How To Stretch Your Earlobe

By: Josephine McCulley

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Want to know how to stretch your earlobe? Stretching the earlobe is really easy, simple, and the effect is fantastic. If, you can be patient. To do this properly, be prepared to invest some money and time, and to sometimes look a little ridiculous.

To start, you'll want to decide just how big you want to stretch your earlobe piercings. Take a look at different sized jewelry at the mall or your local piercing parlor. Get an idea of what gauge (size) of jewelry you want to end up wearing. Remember that when it comes to gauges, the smaller the number the bigger the jewelry and the hole you're stretching in your earlobe.
If your earlobe isn't pierced yet, go to a real, reputable, clean piercer. Discuss with the piercer about what gauge you want to stretch to and let him or her help you decide how large you want to pierce your earlobes at first. Remember fresh piercings should always be healed with sterilized stainless steel. Make sure to remember what size your earlobe piercing is so that you can stretch it once it is fully healed (at least one month). If you already have pierced ears, you should figure out what gauge your piercings are. If you were pierced with a gun, they are eighteen gauge. If you were pierced by a piercer, you can go to any piercing shop and ask for help determining what gauge your earlobes are before you stretch them.
Once you know what size you're stretching from and to, you'll need "tapers" for your earlobes. You can buy these online or at many piercing parlors. These are what actually stretch your earlobes. You can buy long, straight tapers that use a rubber "O" ring to hold them in place, or spiral jewelry tapers; both start small and get bigger, thus the name. Either type will do, both will look funny sticking partway through your ear. Get over it or risk ripping your earlobes instead of stretching them.
A very common mistake is trying to stretch too fast. When you're working your way to a smaller gauge (bigger jewelry), it's better to not skip any gauges once you get into the single digits. In the double digits, skipping a gauge can be easy and relatively painless. To get to the gauge you want, you may need to buy several different sized tapers and wait many months to get to your goal. Stretching too fast, or ripping your earlobes as you stretch them, can result in having "cat butt" lobes. Yes, your earlobes will look like little cat butts. Not attractive. If you do tear your earlobe while stretching thoroughly clean and put your previous size jewelry back in and allow your stretched earlobe to heal completely before stretching again.
Finally, how do you actually do the stretching? First, make sure your hands, earlobes, and your taper are clean. You may want to use some lubricant on the thinner end of your taper. Plain lube for sex works, so does baby oil or petroleum jelly. Use one hand to firmly grip your taper and your other hand to support your earlobe as you stretch. Slowly, but firmly push it through your earlobe piercing. Some mildly painful pressure is normal. If you feel like your earlobe is actually tearing or if you notice blood, stop. If you can't get the taper all the way to it's widest point, don't worry. Leave it in place until your earlobe is no longer sore and try again until you get there. Once you do, keep the jewelry in your ear until all swelling and discomfort is gone. Don't rush! At that point, you can stretch again to the next size, and so on until you reach your goal.