Currently I have a regular pair of 2g plugs in, but the other day, my friend gave me a pair of double flared 2g with the flare a 0g.

I have been trying to get the god damn things in for almost a week. My only way of stretching my lobes is with a 0g taper she also gave me, but I can never get the taper even half way through my ear.

Anyone have some advice on this?

Also, sorry is this is in the wrong area. Kinda fashion, so I don't know.

Currently I have a regular pair of 2g plugs in, but the other day, my friend gave me a pair of double flared 2g with the flare a 0g.

I have been trying to get the god damn things in for almost a week. My only way of stretching my lobes is with a 0g taper she also gave me, but I can never get the taper even half way through my ear.

Anyone have some advice on this?

Also, sorry is this is in the wrong area. Kinda fashion, so I don't know.


Ever thought in the ADVICE board.

Oh thank you for pointing that out.
I don't know what I would've done if you did.

Ever thought that gauges don't quite fit in with half the crap in the advice forum?
And it does fall more into fashion.

Really.
Don't have to be such a dick 'bout little things.

With each and every day, try the taper. Don't push the taper right through your ear, because you can blow out your hole. And that's going to look weird and feel like shit.

You can always use some sort of lube when it comes to stretching your ears. It might help.

How long have you been at 2g for?
Simply, just wait until your lobes have loosened up enough, or try stretching to 1g first.

How long have you been at 2g for?
Simply, just wait until your lobes have loosened up enough, or try stretching to 1g first.

Ah shit I didn't know there was a 1g.
I've been buying mine from Hot Topic, and they never have them there.

I've had the 2's in for around 2 or three weeks.

Ah shit I didn't know there was a 1g.
I've been buying mine from Hot Topic, and they never have them there.

I've had the 2's in for around 2 or three weeks.

Well you should leave about 6-8 weeks inbetween stretches so it's not surprising it won't stretch up yet. Leave it longer, go up to 1g first and you should be fine.

I'd recommend buying tapers and jewellery from bodyartforms.com- I've heard a lot of stories about people buying from Hot Topic and the jewellery not being the right size etc.
Alternatively, you could use the taping method (which is cheaper and more gradual). There's a good guide on taping here (http://forums.bodyartforms.com/forums/t/24279.aspx)

Well you should leave about 6-8 weeks inbetween stretches so it's not surprising it won't stretch up yet. Leave it longer, go up to 1g first and you should be fine.

I'd recommend buying tapers and jewellery from bodyartforms.com- I've heard a lot of stories about people buying from Hot Topic and the jewellery not being the right size etc.
Alternatively, you could use the taping method (which is cheaper and more gradual). There's a good guide on taping here (http://forums.bodyartforms.com/forums/t/24279.aspx)

Haha. Yea thats what my friends keep telling me.

I would buy them from the internet, but a) my mom thinks my ears are 10's still and would notice the bigger gauge and then b) my dad doesn't even know 'bout them and would open the package =/ I hate things like that.

I've heard that stuff too. Like I once gave a pair of 6's I got there to a friend and when she went home, she found out they were really 8's. I've also heard that Spencer's have really fucked up gauge sizes too.

I've thought about the taping method, but before I even started stretching, I read into it and heard all these things that could happen if you do it wrong.

I don't think there's much that can go wrong?

I can't remember where I read it, but like....shit I'm not sure anymore
lol
I'll try it out, hope it works.

Just remember to keep it oiled!
I'm going to start taping once I hit a size that isn't incredibly fiddly =/

Yea. I'll make sure it stays moist.

What size are you at now?

One lobe's 10g and the other's 8g. Still teeny!

Haha
I remember when I first started at my 16's, I was all like 'OH MY GOD! I'M STRETCHING MY EARS!' Felt so proud of myself.

Haha!
It took me ages to decide if I actually wanted to stretch or not :P
Do you have a goal size?

