Today, stretching of ear piercings has become a form of body modification to show individuality. So you’ve decided to have your ear piercings stretched? Great! Remember, though, that this is a commitment. There is a "point of no return" which is said to be between 0g and 2g. This number can vary between different people, though, because everyone's skin structure and elasticity are different. Now if you’re ready for the commitment, read on!

Are your lobes already pierced?

If you are not yet pierced, the first step is to go to a local piercing/ tattoo shop. Make sure that it is done by a professional piercer who uses needles instead of guns (which you often see on stalls that sell jewelry). Piercing guns are less sanitary than a hollow needle that a piercer uses. After getting your ears pierced, generally it’s best to wait at least 2 months before you stretch.

But if your lobes are already pierced long before, then it’s time for the next step.

Your first stretch

Essentially, you’ll need at least a 14 g Taper (Check out: Cool Tapers for Stretching an Ear Piercing). You must stretch up very slowly, moving a taper further in, gently stretching the hole, over a period of days. A taper or stretcher is a shape that gently expands the hole as you push it into the ear. Some people prefer straight tapers, others circular or spiral tapers. Now, remember that If you are going to stretch your own piercings, be sure to wash your hands with hot water and a liquid, antibacterial soap. Also apply some rubbing alcohol on your hands from time to time.

The aftercare

The work isn’t over yet the moment you get your stretched ear piercings.

Leave a larger sized taper in your ear for a week before removing it to ensure your ear won't shrink back up and cause trouble getting the piece back into the piercing. Also keep hands and other things, especially face washes and soaps, away from your lobes.

To cleanse your ears after a stretch, or to clean plugs, massage vitamin E oil into your lobes to encourage blood flow. You can also try amazing products like the Holey Butt'r - Vegan Ear Stretching Care , Whole Life Tea Tree Oil Stretching Balmor , or the ZeepSoap Stretch-up Salve during this process.

Enjoy your stretched ear piercings!

When you finally achieve your desired size, it’s time to enjoy accessories like Tunnels and Plugs. And for extra safety measure, don’t forget to apply healing creams like ZeepSoap Plug Primer before wearing an accessory!