How Do I Gauge My Ears?

Question

I've been wanting to gauge my ears for a while now, but haven't found that good of information on it. Right now my ears are at the standard piercing gauge...20g if I'm not mistaken. The holes that I want to gauge have been pierced since I was about 5 years old. I haven't had any problems with them and they're actually still open, even though I almost never wear earrings.

Does anyone have any good sites or tips on how I can gauge my ears? I don't even know where to start. I don't want to go huge either...only about 6 or 4 gauge.

Also, is there anyway to reverse gauging? I want to gauge my ears now, but I plan on being in the high-end business world after I finish college.

Any other miscellaneous advice or tips on ear gauging would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Go to a professional piercer and get some advice. you have to go slow with this. they'll start you at an 18 and wear for several weeks and slowing decrease the size of the gauge until you get the size you're looking for. If you go too fast, you'll end up with a lot of scarring and probably a lot of discomfort. Something like that is going to be uncomfortable anyway, but if you don't do it right, it'll be worse in the long run.  

Answer 2

Oooh Ooh shameless plug, though it is what you're looking for

http://stashapistachio.wordpress.com/200...

I've only just finished writing it, so apologies if I missed something. Just ask, and I shall fix.

They should close up at a 4g though it depends on the person. 4g plugs just tend to look like regular earring though. to downsize, just leave them empty, and don't fiddle.

Basically, don't skip sizes. if it hurts, don't force it and wait a couple of weeks before you try again, use lots of lube, and don't use organics or silicone. Stick to glass, steel or Ti.

Answer 3

go to a pro no matter what trust me one mistake and you are going to end up ear less  

Answer 4

why gauge your ear?thats crazy to have a huge hole in your ear.i would go to a pro. its gunna be 10 times easier if you do.

gauged my ear when i was 13 and regret it

Answer 5

you have to stretch them, one size per month.

Answer 6

im 13 and want to gauge my ears 2 what ive been doing is talking 2 people at spenser's (normaly at a mall) hottopic and anyother hardish coreish peircing place they can explain about it and tell u what 2 expect ive been otld 2 start with a 16 or 14 guage and slowly move up plastic ones go in easier and i dont no if its tru be some people tell me after u take out the earing thing it will shrink back to normal size in a day or 2 ive had my ears pierced since i was 6months so for about 13 years lol cause im almost 14 so ask around and figure out if its 4 u (ive found the most help at spenser's btw there really nice and alot of them have theres gauge or have had it before)

Answer 7

you have to gradually start putting the next size in. try to get a 16 first, those still slide in pretty easily. then keep getting bigger ones after a couple weeks.  

Answer 8

I'd gotten my ears pierced with a gun about 4 years ago. And GRADUALLY gauged up. Try moving up slowly to a 16. Then 14 after your ears have healed. If you want to move up in size. I'd suggest a taper after a gauge 12. Just be sure that when you are gauging up, let your ears heal. Don't force it. It's not really worth it in the end if you force it. Results can be either a keloid developing or a blow out. Which hurt equally.

As for reverse gauging there's not really much you can about that. You could leave your jewelry for a bit and let it gradually downsize. I'm not exactly sure how small they'll go down. But you can always try it out! Hee hee.

Well, hoped I helped....a bit. Good luck! ^_^

Answer 9

that is so tacky

Answer 10

You don't cause your rude and don't  deserve nice STRETCHED ears.  You are a horrible RUDE person, you would give stretched ears a bad name!!!

Haha@you!

Answer 11

First things first is to go to your piercer and tell him/her that you're interested in stretching your ears but you're not sure about the process. You will get the most reliable answers from them.

However here are some tips through my experience that can get you rolling. I currently have 00's in my ear at the moment and have been stretching my ears for almost 7 years.

The common gauge that is started at is 14g. (20g-18g is usually the normal for a regular ear piercing.) Acrylic is the most common material and possibly the best for that size.

* Personality for me, 14g was the hardest and most painful to insert, because I had no idea what I was doing at the time, and didn't wear earrings regularly.*

Here are the sizes:

20 gauge = 0.812 mm = .032 inch

18 gauge = 1.024 mm = .040 inch

16 gauge = 1.291 mm = .051 inch

14 gauge = 1.628 mm = .064 inch

12 gauge = 2.053 mm = .081 inch

10 gauge = 2.589 mm = .102 inch

8 gauge = 3.264 mm = .129 inch

6 gauge = 4.115 mm = .162 inch

4 gauge = 5.189 mm = .204 inch

2 gauge = 6.544 mm = .258 inch

0 gauge = 8.252 mm = .325 inch

00 gauge = 9.266 mm = .365 inch

The biggest advice I and possibly the piercer can give you is for you not to jump sizes or rush between sizes. Wait at a month between sizes. If you jump sizes, you risk damaging your ear cartilage and blowing out your ear. Also it doesn't heal as well after if you decide to take the piercing out.

The longer you have a particular size in your ear, the easier it is to go to the next size, this is because your lobe has become more flexible and because the ring has weighed it down some.

Wait until your piercing is healed before wearing double-flared plugs or tunnels. The flare causes them to be a little larger in diameter than their measurement indicates and inserting one will actually involve another slight stretch. Double flares are not good for new gauges because your ear may heal around it, and to remove them, you may have to rip them out, which can cause tissue damage.

If you're having trouble getting your plugs in, try after a shower or with water-based lubricant, just make sure you don't loose one of the gauges down a drain.

And to answer your question, if you only plan to go to a 6g or 8g, then your ears will probably close up. You can either go down sizes or just take your gauges out completely.