The process of stretching your ears is simple, pain-free and one of the easiest (and coolest) body modifications you can do.

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Honest. There is nothing difficult about it.

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With years and years of misguided information, contradictions and straight-up dangerous techniques floating around the web, most people fall into one of two camps:

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Camp 1. “Screw this, I’m just going to ram something in my ear and see what happens.”

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Camp 2. “OMG! Look at that blowout, I think I’ll give this a miss.”

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But, the fact you’ve ended up here means you’re in neither. The fact you’ve even done any research puts you ahead of 80% of people. And the fact you are going to read on means you’ll soon be in camp three:

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Camp 3. “Honest. There is nothing difficult about it...”

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This complete gauging, ear stretching, flesh plugging (whatever you want to call it, we really don’t care) guide to help you stretch your ears confidently, properly and most of all safely.

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TERMINOLOGY 

To ensure you understand what the hell we are talking about, let’s run through some popular ear stretching terminology.

Tap on each term to reveal its definition:

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STRETCHING:- The process of increasing the diameter of a piercing.

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PLUG:- A solid, circular piece of jewellery worn in stretched piercings. Can also be known by other names and is commonly used to categorise all jewellery worn in stretched piercings.

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TUNNEL:- AKA flesh tunnels, eyelets and other names. Same as a plug but has a hole through the middle.

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TAPER:- A spike-shaped tool used to assist with stretching a piercing. Small at one end, big at the other. Should NOT be worn as jewellery

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FLARED:- The part of a tunnel or plug that flares outwards to secure the jewellery in place.

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BLOW OUT:- Fistula skin (the skin in contact with your jewellery) is pushed out through the back of your piercing. Bad news but not the end of the world.

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GAUGE:- Abbreviated to g. A unit of measurement popularly used to measure jewellery in the United States. Bigger the number is smaller the size.

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WHEN AND WHAT SIZE?

Most piercers will pierce your lobes at 1mm (18g) or 1.2mm (16g). We highly recommend waiting at least 4 - 6 months before thinking about ear lobe stretching. The piercing should be fully healed and showing no signs of infection.

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Most of our ear stretching kits start at 1.6mm (14g) which is the perfect size for your first stretch from an initial piercing. From there on sizes should NEVER be skipped.

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As mentioned previously in the terminology section, body jewellery shops don’t make things straight forward when it comes to units of measurement. Some display in millimetres whilst others use the gauge system or fractions of an inch.

Check out the conversion table below if you are ever in doubt:

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Milimetre       Gauge/Inch    

0.6mm             22g

0.8mm             20g

1mm                 18g

1.2mm              16g

1.6mm              14g

2mm                12g

2.4mm             10g

3mm                 8g

4mm                 6g

5mm                 4g

6mm                 2g

8mm                 0g

10mm               00g

11mm                7/16"

12mm                1/2"

14mm               9/16"

16mm                5/8"

18mm               11/16"

19mm                3/4"

20mm              13/16"

22mm               7/8"

25mm                 1"

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HOW LONG DO I WAIT BETWEEN STRETCHES? 

I’m going to apologise in advance for the cliché answer. Sorry.

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It depends and everyone is different.

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Unfortunately, there is no set in stone answer to this question but we can give some guidelines so you don’t go completely mental and rock 25mm double flare plugs within 36 hours.

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We recommend at least 2 months between stretches. This will give enough time for your lobes to fully heal from any micro-tears caused by stretching up. Once healed your lobes will then regain their elasticity and should be ready for the next gauge size.

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But again, everybody and every stretch are different. Just because your last stretch only needed 2 months doesn’t mean your next one will be the same. Some sizes may take up to 6 months or even longer until your lobes are ready.

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No pain, no gain couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to the ear stretching process, resistance should be minimal and pain should be non-existent.

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The slower you stretch your ears the better. Let me repeat that. The slower you stretch your ears the better!

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Slow stretching means reduced chance of infections, blowouts and scar tissue. When in doubt, don’t stretch up.

 

Common sense and patience.

 

HOW FAR IS TOO FAR? 

Again, it’s another ‘everyone is different’ answer I’m afraid. If you want to err on the side of caution with ‘the point of no return’ then stretching to 6mm (2g) is a pretty safe bet that your lobes will fully close up and return back to normal. Although, we do know of stretched ears much bigger shrinking right back down.

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Stretching up slowly will dramatically increase your chances of your lobes returning to normal. So on the flip side to that, stretching up too quickly will dramatically decrease the chances of your lobes closing up if you ever change your mind.

The main reason for this is when you damage your lobes from stretching too fast or incorrectly, you create a lot of scar tissue. Although a natural part of the healing process, scar tissues are inferior and lack elasticity which is crucial for increasing and decreasing the size of a stretched lobe. The smaller the amount of scar tissue, the bigger point of no return. It pays to be patient.

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EAR STRETCHING TECHNIQUES 

Now we are getting to the really juicy parts! How do you actually stretch your lobes?

