Arka Home Page
Search by Size
Stretching Information
FAQ
I am not my body
-Steel-
Steel Flesh Tunnels
Steel Ear Stretchers
-Glass-
Glass Flesh Tunnels
Glass (Dichroic)
-Organic-
Horn Stretchers
Horn Tunnels Plugs
Inlaid Tribal Horn
Wooden Stretchers
-PMMA and UV-
Ultra Violet Stretchers
Ikon Plugs Tunnels
-Natural-
Precious Stone Plugs
Shells and Fossils
-Miscellaneous-
Unusual Flesh Plugs
Fake Flesh Tunnels
Arka - Large Gauge Ear Stretching Jewellery Shop in the UK.
With Worldwide Delivery !
Arka-Shop
>
Ear Stretching Information.
Ear Stretching Information
Please scroll down for a description of the different types of Ear Stretching Jewellery.
2mm Surgical Steel Taper
First stretch should be to 2mm
How to stretch your ears
Remember, ear stretching is a body modification and should be taken seriously and responsibly.
Well, first you need the ear pierced. Just a standard ear piercing. then you need to wait. Generally its best to wait at least 3 months before you stretch, some people think you should wait even longer. Anyway, once you have a fully healed standard earring piercing, then you can start to stretch it.
The best way to stretch your ears is patiently and gently.
Different people have different ways of stretching. This is my method. See further below for a link to other methods of stretching.
I prefer to stretch up very slowly, moving an expander further in, gently stretching the hole, over a period of a few days... an expander, also called a taper or stretcher is what you need for this. An expander is just that, a shape that expands the hole as you push it into the ear. What shape is up to you. We have lots to choose from.
If you are going to stretch your own piercings, be sure to wash your hands with hot water and a liquid, antibacterial soap.
If you are just starting to stretch from a fully healed standard ear piercing hole, then start with a 1.6 or 2mm expander or crescent. Push it in as far as it will easily go, then give it another twist and push, then stop. It should feel uncomfortable but not really painful. It shouldnt really 'hurt' , it definately shouldnt bleed, there should just be a warm glow in the lobe, very slightly painful. Go slowly. You risk a 'blow out' (see below) if you try and stretch too quick. This causes permanent damage to your lobe.
Leave the taper in the ear. Wait for the ear to settle down before continuing. This varies greatly between people, it might be a few hours or it could be be a day or two. Everyone is different, listen to your body. Once it feels ready give it another twist and push deeper in. Dont be too vigorous, you can seriously damage your ear lobes by rushing this. Remember, take your time... Go slowly. It could take a day to go up a millimeter, it could take a week, everyones different. Dont rush. However long it takes, the taper should be removed often, so you can clean the ear and give it a salt bath (see below)
Keep up the process until the taper is fully in. I then leave it for another day or two before I change to some other jewellery. Dont try and use double flared plugs for some weeks (see below). Stick to jewellery that doesnt require a further stretch for a few weeks.
Although i didnt use lubricants, because i tend to stretch very slowly, some people find a little lubrication helps. If you want to use a lubricant, choose wisely. There are conflicting opinions on what is a safe lubricant to use. I have heard of people using vaseline or olive oil, probably a safer option would be
Satin Soap
or some other mild, liquid anti-microbial soaps (obviously without fragrance) like
Provon.
I'd recommend that whatever you use, make sure to wash it all off after with warm water.
Clean your fresh stretches at least once a day with salt water, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, remove the jewellery and soak the lobe, this helps prevent infection. I find pouring the salt water into an egg cup makes this easier.
Remember to keep your ears clean. Remove the jewellery regularily and wash the lobes with anti-bacterial soap. Massaging the lobes is a good idea, use extra virgin olive oil, but remember to clean it all off.
The larger your holes get the more dead skin, moisture, bacteria, and dust can collect in them. This smelly, (cheesy) oily substance which forms (called sebum) needs to be cleaned out on a regular basis. It seems that the build up of sebum is not as bad with 'organic' materials as these allow the ear to 'breathe'
When you want to stretch again, an expander or crescent with a gentle increase in diameter of a millimeter or two from your current hole size should be chosen.
Only stretch up by a millimeter or two at a time. Then wait for the hole to completely heal and feel fine before stretching again. Probably 4 or 5 weeks later. Dont rush it or you'll damage the ear lobe and increase the risk of infection.
Once the hole gets bigger it stretches more easily. Some people find they dont need to use expanders once they get to a certain size, and are able to insert a plug of the next size up without one. A little lubricant can help when inserting tight plugs, recommended lubricants would include Satin Soap or other mild, liquid soaps such as Provon.
For other ways of stretching follow the links at the bottom of
this wikipedia ear stretching page
More people seem to be getting very large gauge piercings now, 5mm and even larger. A whole chunk is taken from the ear. This obviously isnt ear 'stretching' at all, and in my opininion the resultant hole will probably present problems if the person wants to stretch larger later. In our opinion its better to stretch slowly like its always been done.
Problems
If you follow the above instructions you wont have any problems. If for whatever reason though, your lobe does becomes infected, bathing with salt water as described above is the first thing you should do. If the swelling or pain doesnt subside in a day or two, go and see your doctor.
