Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Choosing a method
• Part 2 of 3: Taking measures to prevent pain
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing pain during aftercare
• Warnings

Many people like stretched earlobes, but the process of stretching (also known as stretching) can cause pain and discomfort. While there is no surefire way to prevent this, there are steps you can take to minimize the pain and possible complications during the stretch.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Choosing a method

1. Gently pull on your ears. Before choosing a method of stretching your ears, consider the extent to which you want to do this. If you are only a size up, the most painless option is to gently stretch your ears until they are stretched enough to accommodate new earrings. However, if you want to stretch your ears significantly, explore other options.
2. Consider tapers. Tapering is the most common method of stretching your ears. If you do it right, this method is relatively painless.
   • Tapers are tapered bars. To stretch your ears, take the first of a set of tapers, push it all the way through your earlobe, and replace it with a tunnel or plug the same size as the wide end of the taper. By the time you've had the last of the set, your ear lobes should be as big as you want them to be.
   • Wear tapers never as jewelry. This can otherwise cause your ears to heal unevenly, due to uneven weight distribution.
   • Some people use coils as tapers because they can work and stretch longer in succession.
3. Use tape for gradual adjustments. If you want to stretch your ears slowly, consider using tape. This allows you to gradually stretch your ears, which can reduce pain, but in smaller increments than tapers would.
   • Use non-adhesive tape. Wrap this tape around the parts of your earrings that go into your ear. Increase this one or two coats at a time, until you've stretched your ears to the desired diameter.
   • Wash your earrings after taping to avoid infection.
4. Avoid silicone and double flared tunnels and plugs. Do not use silicone plugs until your ears are fully stretched and healed. This is because silicone can tear the tissue of the ears and cause infections. Double flared jewelry is sometimes large enough to cause pain and possible permanent damage to your ear.

Part 2 of 3: Taking measures to prevent pain

1. Don't stretch your ears too quickly. Wanting to stretch too quickly is one of the main causes of pain. Regardless of your chosen method, you should wait for your ears to heal before stretching them further. Stretching too quickly can have serious consequences, such as a "blowout," where the inside of a stretched hole is pushed out of the back of the piercing by too much pressure. This can result in permanent deformity and damage to the earlobe.
   • Another complication of enlarging the earlobe too quickly or beyond the blood supply line is that the edges of the skin separate or tear. Surgery may then be required to correct this.
   • Widening the hole too quickly increases the risk of infection.
   • How long you have to wait between different tapers or sizes varies. First, people don't all heal quickly, and it also depends on how much you stretch the hole - however, it is recommended that you let your ears get used to a size for at least a month before continuing.
   • Only increase the hole in millimeter increments (e.g. from 1mm to 2mm).
   • Never skip a measure when stretching. If you don't feel much pain, you may become over-zealous and want to skip a size bigger to speed up the process - however, this increases the chance of permanent damage to your ears. Even if you're sure, skipping sizes is a bad idea.
2. Stop if you feel pain. Pain when widening the hole is a sign that something is wrong. If you experience severe pain, resistance, or bleeding when inserting a new taper or adding another layer of tape, you should stop. Your ear is therefore not completely healed and making a hole in that ear larger can cause damage. Wait another week before working up to a larger size.
3. Stretch your ears at different speeds, if necessary. Although it looks and feels uncomfortable, your ears can heal at different rates. If one ear needs a little longer, there is no medical reason why you cannot stretch your ears at different speeds. In fact, if one ear is more sensitive than the other, it is even better to slow down this process to avoid damage.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing pain during aftercare

1. Massage regularly with oil. Once your ears are stretched to the desired diameter, it is common to experience some tingling and sore spots. You can relieve the pain by massaging your ears regularly. To avoid infection, wait a few days after starting the stretching before massaging the area. Use a small amount of your chosen massage oil (which you can buy online or at a local beauty supply store) and rub it gently into your ears. Do this regularly, a few times a day, until the discomfort has passed. This helps increase blood flow, which is beneficial for healing.
2. Use a saline solution. Saline solution (available at most drug stores) can also help soothe the ears after stretching. Use such foam or spray sparingly, at most once or twice a day. If you experience any side effects, such as increased pain, stop using it.
   • You can make your own saline solution by dissolving 1/8 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
   • Do not use rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide on a healing ear.
3. Immediately choose a smaller size in case of bleeding or significant pain. If you have pain or bleeding after choosing a size larger, you should return to the previous size immediately. Pain or bleeding in your ears is a sign that something is wrong. Like pain or tingling, it won't go away on its own. You should choose a size smaller as far as the tapers or tape are concerned. If pain and bleeding persists, contact a doctor for an examination.
4. Resume wearing jewelry a few weeks after stretching. After you have stretched the hole in your ears to the desired diameter, wait a few weeks. If you don't experience pain or bleeding, you can start wearing jewelry again. For the first few weeks, stick with jewelry made of silicone or organic materials. If you have no problems with such materials, you can switch to double flared jewelry.

Warnings

• At some point, the stretching of an ear cannot be reversed. If you ever decide to stop wearing plugs, the hole will no longer close on its own and you will need surgery.
• After stretching, leave the ear alone. Don't let yourself or your friends mess with it and if you have to touch it, make sure your hands are clean. Another stretch is like another cut - it's prone to infection.