Ear Stretching Myths

Forget the horror stories! Stretched ears should be pain-free when done correctly. It’s as simple as this – if it’s hurting, it’s because you’re doing something wrong. In fact, you’re quite possibly making common ear stretching mistakes like: 

• Ramming in jewellery too big for your ear gauges
• Sizing up too quickly before your lobes are fully healed from your initial piercing or last stretch
• Failing to prepare your lobes for stretching readiness
• Using the wrong or inappropriate kit

So, how do you avoid sore, trouble-free stretched lobes?

Think again! Ear stretching is surprisingly simple. To prove the point, here's a run through the dead stretching method, broken down into bite-sized chunks for ultimate clarity. 

Let’s start with prepping for success:

Hopefully, you’re already well on the way to sorting the ear stretching facts from the myths. Dead ear stretching is a prime example.

An undeserved bad rep has come about because of false assumptions about dead stretching being sketchy. After all, shoving a bigger plug through your hole doesn't exactly scream "safe," does it? But don’t jump to conclusions, because that's where the misunderstanding kicks in.

At the end of the day, dead stretching is all about patience, and lots of it. On the other hand, tapers encourage people to stretch too fast. But dead stretching comes into its own when your current ear gauges feel like they're hanging loose.

As you can see, it’s totally safe. In fact, it’s the outright safest way to achieve hassle-free, healthy stretched ears, as long as you're patient and follow the steps.

All the same, rushing the process is a reckless gamble, whether you’re dead stretching or using other ear stretching methods like taping or tapering. It’s as simple as this – trying to game the stretching algorithm potentially leads to blowouts, infections, tears, even permanent damage.

Not quite! You see, stretched lobes are elastic. This means smaller stretches (up to around 5mm / 4g to 6mm / 2g) tend to shrink back to almost their original size if you take your ear gauges out. Whereas larger stretches might leave permanent marks.

This is a rule of averages, because there aren’t one-size-fits-all answers to ear stretching questions. Why? Because every body and every stretched lobe is different. Just bear in mind the main factors influencing how much your stretched ears are likely to snap back:

• The extent of your stretch - Generally, the bigger your ear gauges, the less likely they are to fully shrink back.
• Your unique healing - Everyone heals at their own pace. So, it’s perfectly normal for different folks to see shrinkage at a different level and pace than others.
• How well and how quickly you stretched up - complications and blowouts cause scar tissue, and scar tissues do not have the same elasticity to shrink the lobes back down to their original size.

Hold your horses! Tapers are all well and good for aiding the insertion of plugs. But they shouldn't be worn as permanent jewellery, even if you think they’re a good look. This golden rule even applies to leaving them in your stretched lobes for a while after a fresh stretch.

It’s not worth even trying to get away with it. And here's why:

• Under pressure – The conical shape of tapers puts uneven pressure on your stretched ears, which can cause irritation and damaged lobes, not to mention wonky ear gauges.
• Porous problems - Many tapers are made from cheap but not cheerful materials like plastic, which are unfortunately breeding grounds for bacteria. It’s better to stick with implant-grade titanium or surgical steel, which are smooth, inert (meaning they won't adversely react with your ear gauges), and easy to sterilise.
• Caught out - it's easy to catch and snag a taper on something. Definitely not ideal for a newly stretched lobe that needs to heal.

SO not true! The industry standard is 1mm - 2mm increments. But ear stretching in half-sizes is slaying it for lots of good reasons.

Here's why smaller jumps should be your jam:

• Reduced risk - Smaller size increases minimise the risk of tears and blowouts.
• Gradual progression - Half sizes equip you for a smoother, steadier ear stretching journey, giving your lobes the time they need to heal and adapt in between stretches.
• Peace of mind – Intentional ear stretching mistakes don’t make you cool – like trying to stretch up too quickly to look big and clever. In a similar way, caution doesn’t make you a wimp. For these reasons, half sizes ease any anxiety and boost your confidence during the stretching process.
• Faster progress - smaller increments mean you can size up more quickly as you'll be ready for that next size faster. Not only does this give the sense of getting to your goal size quicker, it actually does! Reduced chance of complications means you'll be less likely to need to stop stretching, or even worse, size down.

This is one of the tetchier ear stretching facts you’ll want to give careful consideration to. But the good news is perceptions of body mods are shifting for the better.

Now, in the 21st century, many workplaces, especially creative and youth-oriented places, have no issues with stretched lobes, body piercings and tattoos. But truthfully, some sectors are still catching up.

So, what’s the most productive approach to getting hired and thriving in the employment arena with ear gauges?

Ear stretching has a kaleidoscopic history transcending borders and eras. Africans, Celts, Native Americans Pacific Islanders, even Ötzi the Iceman who ploughed his furrow over 5,000 years ago, all rocked stretched ears.

This begs the question – Whose is it? Who does ear stretching belong to?

It’s mine and yours and every other ear stretcher’s down the tunnels of time. In short, it’s nobody’s to claim. Ear stretching is a global celebration with deep historic roots. As a result, it can’t be culturally appropriated.

Ear stretching is a fun, rewarding and often addictive way to express yourself. Importantly, you can aid a smooth and hassle-free journey to gauge greatness by debunking these myths and following the best, safest practices.

So, what’s keeping you? Get out there and rock those epic ear gauges!

We hope this guide has empowered you to approach ear stretching with knowledge and confidence. After all, you too can achieve the stretched lobes of your dreams, without compromising their health and happiness, when you’re armed with the right information.

Ready to embark on your ear stretching adventure now you’ve separated the ear stretching facts from the fiction? At Stretch It Body Jewellery, you’ll find an unrivalled and extensive collection of high-quality dead stretching kits, plugs, tunnels, weights and much more, in a variety of stunning materials and styles.

Visit our website and join the thousands of other happy customers who aren’t ear stretching myths, but absolute legends!