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Well, there are three methods we approve to safely stretch your ears:

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• Taper Method

• Dead Stretching Method

• Taping Method

 

TAPER METHOD 
USED TO STRETCH UP TO 10MM (00G)

Tapers are simple tools used to aid in the stretching and insertion of jewellery. You will find some sources say that tapers are not safe to use.

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Let me tell you tapers are perfectly safe to use when used properly.

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The problem with tapers (and why they get such a bad rap) is they are generally misused and abused.

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Misused - you’ll see people walking around wearing tapers. Whilst light tapers are ‘ok’ to be worn for short periods of time in fully healed stretched lobes. Generally, tapers should only be seen as a ‘tool’ to stretch with and not a piece of jewellery.

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Abused - just because you bought an ear stretching kit containing tapers up to 10mm (00g) doesn’t mean you should start ramming these things into your lobes every other week. Tapers tempt people into stretching too fast and trick them into thinking the tapering on the taper makes the stretch gradual, when really it doesn't.

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Tapers, when used properly should help aid in the insertion of a single flare plug or tunnel. The amount the taper stretches the lobe is minimal and should not cause any pain, certainly not bleeding!

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The taper method will also require the use of fresh stretch friendly tunnels or plugs. For jewellery to qualify as ‘fresh stretch friendly’ it needs to be two things:

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• Single Flare

• Non-porous (316L surgical steel, titanium or glass are good choices)

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Plug or Tunnel?

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This tends to be a personal preference. While we recommend our flesh tunnel kits due to their light weight, some people prefer the look of plugs. Plugs are also less noticeable and sometimes a requirement for professional environments when flesh tunnels are not acceptable.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Clean pair of hands

• Surgical steel ear stretching kit consisting of tapers and single flare tunnels or plugs

• Jojoba Oil

• Fragrance-free antibacterial soap

• Hot shower or bath

 

STEP 1

First off, let’s relax. Take a warm shower or bath, like most things it’s all in the preparation. The heat from the water and steam will improve circulation by opening up blood vessels making your lobes more welcoming for that next stretch.

       

STEP 2

Pick your taper and corresponding single flare surgical steel flesh tunnel or plug. Ensure you choose the correct size and both the taper and jewellery match in gauge size. Don’t skip sizes.

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STEP 3

Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Remove any o-rings from your tapers or jewellery, then proceed to wash your lobes, taper and jewellery with the same soap. Leaving your jewellery in boiling water is also an option but just make sure they have cooled before inserting.

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Why do my tapers have o-rings?

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Good question. It’s most definitely because manufacturers also think tapers should be worn as jewellery - see it’s not just you who’s confused! Anyhow, we leave them on as spares for your tunnels or plugs.

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STEP 4

Massage your lobes with jojoba oil for 5 minutes. Doing so not only lubricates the lobe ready for stretching, but it also stimulates blood flow further.

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STEP 5

Lubricate the taper and jewellery with jojoba oil. Ensure you lubricate the entire length of the taper and wearable area of the jewellery.

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STEP 6

Slowly insert the taper (small end first) into the front of the lobe. Never force the taper, if it’s uncomfortable STOP - you are not ready for the next size.

Remember not to push the taper all the way through, stop once you get to the flat, thickest part of the taper.

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STEP 7

Butt up your single flare jewellery to the taper. These two surfaces should match perfectly so there should be no lip in the transition.

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Once butted up, carefully push on the taper with the jewellery simultaneously removing the taper and inserting the jewellery.

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Replacing the taper for your single flare jewellery should be one smooth, controlled action.

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STEP 8

Pat yourself on the back, you’ve just sized up! Repeat the process for the other lobe if you are stretching both. The same taper can be reused, whilst you will need two sets of tunnels or plugs. Be sure to wipe off any excess oil and secure the o-ring onto the back of the tunnel or plug.

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DEAD STRETCHING METHOD
CAN BE USED AT ANY SIZE & IS SUPER GRADUAL WITH A DEAD STRETCHING KIT

Dead stretching is considered to be the unrivalled stretching technique amongst the diehard body modifiers. And to be fair, for good reason. Dead stretching is dead straight forward, there is not much to do and therefore not much can go wrong.

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Some may argue dead stretching is not safe, ramming a larger blunt object into a smaller stretched lobe doesn’t sound like a good idea. But again, the process has been misunderstood.

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Dead stretching requires patience and plenty of it. Whilst tapers are great to safely assist with the transition of larger gauge piece of jewellery, dead stretching should only be used when your current jewellery is getting loose.

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The industry standard for dead stretching is going up in 1mm increments and as always, never skipping sizes. Over time the weight of the jewellery will slightly stretch your lobes and then the next size can be inserted with ease. The problem here is that smaller gauge jewellery is very light and this process could take a long time, even with 1mm increments.

