Ear stretching can be an exciting way to express your style, but it's important to do it safely to avoid pain, infection, or permanent damage. Here are some helpful tips for stretching your ears at home the right way:
- It is important to start with fully healed ear piercings. Never stretch a fresh piercing. It typically takes 6-12 months for ear piercings to heal fully. Stretching takes a lot of time and patience. Be aware that you will also likely need to wait 4-8 weeks between sizing up as well.
- Always use high-quality materials to stretch your ears. I have found that the best materials for tapers include Glass, Surgical steel, Stone, or Titanium. Acrylic is also a common and more affordable material for tapers, but the first 4 materials I've mentioned are less likely to cause irritation. Always avoid cheap metals like Nickel, especially if you have a known history of allergic reactions to cheap jewelry. Allergic reactions lead to infections, which leads to having to abruptly stop the stretching process.
- Increase your size only one gauge at a time. Never skip sizes! Rushing the process can cause blow-outs and tears. Size increases are normally 1-2mm each time.
- When preparing to stretch, always wash your hands and disinfect all jewelry. It is fine to sterilize your tapers and ears with rubbing alcohol, but if you find this too drying, you can use a mild unscented soap. I usually opt for antibacterial hand soap. You can also wear sterile medical-grade gloves, but still wash your hands before putting them on.
- Lubricants, such as a well-known brand of stretching balm or jojoba oil, can be very helpful at preventing irritation and tears. (Stretching dry skin is extremely painful, think of a rug burn.) I usually massage my lobes with the balm or oil for a few minutes before stretching. It gets the skin soft and moisturized, and makes it easier to stretch. Another method I utilize is stretching lobes in the shower. If you wait until the end of your shower, the steam and water helps to open pores and make the skin more pliable. (still disinfect with antibacterial soap and utilize stretching oil). Always wash off any excess oil/balm after stretching. Wash around the newly inserted tapers.
- Listen to your body. Stretching hurts, yes. But it should never bleed! If it feels like your skin is tearing or burning, stop immediately! This is a sign that your ears are not ready to size up. You could need more healing time, or the area might not be moisturized enough. The best-case scenario for sizing up is that the new tapers just slide in with little effort and pain. I have found that wearing heavy jewelry in between sizes, such as stone or weights, helps to make the stretching process faster and less painful. There have been many occasions where my plugs will start to just fall out, so I know it's time to size up. (This is more common with larger sizes 0+)
- Some things to look out for: Extreme swelling and redness that doesn't seem to subside, bleeding, pus, or foul odors. If you are concerned that your ears may be infected, remove the jewelry and seek medical advice immediately! Mild swelling and redness are normal. You can apply ice with clean hands to help. It should subside greatly within 48 hours.
- Be sure to maintain good after-care. Always keep your ears and jewelry clean. Wash often with mild antibacterial soap. Massage your lobes with oils to encourage blood flow and elasticity. Once swelling has subsided, rotate your jewelry often. Simply twist it in place to release any areas that might be sticking.
Stretching is a journey, not a race. With patience and care, you can achieve your desired size safely while keeping your lobes healthy. I wish you luck and prosperity on your journey!
Bee W. ~Owner and Operator of Punky's Plugz
[This is not medical advice; I have no medical training. Always seek professional advice when necessary.]