Why do gauges stink?

Why do gauges stink?

The reason your ear gauges smell bad is because they're sitting in your ear. Your skin sheds almost every hour on the hour and all of those dead skin cells are left sitting on the gauge. Thus the stinky smell. To prevent this, a strict cleaning regiment is needed.

Is it bad to wear silicone tunnels?

The same goes for silicone in FRESH-STRETCHED ears only. It's usually safe to wear otherwise, unless you know you're allergic to silicone! Any materials that feel rough in your hands are no good for your ears! If you have stone or wood plugs that feel rough on the surface, DON'T WEAR THEM!

Can you sleep with gauges in your ears?

I recommend you sleep with your plugs in your ears. Sleeping without them can cause irritation, dryness, and cracking. … Wood is very porous, which allows your ears to breath and reduces ear funk. If you do end up blowing your ears out, take out the new jewelry and put in a smaller gauge of jewelry.

Can you use Vaseline to stretch your ears?

Ear stretching balms and creams or any type of water-based lubricant would also be suitable. However, be sure to avoid oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly (Vaseline). . Once you have the plugs, taper, and oil that you need, you'll be ready to start stretching!

What are the gauge sizes?

Standard ear piercings are usually pierced at 20g or 18g. Gauge sizes go up (or down, depending on how you look at it) in even numbers from there, so the next largest size from an 18g is 16g, then 14g, then 12g, and so on. When you get to 0g, the next size is 00g (pronounced “double zero gauge").

Are acrylic gauges safe?

Acrylic is safe to wear for short periods of time. Acrylic plugs can be worn during the day but should be replaced with steel overnight. Prolonged exposure to acrylic can cause skin irritation.

Do silicone plugs stretch your ears?

This is quite a dangerous method of ear stretching as the silicone can stick to your stretches and can be difficult to remove once they are stuck, even tearing your skin as you attempt to remove your plugs. We do not recommend using this method to stretch your ears at all.

Is it bad to stretch ears with acrylic?

Acrylic is not safe to wear in a fresh stretch so be sure to transfer to steel or glass plugs. Stone tapers are not to be used for stretching at all. They are only for wearing in healed stretches as jewelry because they are porous and can carry too much bacteria.

How do I take care of my gauges?

Wash your ear gauges with antibacterial soap no more than one to two times per day. Wash your hands thoroughly. Just to moist the pierced area, you can even use some antibacterial ointment (recommended by your piercing artist) and do a little massage around the the rim of the gauge.

Why do people stretch their ears?

Once the ear is stretched past a certain point, it loses the ability to heal the larger hole — or "flesh tunnel" — created by the stretching process. Therefore, stretching is a way to make your piercings permanent.

How often should you size up your gauges?

As a general rule of thumb, you should wait a minimum of 3-4 months before stretching a fresh soft tissue piercing, and healed ear lobe piercings can often be stretched at the rate of one size (about 1mm to 1.5mm or 1/16") each 30 to 45 days, minimum.

Why do my stretched ears smell?

During the process of stretching your ears you may notice an unfortunate side effect – the smell! … Odour is the result of sebum and dead skin cells being trapped between your skin and jewellery. Your skin produces oil called sebum that keeps it soft and healthy, as well as shedding dead skin cells.

How do you make your gauges not smell?

Avoid gauge odor by washing the area two to three times daily with unscented, antibacterial soap and water. Wash both sides of the ear with clean hands; rinse thoroughly. Periodically remove the gauge to allow it to dry thoroughly and get some air.

Can I use electrical tape to stretch my ears?

PTFE is a great and inexpensive tape that you can use to stretch. The good things about it is that it is very reasonable in price, non-adhesive so it only sticks to itself, super thin so you can slowly increase your size, and it doesn't irritate your ears like some tapes do (such as electric tape).

What is the smallest gauge size?

Using a stretching taper is the most common way to stretch your ears, and you will be able to feel your earlobe start to gradually sting and feel warm, until you have got your new plug or tunnel in. This stinging sensation usually lasts for up to 25mins or so, but after that it shouldn't hurt any more.

Are stone plugs good for stretching?

Glass is another great choice for stretching to a new gauge size, but you need to be picky with the type and style to ensure that it's not prone to breaking. … Stone can also be used when stretching using the "dead stretching" technique since stone is generally a heavier material.

How do you use a taper gauge?

The best way to maintain healthy stretched ears is with oil massages. … Some good oils to use are emu oil, vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, Naked oil, and bio oil. There are also products designed specifically for stretched ears but they're usually more expensive.

How far can you stretch your ears before its irreversible?

Everyone has different elasticity in their ears, some may never close up and others will be able to stretch to a large size and shrink back down. Most professional piercers will suggest around 6mm (2g) to 8mm (0g) for a safe size although even at this size there is a chance they won't shrink back down at all.

Do ear weights stretch your ears?

A common misconception about ear weights is that they're made for stretching your ears. … If you're looking to stretch your ears you're better off using plugs or tunnels. The way ear weights work in terms of stretching, is that they will only stretch the skin on the very bottom of your ear lobe.

Is stainless steel good for stretching ears?

Stainless steel is the most common metal that body jewelry is made from and is typically used in fresh piercings and stretches. Stainless steel, or 316L steel, is autoclavable and nonporous which make it a great option for healing.

What size gauges go back to normal?

Usually it will go back if stretched properly from about 0g/00g. Anywhere after that is not likely to close. Can I still wear normal earrings after de-gauging? Depends on what size you've stretched up to.

What are plugs for ears?

A plug (sometimes earplug or earspool), in the context of body modification, is a short, cylindrical piece of jewellery commonly worn in larger-gauge body piercings. Modern western plugs are also called flesh tunnels.

What material should I use to stretch my ears?

The absolute best material for stretching that piercers often suggest is borosilicate glass.

How do you clean stretched ears?

Wash your newly stretched piercing twice daily with glycerin soap. This will help remove the crusties and keep your piercing clean. Remember not to let anyone else use your soap! Soak your piercing twice daily for three to five minutes in a warm sea salt solution.

What size should I start stretching my ears?

What gauge to start stretching your ears at? A great question that you will need to know when starting to stretch your ears is what size should your first stretch be. For the majority of people, either 16 gauge or 14 gauge is a good starting point if you have only worn regular earrings.

Can stretched ears go back to normal?

Will Stretched Ears Go Back To Normal? … The truth is that most stretched ears will shrink at least a little if you remove your jewellery, but most will not go back to their unstretched gauge. 10mm is often cited as the point of no return, but the fact is that everyone is different.

How do you care for stone plugs?

From time to time you should wash your plugs with a mild soap and water, then re-oil before insertion. All plugs should be removed and cleaned daily. Stone jewelry should only be worn in healed piercings. Use a mild soap and lukewarm water to clean then dry after wearing.