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WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Clean pair of hands

• Surgical steel or titanium dead stretching kit consisting of single flare plugs/tunnels with 0.5mm increments

• Jojoba Oil

• Fragrance-free antibacterial soap

• Hot shower or bath

 

STEP 1

First off, let’s relax. Take a warm shower or bath, like most things it’s all in the preparation. The heat from the water and steam will improve circulation by opening up blood vessels making your lobes more welcoming for that next stretch.

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STEP 2

Pick your next size single flare plug. You can use our measuring card if you are unsure of the size but digital calipers work best! Don’t skip sizes.

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STEP 3

Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Remove the o-ring from your plug, then proceed to wash your lobes and jewellery with the same soap. Leaving your jewellery in boiling water is also an option but just make sure they have cooled before inserting.

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STEP 4

Massage your lobes with jojoba oil for 5 minutes. Doing so not only lubricates the lobe ready for stretching, but it also stimulates blood flow further.

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STEP 5

Lubricate the plug with jojoba oil. Ensure you lubricate the entire wearable area of the plug.

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STEP 6

Slowly insert the plug into the lobe from the front. As this plug is only 0.5mm bigger than your previous piece, there should be little to no resistance.

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STEP 7

Pat yourself on the back, you’ve just sized up! Repeat the process for the other lobe if you are stretching both.

Be sure to wipe off any excess oil and secure the o-ring onto the back of the plug.

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TAPING METHOD 
GENERALLY USED TO STRETCH PAST 10MM (00G)

When plugs get bigger, so do the jumps between sizes. This is where the taping method comes into its own and bridges these gaps.

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Simply put, the taping method involves wrapping tape around your current jewellery to gradually increase its diameter.

This method can be fiddly at first, but once you have mastered the art of wrapping the results are a cheap, super gradual and safe method of stretching up in the larger gauge sizes.

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Which tape do I use?

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Get out of your garage and put down that roll of electrical tape! Most household tapes are not suitable for the taping method. This is mainly due to the horrible adhesives and the porous properties that 99% of tapes on the market use.

Strong sticky tape that can harbour bacteria wrapped around freshly stretched lobes, not a good idea!

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We only recommend using bondage tape when it comes to the taping method - no joke. Quality bondage tape is made from non-porous PVC that does not contain any phthalates, paraffins, or latex. Most importantly bondage tape is self-amalgamating which means it contains no adhesives and only sticks to itself, not your lobes!

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Traditional bondage tape comes in large, wide rolls that can only be purchased from sex shops. Luckily SIBJ has developed their own ear stretching tape that is thinner, cheaper and does not require an embarrassing trip into town.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Clean pair of hands

• Single flare tunnel or plug (Surgical steel, glass or other fresh stretch friendly material)

• SIBJ Premium Ear Stretching Tape

• Jojoba Oil

• Fragrance-free antibacterial soap

• Hot shower or bath

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STEP 1

First off, let’s relax. Take a warm shower or bath, like most things it’s all in the preparation. The heat from the water and steam will improve circulation by opening up blood vessels making your lobes more welcoming for that next stretch.

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STEP 2

Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap.

Select your current gauge size single flare tunnel plug and remove any o-rings. Then proceed to wash your lobes and jewellery with the same soap.

Leaving your jewellery in boiling water is also an option but just make sure they have cooled before inserting.

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STEP 3

Start wrapping the tape around the wearable area of the jewellery. A single wrap increases the diameter of your jewellery by just 0.2mm.

It’s important to keep some tension on the tape when wrapping to ensure there are no folds or creases.

On your first wrap, you will need a slight overlap to ensure the tape can stick to itself and hold its position.

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STEP 4

Trim any excess tape hanging off the jewellery using a sharp blade or scissors. We have achieved perfect results using a single edge razor blade - just be careful!

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STEP 5

Massage your lobes with jojoba oil for 5 minutes. Doing so not only lubricates the lobe ready for stretching, but it also stimulates blood flow further.

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STEP 6

Lather the tape with jojoba oil and gently insert as normal into the lobe.

As the increase in diameter is so minimal there should be little to no resistance. If you struggle to insert then stop, remove the new wraps and wait a little longer.

Taping is super gradual so you shouldn't have any issues. Yep, you just sized up. Easy, huh!?

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STEP 7

Re-oil your tape twice a day and stick with your usual cleaning regime. We recommend removing and replacing your old wraps with fresh wraps each time you clean your jewellery.

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The process can be repeated every 7-21 days adding 1 extra wrap each time.

 

With just 5 wraps adding an impressive 1mm onto your gauge size it won’t be long until you are rocking that next piece of jewellery wrap free!

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JEWELLERY TYPES & MATERIALS 

Once you’ve reached a size you are happy to stop at for a while, it’s time to start building your plug collection! Typically, you start getting more choice around 6mm (2g), but there is still plenty to choose from in the smaller gauge sizes. The great thing about having stretched lobes is there is an abundance of awesome jewellery types, designs and materials.