Interested in ear stretching?
You’ve come to the right spot! We offer a variety of kits for your needs. Plus, we’re your go-to source for safe ear-stretching info. Ear stretching is an excellent way to express yourself. It’s all about patience and dedication to wear bold, unique jewellery. Before you begin, make sure your ears have been pierced and have completely recovered from the initial piercing.
What is stretching?
Stretching your earlobes means slowly making your ear holes bigger to put in larger jewellery. You do this by using thicker and thicker jewellery over time. It’s important to know that this can permanently change your body.
Is stretching your ears painful?
Stretching your earlobes usually shouldn’t hurt much, if at all, because it’s a soft part of your body. However, if you experience significant pain, it’s possible that you are attempting to stretch too quickly. In that case, switch to more minor jewellery or ask a professional piercer for help.
What should you put on when you’re stretching?
First and foremost, you should consider the type of material used for the jewellery in your stretched ears. When you’re in the initial stretching phase, it’s best to opt for materials like surgical steel, titanium, niobium, gold, platinum, and biocompatible polymers. These materials reduce the risk of irritation, allergies, or infections.
Once your ear piercing and stretched lobe are fully healed, you can comfortably use different materials such as acrylic, silicone, and organic options for your jewellery. We offer gauge kits with both materials to ensure smooth ear stretching. Safepiercing.org recommends using solid plugs and hollow eyelets, significantly single flared or non-flared styles for initial stretches. It’s advisable to avoid jewellery with grooves for O-rings during the initial stretching phase, and using double-flared jewellery in freshly stretched piercings can be potentially damaging.
Caring for and letting your stretched earlobes heal.
After stretching your ear, keeping the new jewellery in for a few days to a few weeks is a good idea. Removing it too soon can make it hard to put back, and your ear may shrink. Feeling some mild soreness and swelling for a few days is normal, but this should go away.
Once your ear has fully healed (usually after waiting a few weeks to a month), you can continue stretching it to a larger size. Stretching your ears can be easier and less painful if you do it after a hot shower or gentle massage. It makes your ears more flexible, breaks down scar tissue, and improves blood flow.
How do you massage your stretched ears?
Here’s how to take care of your stretched ears:
- After the swelling goes down from stretching, use antiseptic and lubricant on your ear jewellery. Always wash your hands first.
- Remove the jewellery and clean it with soap and warm water on the outside and inside. Rinse with cool water and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Wash your earlobes by applying soap and warm water, then use your fingers to clean both the inside and outside your earlobe piercings. Finally, rinse off all the soap with water.
- While your ears are still damp and clean, put in the jewellery to make the insertion process easier and smoother.
- You can also use organic stretching lube during the stretching process. Use a paper towel to dry the area around your ear piercings and jewellery.
- If your ears are sore after stretching and you don’t want to remove the jewellery, apply an antibacterial cream around the piercing to prevent infections. Use a cotton swab to remove dirt, crust, or dried skin around the piercing.
- To help your ears adjust to the new size, massage them once or twice a day using organic oil. You might want to explore our well-liked ear lobe stretching balm.
Stretching Lube
It’s crucial to keep your ears well-lubricated during ear stretching as part of your daily care routine. However, not just any lube will do. We advise using a high-quality, organic lubricant. You can choose from excellent options like Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Emu Oil, Raw Cocoa Butter, and extra-virgin Olive Oil. While other options are available, it’s important to do your homework before making a selection. Here’s a stretching lube that we suggest:
Take your time: Having patience is crucial. Waiting until your ears have completely healed before attempting another stretch is essential. Rushing the process can result in permanent damage to your earlobes. The longer you wait, the better it is for the health of your ears.
Overstretching: Stretching too quickly can accumulate scar tissue and reduce blood circulation, leading to potential issues like a “blowout,” where a section of skin protrudes from the piercing hole. Overstretching can harm your tissue, make it thinner, or even cause your piercing to close completely. It’s best to avoid stretching by more than one full gauge size at once. Opt for half-size increments, especially when making larger-size changes or if you have sensitive areas. Piercings can only endure small, slow stretches without harming the fragile inner lining of the piercing.
Watch for infections: Swelling and green or yellow discharge are common indicators of a potential infection, although they can also signify mere irritation. If you experience multiple symptoms simultaneously, seeking assistance from your local piercer or a medical professional for proper treatment is wise. If you notice these signs, it may be necessary to reduce the size of your jewellery (usually back to the size you used previously). According to safepiercing.org, downsizing is an effective way to maintain the health of your tissue. After this, you should wait at least a few more months before attempting any further stretching. To avoid the need for downsizing or slowing down your progress, it’s advisable to take a gradual approach from the beginning.