I got my ears pierced two Christmases ago (I was 13), with a gun, at the Pickering Town Centre. They were these cute little diamond studs. The initial pain wasn't so bad, it was much tamer than I'd expected, really. I'd sworn to myself (And my parents) that I wouldn't stretch them out. But, well, things change.
At A Glance Author anonymous When A month ago Studio The Mall! Location Pickering For my birthday in April my mum bought me a pair of fake talons. The posts themselves were a 14 gauge. It was my first stretch! However, I'd promised my parents I would be a good girl and keep 'em at an 18. I fell in love with the look of these talons though. They were gorgeous! I loved the way the steel stood out against my skin. I decided, right then and there, that I would one day reach a 0.
So I pestered, and I pestered, and I pestered... and for my 15th birthday I got a pair of 10 g omega earrings (NO o-rings!) from Spencer's. I stretched 'em out at home using only those and some Germolene (A British antiseptic akin to polysporin). It took me around 40 minutes to get them through. I had to kind of massage and wiggle them through.. They hurt! I'd skipped quite a few gauges.. I don't recommend it. The pain alone wasn't worth it. My ears were so sore, I could hardly sleep on them at night. They were hot and puffy. My right ear even started to ooze! I'd got an infection! Naturally, being the neophyte I was, I covered my ear in Germolene. That night when I was in bed, it fell out. I haven't seen it since! (Which is a shame, really. They were lovely earrings. I'd have liked to keep them for my second holes.) Despite my rocky start, I was hooked.
I immediately went out to replace the earrings I'd lost and bought a nice pair of 8 gauge steel pincers. They were neat, they had these notches kind of carved out of them. Unfortunately I always managed to get the O-ring caught in it, but that's beside the point. They went in quite smoothly. Actually, I pushed them through on my way to a concert! The O-rings ensured that they didn't fall out. :D (I wasn't going to repeat my mistake with the omega earrings!)
An 8 g soon proved to be inadequate. I went to the dollar store (Yes, the dollar store! They have acrylic spacers for $2.00 each! They've also got lovely steel plugs) and bought a pair of 6 g lovely sky blue marbled acrylic pincers. Again, they went in quite smoothly, there was no hassle. These felt a bit more snug than the previous stretches, but at larger gauges, that happens!
I wore those for a LONG time... until I found a pair of 2 g black talons. They immediately went in! I had to massage them through again with Germolene. These took around an hour to do. I wiggled them back and forth while pushing them through, stopping every few minutes to massage the back of my ear. Needless to say I had a hard time with those. To make matters worse, I lost the O ring off the back and had to wear an elastic band around it, pushed right up against the back of my ear so the talon wouldn't push out. It was uncomfortable. A) my ears were THROBBING B) The elastic band and O ring were very tight on my ear. (Apparently I've got "fat earlobes". My piercer also told me that my ears were asymmetrical!).
Same story with the 2g. I was there for a long time -- around 6 months. I had my heart set at a 0. Despite the amount of jewellery I'd bought for my comfortable 2g holes, I was dead set on finishing up at a 0. I figured I could bounce back between the two easily, seeing as I'd got tapers. Anyways, I finally bought a pair of black acrylic talons, around 2 months ago. I'm very happy with my stretched holes.
Now, my dear friend Robin has given me 2 pairs of fancy organic earrings. However, they are a 00. I've been debating whether to stretch up to it or not! I don't have any 00 tapers, however... But that is easily changed.
It took me around 2 years to go from a fresh 18 g piercing to a 0. I think this is MORE than realistic, especially compared to the stories I've read like "I went from a 16 to a 00 in 8 hours!!". I recommend you go slowly. It's not worth risking ripping your ear. Think about it -- a few weeks more, or keloids! I know which way I'd rather go. :)
Oh yeah, don't use Germolene if you don't have O-rings.