I'm planing to stop at a 0, but I was also planning to stop at my 10's, so I don't really know right now
lol

I used to think they were ugly, but then I started seeing the beauty of body mod's so I knew right when I got my ears re-pierced that I wanted to stretch them.


I'm 'bout to take a shower, so I'll be back in like an hour.
Bie

Seriously.

You need to wait at least 6 weeks between stretches.

Seriously.

You need to wait at least 6 weeks between stretches.

This is the longest I've ever waited.
Normally I go out another size after a week/ few days.

This is the longest I've ever waited.
Normally I go out another size after a week/ few days.

Nottttt good.
Was there blood? Lymph? Pain?

Never bled, but it would hurt a bit. Only in my more sensitive ear though.

Stretching shouldn't hurt.

I don't understand how you avoided using tape because you thought there were risks, yet stretch in an unwise, risky way?
Take it slow, otherwise you'll risk scar tissue, blowouts and thinning.

From what I've read though, taping seems like it takes a good bit of time to do, and I'm the type of person who does things like stretching( or piercing my lip) when I get bored.

From what I've asked my friends though, they all have one lobe that does hurt while stretching.

...shouldn't stretch just because you're bored... Thats stupid.
You should do it because you want to, know you'll love the end result, andthat you're take pride and your time with it...
Otherwise you end up with ugly-ass ears, that you hate.

...shouldn't stretch just because you're bored... Thats stupid.
You should do it because you want to, know you'll love the end result, andthat you're take pride and your time with it...
Otherwise you end up with ugly-ass ears, that you hate.

This.

Did you self pierce your lip?

I do love my ears though =]
It makes me happy to stretch.
I usually just put off stretching until I have nothing else to do.

Like when I put my 2's in.
I didn't have anything in art to do, so I wasted time putting them in.


Did you self pierce your lip?
Yea.

...with?

What did you use?

Edit: Paha, great minds stasha :P

A safety pin.
Not the brightest idea I've ever had, but it healed fine.
Was so swollen the day after if I tried to drink anything, the liquid would come out the side of my mouth xD

And you seem proud of this?

I thought you'd be fairly passionate about modding, obviously not.

I love my lip. And yes I proud of it. I'm planning to do a second hole next to the first ring in about a week.

Your idea of passionate might differ from mine, but as far as I'm concerned, I am passionate about it.

Well.. That was pretty stupid?

Leave a month before even trying to put DF in, smaller gauges need alot longer, you'll probably need two months. Even if you do get them in, doesn't mean they'll come out again if they're not ready (experience)
Taping is fine. I tape. It's good.
Tapers past 0g are horrible IMO, as everything starts getting such big jumps.

And try not to do anything else stupid?

Thats what I keep hearing about DF's. I'm starting to think about forgetting them and just going out to a 0 single flare.

Also, I'm getting my second hole done on my left ear soon and the idea has occcured to me to stretch that out to a 8g.
Think I should?

I consider myself to be fairly passionate about body mods, I learn as much as I can about about every aspect of it [nearly]
Including how to not make my teeth fall out...

I self-pierce, and I have no problems with people doing it, as long as its done properly. Theres still an element of risk, but its miniscule in comparison to safety pins. Shoving shitty unclean metal alloys through your face is not being done properly.
It gives good self-piercers a bad rep, along with alot of the mod community too.

Also, I'm getting my second hole done on my left ear soon and the idea has occcured to me to stretch that out to a 8g.
Think I should?

I wouldn't bother.
a) I have doubts you'd do it properly
b) Don't like it, makes lobes look odd and square
c) Bad idea if you plan on stretching 1st set more.

I've lost three sets of standard lobe piercings to my stretched ones.

I consider myself to be fairly passionate about body mods, I learn as much as I can about about every aspect of it.
Including how to not make my teeth fall out...

I self-pierce, and I have no problems with people doing it, as long as its done properly. Theres still an element of risk, but its miniscule in comparison to safety pins. Shoving shitty unclean metal alloys through your face is not being done properly.
It gives good self-piercers a bad rep, along with alot of the mod community too.

