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 Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:40 pm
I like my holes XL please.Hello. I figured since stretching has become so popular, I'd add a mini section dedicated to it. I'll give the basic rundown and list some links that'll be helpful for those interested in continuing or starting to stretch your piercings.
x. Most people today stretch their ear lobes. However, other piercings such as nose, lip, tongue, nipples, and more have become increasingly popular as well!
x. Unfortunatly people [usually younger kids] get the terms "gauging" and "stretching" messed up. Gauging in some cases IS a verb, however, when dealing with piercing, one does NOT gauge, they stretch. A gauge in piercing terminology is a measurement of the size of jewelry being inserted into the hole. To stretch is the actual verb used to talk to someone about your ear or other piercing.
I.E.
The INcorrect usage of the words gauge and stretch...
"I bought these plugs to gauge my ears today!"
The Correct usage of the words gauge and stretch...
"I bought these 8g plugs to stretch my ears today!"
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Okay, so what's a plug? It's a type of jewelry used to stretch a piercing. These don't necesarially HAVE to be plugs. You can use an assortment of other jewelry and even household items.
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1. Remember to sterilyze anything you purchase from the mall or a kiosk. Usually jewelry and the like from a professional body shop are already sanitized and come in pre-packaged baggies. The ones in the Kiosks in the mall however DO NOT.
2. Remember that professional stretching jewelry IS EXPENSIVE. This isn't Claire's kids.
3. On average, ONE type of jewelry meant for stretching your ears can cost anywhere from $7-15. It all depends where you go and what times. Most professional shops will have sales during the month in which some of their items are marked down - this is THE BEST time to shop for jewelry of ANY sort. Plugs, earrings, tattoo goo, whatever the hell you want from there.
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DO...
- Clean the jewelry when you get it.
- Wash your ear/piercing at least once a day to prevent bacteria and nasty smells from the dry skin cells that have gotten caught inside the stretching jewelry.
- WAIT AT LEAST A MONTH before stretching. It's VERY important to wait a while before trying to go bigger.
- Start from the beginning. What do I mean? If you were pierced with a regular earring [usually size 18 or 16g], then start there, and work down/up [however you want to look at it hehe]. I.E. 16g -> 14g -> 12g -> 10g -> 8g, etc.
- Help people within the thread if they have questions.
DON'T...
- Forget to wash it. You want to prevent bacteria/infection and smells.
- Force your jewelry in the ear/piercing. If it's ready, it'll go in. Use vaseline, or try doing it in the shower where you have soap and water to help coax the jewelry in.
- Keep the jewelry in if you start to bleed, become disorented, etc etc. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATLY. I don't want to read a topic called "I'm bleeding what do I do?" on here. Use your head and see a doctor.
- Pretend you are God's gift to piercings and stretching. If you aren't 100% sure, DON'T pretend that you are. Just tell them what you know, be honest, and try to help them to the best of YOUR ability.
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Gauges...
Here's a chart that works very well in telling you the sizes in metric and american standard [guages].
This website is also VERY accurate in gauge, diameter, and length sizes.
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Q&A
If you have quesions or concerns, either PM me or one of the mods OR ask within the thread. That is the best way that someone can assist you.
DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH YOU SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED. Everyone starts somewhere. If for some reason you feel ashamed to post here because people are further than you in stretching, DON'T! They started small as well and understand what it's like. A question unasked is just hurting yourself. Plus, you have your mods to kick people's asses if needed. :3
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Topics to discuss...
1. What do you think of stretching piercings? Do you like it? Find it gross? Like only small ones, or big ones? Etc.
2. If you currently stretch, what got YOU into it?
3. Any horror stories? Please don't try to scare members off if they're beginning to be interested in stretching! We don't want people terrified because of one person's horror story.
4. Do people ask you silly questions that irritate you? I.E. "Does that hurt?", "Why do you stretch your ears?", etc etc...
Finally... ---- POST SOME GOD DAMN PHOTOS -----
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:22 am
I'm currently starting that process. The piercing parlor I frequent didn't have any of those horns you stretch with when I got my labret done, so I'm going in tonight to order some. I plan on getting them up to a 4g, but ultimately, I want them to be at 1/2 inch, or even the step above that.
