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. Hard-core modifiers have to up the ante to defy the commercialisation of the practice, Prof Pitts-Taylor suggests. The more you stretch the skin, the more commitment you are expressing to a counter cultural look.
People who are obsessed with getting the largest stretch possible are known in the business as a "gauge queen" or "gauge king", according to Fox. There are many ways to stretch ear lobes. You can gradually stretch the skin using different sized tapers cone-shaped pieces of jewellery.
This requires patience. For those who want an immediate result, there's dermal punching. This works like a hole punch and will create an instant gap. Mellor advises customers to take the gradual approach.
Applying excess pressure can squeeze flesh from the inside of the lobe to the outside, causing what's known as a "blow out", she says. This can leave people with scarring. There is a point of no return but it varies. A stretched piercing can shrink back to its original size but this depends on several factors including the length of time taken to stretch and the elasticity of the skin. In some cases, if you stretch too fast or by too much, the lobe can split. The larger the gauge, the more expensive it will be.
People who stretch their ears buy tapers to increase the gauges of their ears one size at a time. Ideally, there should be a one-month interval between each gauge. Upon reaching gauge number 2, you have to wait two to three months before you can stretch the gauge to the next size.
A lower number means a higher gauge. Newly pierced ears have a gauge of The next size for this is 16, followed by 14, and so on. Always consult with a piercer first if you have never tried stretching your ears before; they can teach you the proper way and techniques and may even stretch your ears for you. Plugs are sometimes called earplugs or earspools. In the world of body modification, plugs refer to the short, cylindrical jewelry worn with larger-gauge body piercings.
Due to their size, plugs can be made out of different substances or materials, such as glass, wood, metal, horn, porcelain, acrylic, stone, or silicone. Historically, plugs have been used as earrings.
This does not prevent them from being used in other kinds of piercings, in other areas of the human body. The gauge is the size of piercings before they turn into an inch. Educate yourself about the risks of these procedures, because most of them are a permanent change, such as tattoos and ear stretching.
The 1st thing to help with getting them in is to use lubrication. Any water based lubricant will help to get them in and out easily. Also you will want to insert them at an angle. If you try to force them through straight into your ears then it will be much harder for them to fit through. Inserting them at a slight angle gives them enough leverage to pop through. On sizes under 0 gauge however, they will often require you to stretch slightly larger to be able to fit them through.
The larger you stretch, the easier double flares will be able to get in, so the smaller sizes are a lot harder to get through. If you are trying to fit a set of double flares in that are under 0 gauge then it's good to try doing a little tape wrapping see info on the tape wrapping method above to help loosen up your ears a bit and get the plugs in. Jojoba oil is an all-around great product. Its best uses are to soften skin, reduce scar tissue, thicken lobes, and to moisturize.
By massaging jojoba oil daily on your lobes, it helps to thicken them up over time and to keep them healthy. It also helps to reduce the size of blowouts over time if massaged daily. Organics generally don't require much more maintenance then the average set of plugs though. Materials such as wood will expand and contract as they get wet though so to avoid cracks and swelling, it's for sure best to keep them as dry as possible. If you are purchasing a set of organic plugs that isn't super expensive, then just wear them and don't worry about if they wet or not.
But if you have a nice set that you want to keep for years then it's highly recommended to keep them as dry as possible. Also organic pieces that have inlays or where multiple materials are used such as multiple inlayed woods , then you for sure want to keep them dry to avoid breakage or cracking. It's also really good to use jojoba oil on organic jewelry to keep the pieces looking fresh and polished.
All you need to do is take a small drop onto your fingers and rub the jojoba oil into the plugs and they will look like a fresh new pair. The topic of gauges vs. We thought it would be easier to make a video on the topic so here is Chris talking the issue. If you are noticing issues such as extreme swelling, redness, discharge, itching, and hotness then you more than likely have an infection. An infection can be a serious problem so it's best to take care of it as soon as possible.
If you have recently stretched your ears and are having all of the above problems then it's for sure best to downsize and let your ears get back to normal. Also wearing jewelry like steel or glass is the best to wear with an irritated piercing these materials will minimize your risk of prolonging the infection. If you feel like it's getting too much or is a serious problem then it is best to consult a local doctor and have it checked out. If you let it go for a long time then you can have some serious problems so make sure to have it checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.
What size can I stretch up to without permanent damage? How long should I wait between each stretch? All about tapers and how to use a taper to stretch your ears Tapers are a great way to begin your ear stretching journey. Acrylic Tapers Acrylic tapers are an economy style of tapers that are pretty popular since they are the least expensive.
Basic Steel Tapers Basic steel tapers are a good option for those who are on a budget but looking for better quality than acrylic. Concave Steel Tapers Best to use Concave tapers are the best and highest quality tapers to use.
So you've decided on your taper, now it's time for the stretch So once you have decided on what style of taper you want to use, the next part is getting the stretch done. How to stretch your ears with the tape wrapping method Once you get to a larger size generally around 0 gauge then using the tape wrapping method is a good option to use for stretching and it is the method almost everyone uses over 1 inch. Bondage Tape Bondage tape is another great tape to use for the tape wrapping method.
Will stretching too fast and skipping sizes damage my ears? What is a blowout and how to fix it? Ear funk, the causes and how to fix it? Other Common Ear Stretching Question How to insert double flare plugs Many people have the problem of not being able to fit in their double flare plugs if they have never worn them before.
Using jojoba oil to moisturize your piercing and care for organic plugs Jojoba oil is an all-around great product.
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