your piercing stretch kit from a trusted professional piercer.
- If you are a minor, ask your parent or guardian for permission before stretching your ears.
- Check the rules at work or school before you stretch your ears to avoid problems later on.
Warning
- Do not skip the next size when you stretch the ear using the taper. If done, the piercing is at risk of tearing or infection.
- Never stick everyday objects (such as pencils) into a piercing that you stretch. Bacteria attached to the object can cause infection.
- Only wet the ear with salt water while the ear is healing between each stretch. Wear a swimming cap when you dip in the pool or take a shower.
- If the ear has been stretched, you will find it difficult to shrink it, except with surgery. The 00g plug is the largest size that will allow you to shrink the piercing back. Don't stretch your ears, unless you are absolutely sure that this look can be worn long term without causing any problems.
