A while back, I decided that I wanted to start the stretching process of my ears. It's still an ongoing ordeal [a pretty pleasant one, might I add] so this only depicts my ear gauging time as of up to where I am right now.
At A Glance Author Kat Contact Kat@bme.anon When N/A I had seen a few different people whom I had known with their ears gauged, but, honestly, I never thought much of it. I would think, "Oh yeah, that's cool." And then forget about it. 'Twasn't till a good mate of mine started stretching her ears that I became intrigued. I thought, "Wow. She's my age. If she can do it, I might as well too." This wasn't in the "Anything you can do, I can do better." sense at all, just a genuine fascination. So, I went to the mall with the intention that I, too, would start gauging my ears. I'll be honest with you, I didn't do any research into the stretching process and, really, [I ashamedly admit] I thought I would do it because it was "cool." Nowadays, after growing up a bit, I do it for myself, and because I like it, it makes up who I am.
Anyways, back to the story. I go to the mall and all I know is "I'm going to buy gauges!" I didn't know what size, I didn't even really know what the sizes were....I was just going to stretch my ears and I knew that a 4g looked good to me [as a stopping goal].
I go to one of the stores and tell the clerk what my intent was to do. She says I might as well start at a 10g and she gave me some tips as to how I should go about stretching. It wasn't till later that I found out stretching sizes can be fatal [kidding], but fortunately, they were smaller sizes that I skipped [unknowingly...remember, I was clueless], so no damage was done.
On the way home, I was psyched. I remember sitting on the floor of my room, in front of my mirror, lathering up the crescents in Vaseline and starting to push 'em through. I think that's probably when I got a rude awakening: This process would involve some pain. After about a month of healing, I continued my journey.
Next on the line-up: 6g. I decided to skip 8g since I thought that would be okay and I didn't have abundant amounts of money anyways so, I went and bought some 6g crescents. This stretch hurt considerably more and posed some difficulties, but not great ones in the grand scheme of things. I figure this was because of skipping a size [at this point, I still didn't even know too much about gauging]. This was also my first experience with blood and stretching. The crescents were gradual in their build and got to the biggest point [6g] in the middle and then went smaller again. I was trying to push it in slowly and -whoosh- all of a sudden the crescent went straight through my ear. It stretched it to a 6g in a matter of half a second. It frightened and hurt me something fierce. Yet, I couldn't help but laugh. In the end, I got my 6gs in and let them heal for probably about a month as well.
Then came the 4gs. This was when I first became introduced to the beautiful world of tapers. I lubed them up with...what was it?...Carmex [Oh boy]. I got each one in in less than two minutes with minimal pain. That, my friends, was a beautiful thing. It was one of my easiest stretches so far. Now, remember, 4g was where I wanted to get some flared tunnels in and stop. Hah, that was a thought of the past.
Which brings us to the stretch to a 2g. I go to the shop with one of my mates and decide to get some 2g flared tunnels. The clerk said that would be fine and I should be able to get it in. After going back home and struggling for a while I realized I wouldn't be able to fit them in because of the flares at the ends. Dejected, I waited until I was able to go to the shop and get some 2g tapers. When I do, I lather them up with....baby oil [I really need to invest in a good lubricant, goodness]. My right ear took the taper really well because I think it already got stretched by the old taper being in so long. The left one, well, that burned.
This brings us to the stretch to a 0g. This would have to be my worst stretch. I purchased some 0g tapers and was looking forward to getting them in. I did something rather foolish and stretched without preparing my ear in any way. No lube, no loosening it up, just stretching. "Just"? I got the taper and tried [slowly and carefully] pushing it through my ear. I didn't have any lube [not even my makeshift Carmex or baby oil, haha] so it hurt a great deal, lemme tell ya. It suddenly pushed through and burned like crazy. It throbbed and pulsed the whole day, the next day, and probably for a few days after that. I eventually found some unpleasant stuff coming out of my ear so I would clean it up and put the taper back. After a few days, it cleared up and my right ear became nice and healthy.
I still had my left ear to do though, and, let me say, I wasn't as eager to do it as I usually was. After procrastinating a couple of days, I took a shower and told myself "It's now or never." I lubed the taper and my ear up with Vaseline and slowly put it in. It went in considerably easy but still burned. It eventually healed, a bit like the last one with some unfavorable 'stuff' "oozing" [Eew.] out in the process.