A friend of mine used horns to get hers up to a higher gauge, and she said it didn't hurt, so..? Another friend of mine is going to get his stretched up to a 4g tonight, and get plugs for them. I just don't want to do it all at once. >.x;
*Had a bad experience involving nose ring coming out too soon, and having to use a guaging rod to open the hole back up, as it start closing back up.* >.x
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:03 am
Kupi-Chan I'm currently starting that process. The piercing parlor I frequent didn't have any of those horns you stretch with when I got my labret done, so I'm going in tonight to order some. I plan on getting them up to a 4g, but ultimately, I want them to be at 1/2 inch, or even the step above that. A friend of mine used horns to get hers up to a higher gauge, and she said it didn't hurt, so..? Another friend of mine is going to get his stretched up to a 4g tonight, and get plugs for them. I just don't want to do it all at once. >.x; *Had a bad experience involving nose ring coming out too soon, and having to use a guaging rod to open the hole back up, as it start closing back up.* >.x
But good luck nonetheless.
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:10 am
MiLK` I think maybe the 'horns' you're referring to are called Tapers. Tapers are a GREAT way to stretch because you can stretch the hole about every other day or so by sliding the taper farther down to the thicker part.
But good luck nonetheless. Mhm, those would be the one. My piercer calls them horns or claws. xp I had a friend who used them, and she liked them. So I figure they're how I'll like to do them. My piercer said that basically, I'll want to span it over 2 weeks to prevent tearing or anything like that, and he can special order them for me. It'll take about 2 weeks for each to get there, so as I'll need to order when I get the new ones. What materials are they often made of? I want to think that my friend used some made of acrylic...
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:54 am
Kupi-Chan MiLK` I think maybe the 'horns' you're referring to are called Tapers. Tapers are a GREAT way to stretch because you can stretch the hole about every other day or so by sliding the taper farther down to the thicker part.
But good luck nonetheless. Mhm, those would be the one. My piercer calls them horns or claws. xp I had a friend who used them, and she liked them. So I figure they're how I'll like to do them. My piercer said that basically, I'll want to span it over 2 weeks to prevent tearing or anything like that, and he can special order them for me. It'll take about 2 weeks for each to get there, so as I'll need to order when I get the new ones. What materials are they often made of? I want to think that my friend used some made of acrylic...
Talon...
Taper...
The jewelry can be made of acrylic, silicone, steel, sterling silver, ebony, 18k gold, stone, wood, and many more. Probably the most common are acrylic and steel.
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:58 am
Ooooh I like the claws.
Hey do you wear those after theyre stretched or once they're stretched do you change it for a different piercing?
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:59 am
Weird... The ones my friend used looked a bit like the metal ones, just without the o-ring on it. And they were significantly smaller. I'm proly going to go for acrylic simply because they're cheaper, and lighter, I imagine. I've had my ears pierced for 10 years, but rarely wear things in them. Figure stretching them would look better then nothing. xd
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:01 am
You've only had your ears for ten years?
Unless you're just ten then I thought they came factory standard? biggrin
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:05 am
Lance Castle Ooooh I like the claws. Hey do you wear those after theyre stretched or once they're stretched do you change it for a different piercing?
After you've had your holes for a while, you can take the taper, claw, talons out and insert a plug or whatever else your little heart desires.
I'm currently using a pair of acrylic plugs. I'm going to be switching to some steel tunnels soon.
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:25 am
Lance Castle You've only had your ears for ten years? Unless you're just ten then I thought they came factory standard? biggrin Well, only had the holes in them for about 10-12 years or so. xd
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:31 am
So can you keep the claw or talon in?
Because that looks realy cool and if I did it Id like to have something like that.
And Kupti-Chan dont worry I knew what you meant whee
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:12 pm
Lance Castle So can you keep the claw or talon in? Because that looks realy cool and if I did it Id like to have something like that. And Kupti-Chan dont worry I knew what you meant whee
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:35 pm
I really like the ones that swirl around your ears. I saw some pictures on bmezine, and loved it. They had some when I went to get my labret done, but apart from being too large for my ear, they were also 85 bucks. So.. yeah. xd
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:03 pm
Kupi-Chan I really like the ones that swirl around your ears. I saw some pictures on bmezine, and loved it. They had some when I went to get my labret done, but apart from being too large for my ear, they were also 85 bucks. So.. yeah. xd
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:18 pm
MiLK` Kupi-Chan I really like the ones that swirl around your ears. I saw some pictures on bmezine, and loved it. They had some when I went to get my labret done, but apart from being too large for my ear, they were also 85 bucks. So.. yeah. xd Yeah, this was a rather large one, and was made of ivory, I believe. That or bone, I wasn't sure. Swirly Ear-thing, for lack of better name.
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