I did have a piercing needle when I did it, but I couldn't find the container I keep all my gauges and such in, and I just wanted to get it done.
I did clean the shit out of the pin before I used it, and cleaned the shit out of the spot where I put it through. And I have been cleaning the hole and ring since I pierced it.

I wouldn't bother.
a) I have doubts you'd do it properly
b) Don't like it, makes lobes look odd and square
c) Bad idea if you plan on stretching 1st set more.

I've lost three sets of standard lobe piercings to my stretched ones.
Thats something I'm having done professionally.

I did have a piercing needle when I did it, but I couldn't find the container I keep all my gauges and such in, and I just wanted to get it done.
I did clean the shit out of the pin before I used it, and cleaned the shit out of the spot where I put it through. And I have been cleaning the hole and ring since I pierced it.


Thats something I'm having done professionally.
It doesn't matter if you "clean the shit out of it". Unless you have the proper equipment you can never get the needle completely clean. Also, I find it really annoying that you say gauges and gauging. That is not the proper term. It is calling stretching. A gauge is a unit of measurement.

I did have a piercing needle when I did it, but I couldn't find the container I keep all my gauges and such in, and I just wanted to get it done.
I did clean the shit out of the pin before I used it, and cleaned the shit out of the spot where I put it through. And I have been cleaning the hole and ring since I pierced it.


Thats something I'm having done professionally.

I think she was refering to the stretching aspect.

IMO, if you were passionate, you would research properly. You would respect your body. You wouldn't put yourself at risk.

It doesn't matter if you "clean the shit out of it". Unless you have the proper equipment you can never get the needle completely clean. Also, I find it really annoying that you say gauges and gauging. That is not the proper term. It is calling stretching. A gauge is a unit of measurement.

I'm sorry if what I call them annoys you.
Where I live, thats what they say. I've grown up hearing gauges and gauging.
It's just the way things are done here.
If it'll make you happy though, I'll call them my plugs and tapers. =]

I know it can't get fully clean too, but all that matters right now is that it healed properly and with little infection compared to when I got my ears pierced.

I'm sorry if what I call them annoys you.
Where I live, thats what they say. I've grown up hearing gauges and gauging.
It's just the way things are done here.
If it'll make you happy though, I'll call them my plugs and tapers. =]

I know it can't get fully clean too, but all that matters right now is that it healed properly and with little infection compared to when I got my ears pierced.
Yeah, I'm well aware how many people seem to be confused about what to call it. If you've stretched that much and still don't know the proper term it kind of worries me. Someone that has body mods should be well educated on them. This whole thread shows that you need to do a little more research before you do anything else to your body.

Stretching is one of the few things I think it's much better to do yourself than go to a pro. Pro's can't tell the difference in your pain, and what feels right, all they can do is just go for it.

Cleaning a safety pin is redundant. It'll never be clean enough, it'd melt in an autoclave before it was ever halfway to sterile. Its completely the wrong gauge, the wrong material, much too blunt. And your jewellery needs to be autoclaved too.
The very, very minimum you need to self-pierce is sterile blade or cannulla needle, autoclaved jewellery, high quality surgical steel or ti, long enough for swelling and a few pairs of sterile gloves. Everything else depends on placement. Doing it properly is often just as expensive as a pro, ther are very very few benefits doing it yourself, and more risks, no matter how much you research.

Putting your body in so much risk for a few holes is just stupid.

Ok, I know what I did was stupid. Thats all people would tell me at school the next day, and I don't need to be hearing it all over again.

I came in here looking for help with my stretching, and I found it.
Thank you Fomo for directing me to the page about taping. I read it through and I'm going to start working on it soon.

I'm sorry if this sounds bitchy, but I don't enjoy hearing all this shit over and over again.

Bie.

you're going to regret gauging your ears. past 2g is the point of no return.