People react differently to different materials, so its important that you pay attention to what your body is telling you. If an item of jewellery doesnt feel 'right' or a lobe is still hurting days after the stretch, take the jewellery out. Try a different material.
Blow outs
Blow outs happen when people stretch too fast, or try to insert a big plug in a small hole !
The pressure on the inside of the piercing is too much and the hole deforms itself by kinda twisting inside out. Some tissue pops out of the back of the hole. This can permanently deform the ear, and it looks ruff.
You dont want this to happen ! Stretch slowly. Dont force plugs or expanders in.
If it does happen, take the plugs out straight away. Downsize. Hope that the tissue is re-absorbed.
Lenore
Lenore, presenter of 'Rockworld TV' on Sky Channel 368, wearing some of our 'ace of spades' horn plugs.
image copyright Josie Allen.
How to insert flesh plugs
So you've used an expander or taper, and you've gradually moved it further into the ear over a few days, and now you want to put those tunnels you bought in.
Once you can push the taper straight through your ear, and out the other side, youre ready to put those plugs in.
The best way to insert flesh plugs is to 'butt them up' against the end of the taper, then push the plug against the taper, through the ear. The taper will hold the hole open, making it a lot easier to get the plug or tunnel in. Once the taper falls out the other side, the plugs should follow through. This is by far the easiest way to insert flesh tunnels after a fresh stretch. If you just take the taper out and try inserting the plug on its own.. it will be a lot harder.
Of course, once you've had the plugs in for a while, removing them and inserting others is a doddle.
Bear in mind that double flared plugs (see below) require the hole to be loose, as the ends of double flared plugs are 0.5mm to 1mm bigger than the middle (where the plug sits). For this reason, double flared plugs are not recommended for use after a fresh stretch. Wait a couple of weeks before using them, and there shouldnt be a problem getting them in. Double flared plugs are then very easy to wear, comfortable and hassle free.
2mm stretcher, organic, hand carved from buffalo horn.
First stretch should be to 2mm
Basic Types of Ear Stretching Jewellery
These are the cross section of the basic shapes used in ear stretching jewellery together with a description
Threaded flesh tunnels and plugs
Threaded flesh tunnels and plugs have this shape.
The size stated is the diameter of the part of the tunnel that sits in the ear.
Threaded plugs and tunnels are easy to insert. The size of the lip varies from design to design
Single flared flesh tunnels and plugs
Single flared plugs and tunnels have this shape.
The size stated is the diameter of the part of the plug that sits in the ear.
They are easy to insert and are usually held in place by a rubber o-ring fitted around the plug once it is in the ear.
Double flared flesh plugs and tunnels
Double flared plugs and tunnels have this shape.
The size stated is the diameter of the part of the plug that sits in the ear.
This is usually about 1mm less than the flared end part of the plug. They require a slight stretch to pop in.
If your hole is tight because it is new, then double flared plugs will be difficult to get in. When your hole is looser after a month or so, then double flared plugs are easier to insert. They are also very comfortable to wear, and there is no need for o-rings.
Note :
Remove Double Flared Plugs from your ears often (everyday) and reinsert, otherwise, over time, the ear hole can shrink a bit around the plug making them hard to remove. You should of course, be taking the plugs out every day anyway.. to clean the lobes, so this problem wont arise.
However, we've recently heard of people who have left double flared plugs in without removing them for days and weeks and have then been unable to get the plugs out ! Please dont let that happen to you.
Top hats
Top hats have this shape. They are like a single flared plug but with an abrupt lip, not flanged like a flared plug. They are usually held in place with rubber o-rings. The size stated is the size at which they sit in the ear.
Stretching crescents, Stretchers
Sometimes called stretching tusks, stretching crescents have this shape.
They are a convienient way of stretching the hole slowly. You move the crescent round gradually, slowly expanding the hole.
You can use rubber o-rings to hold the crescent in place.
The size stated is the maximum diameter of the item.
Tapers / Expanders
A taper or expannder has this basic shape, though they can also be curved.
You can move the expander in gradually, thus making the hole bigger.
O-rings can be used to hold the taper in place.
The size stated is the maximum diameter of the taper.
Ear Stretching Kits
Ear stretching kits are just sets of tapers ranging across the sizes.
We sell expanders and stretching crescents individually, have a look round the shop.
Gauge or Millimeters ?
Gauge to Millimeters, Millimeters to Gauge ?
Americans use gauge sizes, in Europe its generally millimeters
click here for a gauge to millimeter conversion chart.
'Gauging' is another term for stretching
Ear gauging jewellery
2mm Ear Stretcher
First stretch should be to 2mm.
>BACK TO HOME PAGE<
Arka accepts no responsibility for any harm or injury caused by any jewellery we supply, whether it is used properly or improperly. All items we supply are to be worn at the own risk of the wearer. The information on this page is our opinion only.
Remember, ear stretching is done at your own risk. Its your body, your choice and your responsibility. Its a permanent body modification and as such should be taken seriously.
Arka-Shop
>
Ear Stretching Information.
Previous Section:
'Fake' ear expanders
Next Section:
Links and Resources
