Why gauge your ears

The reason for this is because the ears are being stretched out too quickly and scar tissue forms as a result, making the hole red and angry. Once you reach a certain point, ear gauging leaves permanent results.

So, if you ever want to remove the gauges from your ears, you will be left with a big hole that can only be reversed with surgery. By working with a professional, your chances for closing gauged ears without surgery is greater.

It all depends on how big the hole is, how old you are and your genetics. If you decide that ear gauging is definitely for you, there are certain things you should never do when stretching your ears. The primary one to be aware of is: never use silicone. Professional ear piercers know this, but other people do not. Flesh tunnels and flesh plugs, which are solid, have become more visible on our screens. British fashion expert Gok Wan is also partial to large wooden ear plug adornments but it is not known if these are being used to stretch his lobe.

Statistics are not easy to come by but, as with tattoos, there is extensive anecdotal evidence that ear stretching is on the rise. More people are wearing them, DIY kits are more widely available and there is a much greater choice of jewellery. Marcus Mellor, from the Holier than Thou piercing parlour in Manchester, says ear stretching has become more popular in the last five or six years. Practising what he pierces, Mellor has stretched both his ears.

He says it used to be associated with hippies, punks or the rock crowd but now it is "all walks of life and not just students". It can be discreet and people can hide it behind their hair in work. Ear stretching is in vogue, says Alix Fox, who writes the body modification section in the British alternative magazine Bizarre. Prof Victoria Pitts-Taylor, from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, says ear stretching has become popularised in the same way as other sub-cultural practices, such as tattooing and piercing.

The sociologist, who wrote In the Flesh: the Cultural Politics of Body Modification, says it started in the s and s with the rise of the body art movement and the "modern primitives", who appropriated practices from the "global supermarket" for various reasons such as showing solidarity with other cultures or to set themselves apart. Ear stretching has became more mainstream in the last decade and different people have become attracted to it because they see it on the catwalks and celebrities.

Once the territory of emo and pop punk kids , ear stretching has seemingly hit the masses and undoubtedly looks great on anybody. With the array of different plugs, tunnels, and other gorgeous ear jewelry available nowadays, gauges can suit a variety of sartorial tastes.

It's no longer associated with the alternative subcultures of our teen years in the earlier s. A personal fave ear stretching siren of mine whose lobe embellishments I love is singer Melanie Martinez. They can also give you advice on how to take care of stretched ears, as well as what to do if you think you might have an infection!

That said, after your initial piercing you can stretch your ears at home yourself with ear stretching kits and tapers.

When you start stretching your ears, you will most commonly get a 14 gauge piercing size. However, the opposite is also true. Your ear piercer will be able to tell you how to gauge ears to the right size so you know your starting point. You can also read more about ear stretching sizes here. The biggest mistake people make when stretching their ears is being impatient and trying to increase sizes too quickly.

The general rules of thumb are:. This helps you avoid lasting damage, scar tissue forming which prevents you from stretching further - particularly at the large gauges , and any complications or infection. Ear stretching can be done as soon as you want. The only real condition is that you need to have a completely healed piercing before you start. Everyone always asks, how long does it take for stretched ears to close and the problem is, it depends entirely on the individual, because every ear is different.

However, there are some factors that will affect how long it will take, including:. If this is the case, reduce the size and give it an extra couple of weeks healing time. In the meantime, make sure you apply the oil of your choice to the earlobes at least two times a day to help speed things up a bit.

We suggest using Jojoba Oil. Most people can stretch up to 0 gauge and shrink their ears back without having an issue. Whether you will be able to do the same depends on many factors including:. Some will easily be able to go up to 00g, whilst others might struggle to get back from 10g.

If not, you might have issues getting back to your original size after stretching. Wear plugs and tunnels that are the smallest size your ears will shrink to. Opt for a reconstructive option like having the holes stitched and surgically altered back to their original size.

The best time to insert plugs is right after a hot shower. The warm water helps loosen the skin a bit and relaxes it, which makes it easier and more comfortable.