What is the safest material for stretching ears?
For initial stretches, go for non-porous materials like stainless steel or glass. Biocompatible polymers, such as those that are hypoallergenic, can be a great option for initial stretching. Ultimately, the material you choose should reflect your personal style and be safe for your lobes.
What else can I use to stretch my ears?
Acrylic tapers are going to be your cheapest option. The material isn't good to wear since it can hold bacteria, but you can stretch with it if you need to. You'll need to make sure you wash everything beforehand because if you happen you tear your ear, the acrylic has more of a risk of carrying bacteria than steel.
Is it OK to stretch ears with acrylic?
Acrylic is only intended for healed piercings because it is porous by nature. But it's slightly less so, which is why many who don't have sensitive skin will use it as a material for tapers or stretching because it's inexpensive and you need to change sizes every few months.
Is it bad to stretch ears with silicone?
Ear stretching with silicone can lead to blowouts, bacterial issues including intrusions and infections. Don't get us wrong! Silicone plugs are great for healed stretched piercings and other large piercings because they're so comfy and lightweight.
What metal is safe for ears?
Titanium, surgical stainless steel, gold, platinum, and niobium are all excellent options for individuals with sensitive ears. Remember to prioritise hypoallergenic metals and avoid nickel-containing jewellery.
What is the healthiest material for gauges?
A: While Vaseline may seem like a readily available option, it is generally not recommended as a lubricant for ear stretching. Vaseline is petroleum-based and can potentially trap bacteria, clog the stretched hole, and hinder the healing process.
Can Vaseline be used to stretch ears?
Vitamin E oil: Vitamin E oil is a popular choice for stretching ears because it is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from damage. It also helps moisturize the skin and may help reduce scarring.
What oil can I use to stretch my ears?
You should also know that, after a certain point, your earlobes will not return to their original size on their own. If you stretch your ears above 2 gauge (6mm) size, you will likely need surgical assistance to return them to their original condition.
Can stretched ears go back to normal?
They are not designed for that purpose. They're simply jewelry pieces meant to adorn your ears for short periods of time. Using weights as stretching tools can cause your lobes to only stretch at the bottom, making the bottom of your ear lobe thinner and prone to tearing.
Can I stretch my ears with weights?
This kit is exactly what you are looking for if you are planning to stretch your ear to 0 Gauge. 316L Surgical Stainless Steel is not only the best quality it is also the most healthiest way to stretch your ears.
Can you stretch ears with stainless steel?
Wood is lightweight and porous, which allows the stretched lobe, or even fresh piercing, to breathe when worn. This contributes to a healthier piercing and a more pleasant wearing experience. Not only is wood a healthy plug material, it is also visually appealing; its natural shades and beauty are admired by many.
Is wood safe for stretched ears?
The odor will be stronger while you are stretching your ears. This is because the ear is trying to heal and will produce more sebum and dead skin. When you get to your desired ear gauge you will notice less of an odor. The other part of the smell is the plug itself.
Do stretched ears ever stop smelling?
Acrylic tapers can be used for stretching and are the most affordable material. However, there isn't a way to sterilize it, so acrylic carries a higher risk of holding or transferring bacteria.
Can I stretch my ears with plastic?
Ear stretching tends to tingle or sting but it shouldn't hurt a lot. If your earlobe feels tight or you're in pain after inserting the taper or plug, then the size is too big and you should opt for something smaller.
Do gauges hurt?
Avoid nickel, brass and copper
Metals such as brass, copper and especially nickel are common causes of allergic reactions. When you buy your earrings, choose ones that do not contain any of these metals. If you suffer from sensitive ears, it is very important that you become a conscious and discerning shopper.
Is brass OK for sensitive ears?
Is vermeil hypoallergenic? Vermeil is sterling silver plated in 18k gold. It's not hypoallergenic because the gold still contains some nickel, but it is a great option for sensitive skin. The sterling silver is hypoallergenic, and 18k gold has only a slight percentage of nickel.
Is gold vermeil OK for sensitive ears?
Sensitive ears are caused by metal allergies. Nickel is a common metal allergy, but there are other metals like gold, copper, chromium, and cobalt that cause allergies as well. If you have sensitive ears, seek out earrings made with pure, non-reactive metals like titanium, niobium, and platinum.
What material is bad for sensitive ears?
Use Plenty of Lubrication
Stay away from petroleum products like Vaseline, A&D ointment, and Neosporin—or other antibiotic ointments—as they may leave behind an oily film which keeps oxygen and cleaning solutions out.
Is Vaseline good for gauges?