After these were in for a while, I decided I didn't want to wait to go and purchase some tapers at the mall so I ordered them online. I believe I got a pair of 00g and 7/16" tapers...Anxiously, I looked in my mailbox each day until they arrived. About a day after they did, I got my ear and the taper ready and started gently pushing. This brings me to my second easiest stretch to date. It went in, burned for about a minute, and was perfectly fine. No lie. I was like "Whoa. Weird." but content. This was all on my right ear. After about a week of having the 00g in my right, I just wanted to *see* if the 7/16" taper could go in. So, what do I do but try. It went in without a hitch to the point where I was almost skeptical that it really was a 7/16". I was mighty pleased, folks.
A while after this, I went to the mall and had to go to Hot Topic to buy some more tapers. I don't really like going there for ear mod. jewelry 'cause compared to what I purchase online, their stuff is of poor quality and expensive. But, I had no choice, so I went and purchased some 1/2" tapers. At this point in time, my right ear was at a 7/16" and my left at a 0g. I had some catching up to do, but that doesn't come 'til later. I go home and decide I want to just *see* [deja vu, anyone?] if the 1/2" taper would fit in my right ear. I lube it and my ear up and start to push it in. Clearly, it didn't totally want to go but I was able to get it in. It hurt like the dickens, baby, lemme just say. I thought I was going to die. Well, not really but it was pulsing and throbbing and I was contemplating taking it out that night while I was trying to sleep. I convinced myself to leave it in as it would feel better in the morn [which it did]. Okay, little side note, next morning I went to church and I saw my aunt. She gave me a hug and accidentally tugged on my newly stretched ear. Blinkin' Nora! I thought I was going to die, come alive and then die all over again. It hurt something mighty.
Now we come to catching up my left ear. Throughout all this time it was at a 0g and I thought "Good. It should be nice and loose." So I reach for my 00g, do all the right dandy procedures and begin to stretch. It went in. It burned, but it went in, pretty nicely. 'Twas sore for a while but it's all fine now.
And this is where I am. My right ear is at a 1/2" and my left is at 00g. Don't worry, I'm going catch it up. I just purchased some 1/2" flared tunnels and hope to get those soon, set them in and get rid of this taper in my ear. Throughout my journey, I've mostly used tapers, but only for stretching purposes. I told myself when I reach my desired goal [which used to be a 4g, ha!] that I would seal it with some tunnels. I'm not too sure if 1/2" is my place to stop, but we'll try it and see how it goes.
Another topic I want to bring up as I tell about my stretching endeavors is the criticism factor. As I'm sure you know and have experienced, in everything we do, we're going to be criticized, whether it is positive criticism or negative. Throughout my journey, I've realized that I'm not doing any of this for other people. I'm doing it for me and the fact that this is just a part of who I am. I don't do it to intrigue some and disgust others and I certainly don't and try not to do it for attention. But, whether we like it or not, people are going to have [sometimes strong] opinions on this matter and other forms of body modification.
As a hardcore Christian who loves the Lord, this makes matters even more...interesting. At my church, most people are generally "cool" about what I do, but, as with everyone, we all have different opinions on these types of things. Our opinions are not strictly right or wrong, just our views. When you start any type of journey, you've got to realize and dig deep down to find out what your motives are. Are you wanting attention? Because, trust me, you'll get it whether you asked for it or not. I've gotten it, not a lot, which is just fine, but enough of it. A lot of people are "intrigued" by what I am undergoing and others probably find it repulsive. Others think it's "hot" and others say "Yeah, but how hot will that be at 86 years of age?" When a few people were discussing what I was doing the words 'tribesmen', 'harlot', and 'swiss cheese' came up all in their views of this. You'll get attention, both good and bad. I've even got it to the point where it seemed like I was having to debate with a fellow Christian on if this whole gauging experience is right or wrong and how my [or any] mother probably doesn't want her child "mangling" her body. It's okay though. I'm not doing any of this out of defiance or out of spite. I'm not doing this to curse or mock God. Throughout all of this, I'm trying to keep my heart and my motives pure. And if you're doing that, the criticism will be there, but you can know in your heart where it is you stand and be right with yourself and try to show others that as well.
So, to all you reading this and hoping to start stretching, like we all say, go for it. It's a wonderful journey and though it might be painful at times, it's worth it. Just do it wisely. I've been fortunate in being able to maintain a somewhat good level of patience and also because my whole process has been fairly easy...Let's just hope I get some better lubricant soon.