Stretched Ear Stories · Weekly Q&A

Q1: How do I start stretching my ears safely as a beginner?

Stretching your ears (also called gauging) can be an awesome journey—but only if you do it right! Here’s how to begin safely:

Start with a healed lobe piercing

Your ears must be completely healed—ideally, you’ve had your lobe piercing for at least 6 months to a year.

Stretch slowly—seriously.

Never skip sizes! Use proper tapers or plugs and wait at least 4–6 weeks between each size jump (longer is even better). Rushing leads to tearing, blowouts, or infections.

Lube up

Always use a safe lubricant (like jojoba oil or vitamin E oil) when inserting jewelry. It helps reduce friction and makes the stretch smoother.

Listen to your ears

Pain = stop. Stretching should feel tight or warm, but never sharp or stinging. If it hurts, you’re going too fast.

Go for quality jewelry

Stick to single-flare glass or titanium plugs for the initial stretch. No acrylic, no silicone—not at the beginning.

Got a stretching question? Drop it in the comments or DM me—I might feature it next week!