No. Don't do any stretching with acrylic tapers and plugs unless you want to deal with infections of your piercings. Wait until you can afford to buy titanium posts and tapers. Take your time with your stretching journey.
Is acrylic safe for gauges?
Once your piercings are fully healed (after 12 weeks), you should remove your jewelry when you shower. This is the most effective way to clean both your piercings and your jewelry.
Should I shower with gauges in?
Olive oil is another natural option that can be used to help stretch your ears. It's an excellent moisturizer and contains anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce pain and irritation.
Can I use olive oil to gauge my ears?
Using a stainless steel taper is probably the most popular method of ear stretching, especially at smaller sizes. Tapers are round at one end, normally the gauge that you are going up to, and then taper down to a point for easy insertion. Using a taper will help you safely stretch your ear over time.
What can I use to stretch my ears at home?
Take your tape of choice and wrap it around your plugs 2-3 times. This will gradually and safely make a difference in your stretch size. Wash and lubricate the plug, insert slowly into your ear, and allow time to heal. Repeat every 2-3 weeks until you increase the stretch to your desired size.
How can I stretch my ears naturally?
Glass plugs are another great material for stretching ears. It is lightweight, non-porous, and hypoallergenic, making it safe and comfortable to use. These plugs are not only easy to clean but they will also last a long time. Glass plugs are a great plug to use while stretching your ears.
What is the best material for stretched ears?
Jojoba Oil For Gauges
100% organic, Jojoba oil! Rich in vitamin E healthy for our wood, but is equally healthy for your skin. To keep your jewellery in prime condition, use a dry cloth and rub the surface clean. Next, apply just a few drops of Jojoba Oil to a clean soft cotton cloth and polish your jewellery.
What oil is good for gauges?
Wet Ear. While uncommon, stretching with non-porous materials (typically glass) can occasionally result in a condition some piercers refer to as “wet ear.” This is where the skin in contact with the jewelry secretes too much fluid, creating a sticky, moist, “sweaty” layer between the ear and the jewelry.
Why do my gauges feel wet?
As an example, Aztecs thought that by stretching their ears, they could connect with their gods and spirits more easily. Additionally, it may have served as a symbol of wealth or status within certain classes, as those with larger stretched ears were seen as having greater social standing than those without them.
What do stretched ears symbolize?
Stretched ears will shrink back if they are left without adornment for a longer time time, but they will never close completely. Once stretched beyond 8mm (0g) there will always be a clearly visible hole, which is also too big to put a normal ear ring in.
Will my ears shrink back from a 0?
Stretching your ear safely shouldn't cause sharp pain or bleeding. These are signs that you're trying to stretch your ears too quickly.
Does ear stretching hurt?
Ear stretching blowouts increase dramatically when stretching past 10mm (00g) with tapers. Dead stretching or taping then become your safest options to stretch up.
Is it better to dead stretch your ears?
If you've always wanted to stretch your ears to accommodate gauges, you can do so from the comfort of your home. Just get your ears pierced at a local studio, then use professional tools like tapers and surgical tape to stretch the holes out over time.
Can I stretch my ears by myself?
Waiting 6 to 24 weeks is how long to wait between ear stretches, as the general recommendation. A minimum wait time of at least one to two months between each stretch is the recommended timeframe to wait in between stretches. This gives your ears enough time to heal and reduces the chance of potential risks.
Can I stretch my ears every 2 weeks?
The Gold Standard for stretching jewellery are single-flared Glass Plugs. These are comfortable, smooth, non-porous and safe to wear long term.
Is glass safe for stretching ears?
Other materials that work for sensitive ears include stainless steel, titanium, plastic, and niobium. However, some of these materials are cheaper and more breakable, and can be more difficult to find.
Is steel safe for ears?
From mild redness and itching to full dermatitis and even loosing their stretched lobe- resin reactions can be severe. I've even written about the harm of resin plugs, and the harm of plastic polymers in general when it comes to body piercing.
Are resin gauges safe?
Acrylic is only intended for healed piercings because it is porous by nature. But it's slightly less so, which is why many who don't have sensitive skin will use it as a material for tapers or stretching because it's inexpensive and you need to change sizes every few months.
Is it OK to stretch ears with acrylic?
Ear stretching with silicone can lead to blowouts, bacterial issues including intrusions and infections. Don't get us wrong! Silicone plugs are great for healed stretched piercings and other large piercings because they're so comfy and lightweight.
Is silicone safe for ears?
Do not stretch with silicone plugs. Silicone Tunnels can stretch your ears up to the next ear gauge size, but it will typically cause a blowout because your ears are not ready for this next gauge size.
Is silicone OK for stretched ears?
