There is an art to stretching your ears while keeping them soft, supple, and protected. Before you start stretching your lobes, you should make sure that you are familiar with the process.
Starting The Stretching Process
Most people will start with a regular earring piercing that has been healed for some time. In this case, you can start with the smallest taper starter kit. This is a tapered stretcher that is just slightly larger than a regular earring. If you have a fresh ear piercing, then you might want to opt for an even smaller gauge on the taper. Stretching slowly is the best thing to do to avoid severe tears and infections. Stretching too quickly can cause scarring, and may prevent the ear from healing correctly and evenly.
How Big Do You Want Your Stretched Lobes?
Most people have a rough idea of how large they want their stretched ear lobe to be. Many people start their stretching journey and, then, a few years later, want their ears to revert back to a standard piercing size. For this to work, you will want to stick to around 10mm or less, once you remove the plug or tunnel after a few months, they will be the almost regular piercing size. If you decide to stretch too quickly, you will tear the ear rather than stretch the skin. The difference being that a torn ear will likely always remain slightly too large for a normal earring.
Stretching Method
A steel or glass taper is the most common and recommended material to use too. It will have your desired eventual size on one end, and a range of smaller sizes between the start and endpoint. And as the name suggests, it is tapered. Tapers are usually used for smaller stretches, up to around 6mm, although you can find bigger ones. Many people wear tapers as jewelry, but they are simply a tool for stretching your ears. You will need to lubricate the taper. This will make it easier to slide through your ear piercing hole.
It also allows the ear lobe to stretch more easily. Avoid vaseline and use something like Bitmain E oil, Jojoba oil, or specially formulated stretching balms. Slowly insert the taper, it is essential not to rush. To get your taper inserted, you should first press the taper from the front, then gently tug it from the back, then press from the front, and then tug from the back. And so on until the taper is to where you need it.
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Do It Slowly
The most significant way to protect your lobe during stretching is to do it slowly. You aren't looking to rip the skin, but rather a gentle stretch. Wait 4-6 weeks between increasing your size. This gives your lobes the best chance of having minimal issues and ensuring you have a thick and healthy lobe - ideal if you want to go for a larger size later on. There will never be any bleeding during stretching your lobes unless they have torn.
Typically there will be a mild tingling sensation. Anything more is your warning to stop and wait. And finally, always remember to keep your stretched lobe clean. Sea salt soaks twice a day for the first week, and then ear care solution for the following weeks.
Suitable Materials For Fresh Stretched Lobes
While you might be very excited to put in a bone, wood, or horn plug or tunnel, you're going to have to leave that just for a moment. During stretching your lobes, it is advised that you either use steel or glass although you can find a range of high-quality acrylic tapers too. The reason for this recommendation is that organic materials tend to be porous. And on a fresh stretch, your ear will likely leak some lymph fluid. Organic materials, like bone, are likely to absorb this. And this could lead to an infection. However, steel and glass are nonporous, which means that it is easy to clean, and will not absorb any of that lymph fluid.
Aftercare
The aftercare for your stretched lobes should be something that you pay close attention to. Performing oil massages are the best way to make sure you maintain a healthy sick lobe. These oil massages will help to break down any scar tissue and will promote healthy circulation in the skin. You can use Jojoba oil, bio-oil, or vitamin E oil, as these are all skin loving oils. Spend at least five minutes massaging your lobes, and try to do this at least once a week.
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