At A Glance
Author	TOFU
Contact	TOFU@bme.anon
When	Three months ago
Artist	Myself
Studio	La Toilet Room
Location	G-TOWN

DUDE. Yes, I am currently happy with my slight modification. I have been wanting to do something dealing with piercings/stretching for the longest. I asked my Mother but she took it as a joke. Since I am Nigerian my Dad was like, "ARGH! I left my country so my kids wouldn't do such things to their body." I totally understand, I was born in the US so I don't have much of a connection to Nigeria ( Lagos in particular ). The only connection I have is to its music and kinda sorta the culture. My Dad tells me stories of his hardships and the crazy stuff he's seen. But whatever, I like stretched lobes and almost anything stretched.

The only problem I had was buying the materials. I had Neosporin and that was it. I couldn't get ahold of any money without asking my parents who are stingy when it comes to giving. So I went out and got myself a JOB! I worked with my sister which was alright because I just fit right in. HOORAH. So with my first paycheck I went to EVERY SINGLE TATTOO/PIERCING PARLOR in Savannah. None of them just straight up sold tapering kits or they didn't have a piercer on staff. Kooky. So I just went to Hot Topic. Yes. I became friends with most of the staff there and they told me about stretching. Some were totally off and some weren't. And I have been doing my research for a year and some months before actually going. I felt like I knew way more than what they said to me. Finally. I bought clear tapers at a 14ga. Since I work I didn't want anything TOO extravagant. They were little but I didn't care, progress was something.

18GA - 14GA
I was HYPER excited even though it was a little stretch. I had gone shopping madly and came home with a lot of stuff. So I rested for a couple of hours and waited for my parents to go to sleep. So they did, and I was hyped. I set up a mini stretching station in my bathroom. I had a folded paper towel, Neosporin, warm water, cleaning paper towel, and my tapers. I lost one then I found it. First, I soaked one lobe in a mug of warm water. I have pretty big lobes so I didn't have to break my neck. After about a minute or two and lubed up my ear with Neosporin. The I prepared the taper. It slid it till the end. It wasn't horrible to push it through either. My right ear though is a lame-wad so I didn't get it in all the way. YAY. I'm at a 14ga. I wore these for about 2 weeks because I got paid every 2 weeks.

14GA - 12GA
This time I was being a bitch so I went on a bought the correct size for my next stretch. My lobes are already stretchy as is so I could have gone bigger. But I didn't for safety precautions because I just started stretching. I bought these neat hanging style spirals from Hot Topic. It was in the morning and I took a nice warm shower. I was looking at my tiny holes with glee. So I went in my room and got out my 12ga spirals. I didn't even lube up and they slid in. Big lobes for some means easier stretches. I wore these for 3 weeks this time.12GA - 10GA
At Hot Topic they didn't have any cool tapers or pincers. So I bought a plain 10GA pincer that came with plugs. When I got home I instantly went to put them in. My sister watched this time too. She wasn't at work for a change. So I lubed the pincers and the slid in considerably smoothly. My right ear was still tough to stretch but it went through. I was finally at a 10GA and my holes could show that. Now I'm going for the gold. I had these for 2 and a 1/2 weeks.

10GA - 8GA
I went to the mall by myself and bought 2 pairs for tapers. I bough the regular pincers with plugs and then I spazzed out and bought these gorgeous blue spirals. They were huge when I first saw them. When I arrived home I went to try the spirals, since they were pretty. They wouldn't go through. I was pouty but oh well. I put in the pincers and felt grand. They were boring and my right ear was still recovering. I had been doing a sea salt soak to help. And it did for the time being. My ears itched a little afterwards because moisture was still there. About 5 days later I went to put in the spirals before my sister came home. We were going to the Humane Shelter, I remember. So she was ready to go. I gently lubed up and started to slid the spiral in my left ear. It was different. It felt cold and just weird. But they went in. My sister watched me put the right one in. They were REALLY heavy. I didn't turn my head as fast nor did I run. YAY. I'm currently a 8GA!

So basically. Trust how your body feels. Cleaning for jewelry will help recovery and all around taking care of your ears! my lobes don't get dirty as much as my friend. He at a 1" now. And I got his girlfriend, who is my BEST friend to stretch her ears. I let her have my old spirals and pincers. After I cleaned them...dur. I want to get to either 7/16 or 9/16. I get a lot of people asking me about my ears. And how heavy they look. I like the dangling, sagging lobe look. HOORAH FOR STRETCHING!

-TOFU @ myspace.com/indieporn Only if you want more info or a visual. Whatever.