A gauged ear can smell a little bit because of dead skin cells that can't be flushed out of the piercing while you're stretching. This is totally normal. But if the odor continues after washing, seek medical attention.
Why do my gauged ears smell so bad?
Smaller-sized gauges should be able to shrink to a regular size with little to no issue. How Do I Start Shrinking My Ears? The only way to start shrinking your ears is to take your plugs out. Your jewelry is keeping your ear stretched to a certain size - if you don't remove it, it will never shrink.
Can gauges shrink back?
This happens because earrings naturally accumulate body oil. The gunk is made of dead skin cells combined with dirt and oils. It's made up of the discharge from the healing piercing. Like a metal that forms Verdigris, all this junk from dead cells will get oxidized, turning into black gunk.
What is the black stuff in my ear piercing hole?
If you are looking to stretch your ears or wear plugs, it's best to use high-quality materials such as surgical steel, titanium, or glass that are specifically made for that purpose. Additionally, it's important to follow proper stretching techniques and aftercare to prevent complications.
What material is best for gauges?
The use of tapers for stretching can be a matter of preference and may not necessarily be bad for stretching if done properly. However, it is important to be cautious when using tapers for stretching as they can cause injury or damage to the ear if not used correctly.
Are tapers bad for stretching?
We would recommend taking your plugs out and washing them every day, the shower is the most ideal place to do so. Rinse your ear with warm water and clean with an anti-bacterial soap if possible, once washed your ear should be dried thoroughly to prevent moisture build up.
How do I stop my stretched ears from smelling?
The odor will be stronger while you are stretching your ears. This is because the ear is trying to heal and will produce more sebum and dead skin. When you get to your desired ear gauge you will notice less of an odor. The other part of the smell is the plug itself.
Do stretched ears ever stop smelling?
The earlobe is made up of fatty tissue that is covered by soft skin, which is very capable of recovering its original shape in a few months only if the size of the piercing is not too large. The earlobe can shrink back to its normal size if the earring or gauge is less than 14mm or a size 2 gauge.
Do gauges ever fully heal?
Titanium, surgical stainless steel, gold, platinum, and niobium are all excellent options for individuals with sensitive ears. Remember to prioritise hypoallergenic metals and avoid nickel-containing jewellery.
What metal is safe for ears?
Jewellery made of low-grade metals will eventually tarnish, scratch, or chip. And, they can damage healthy, healed skin. For Initial Piercings it's best to use Implant grade high polished Titanium or 14K Solid Gold.
What is the safest metal for piercings?
The gold content in 18K is 75%. It contains 18 parts of pure gold mixed with other six metals. It is the best choice of earrings if you have sensitive ears. Since it has been mixed with other metal material, it means that the 18K gold is durable and fit for jewellery.
Is 18k gold safe for sensitive ears?
Avoid nickel, brass and copper
Metals such as brass, copper and especially nickel are common causes of allergic reactions. When you buy your earrings, choose ones that do not contain any of these metals. If you suffer from sensitive ears, it is very important that you become a conscious and discerning shopper.
Is brass OK for sensitive ears?
Both stainless steel silver and sterling silver earrings are good options for people with sensitive ears, but there are a few factors to consider when choosing between them. If you have a severe allergy to metals, then stainless silver earrings is probably the better choice since it does not contain any nickel.
Is stainless steel OK for sensitive ears?
Titanium is a game-changer for those with sensitive ears. It is a biocompatible metal, which means it's non-reactive to the human body. Implant grade, medical grade, or commercially pure ASTM F-67 compliant are all approved by the Association of Professional Piercers.
Is titanium OK for sensitive ears?
Any natural oil is good for your ears, but we recommend you try using jojoba oil (try our jojoba oil ), vitamin E oil, coconut oil, olive oil, emu oil, and bio oil. Any of these will do a great job and soften your earlobes to help them retain the necessary moisture.
Can I use olive oil for ear stretching?
The lesser temperature of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil concerns some people about microbes which may exist in cold-pressed olive oil when stretching, however, if you choose a product and like the results from it, olive oil can work for stretching.
Can I use olive oil for stretching?
Can you stretch ears with stainless steel?
What material should you use to stretch ears?
Is wood safe for piercings?
What's the best material to start stretching your ears?
What is the best material for stretching?
The absolute best material for stretching that piercers often suggest is borosilicate glass.
Is stainless steel safe for ear stretching?
If you are looking to stretch your ears or wear plugs, it's best to use high-quality materials such as surgical steel, titanium, or glass that are specifically made for that purpose. Additionally, it's important to follow proper stretching techniques and aftercare to prevent complications.