Hi, my name is Joshua. I'm 21 and live in Charleston West Virginia. I have had my Labret and eyebrow at 14 gauge, and retired both. Currently a septum at 14 heading to 10. And why I'am writting my lobes that are at 1 1/8th inch and stretching to 1 1/4th. I had my ears gunned in the mall as a lad. (I was in elementary and knew not of the professional!) In High school my girlfriend had multiple piercings and a 2 gauge nail from Hot topic in each ear. Didn't like'm at first, but they grew on me. I was a "wyte boi" at the time with fake diamond earrings at 16 gauge. She gave me a 14 gauge barbell to start and it was all down hill from there.
At A Glance Author MLAS Contact MLAS@bme.anon When A month ago Artist ME Studio Kitchen Location right outside Charleston West Virginia I started using captive rings and tapers untill around 6 gauge, and used plugs and tapers untill about 5/8th. I like the "spool" or screw fit tunnels. At 5/8th, My hot topic at the time stopped jewelry at that size. Well, I went out of state and found tapers and plugs up to one inch. YEAH. Used electrical tape on the plugs at times only cause I'am 6'2 and weigh about 300 pounds. I have thicker lobes than most. So a little tape on the plugs over time and I was good. Got to One inch and thought I was done. My one inch metal screw fit tunnels started to fall out. So I wrapped them with tape for around 2 1/2 weeks and ordered 1 1/8th bamboo plugs from BAF. Now I want to go to 1 1/4th so that I have more jewelry options since 1 1/8th is kinda like a middle size. So I have began wrapping my bamboo plugs and have ordered 1 1/4th screw fit aluminum tunnels through Anotherhole.com.
One more thing is that you should stretch slowley. I don't care what anyone says! I have had blowouts just going from 7/8th to one inch ONE SIZE! 00 to 7/16th was a hard one. Also the stretch from 4 to 2. I have blow outs on both ears and it makes it very hard to find plugs that fir well. I have bought Double flared and normally my ears overlap both sides. Screw fit tunnels overlap in the back, but not a whole lot. The bamboo plugs I have now fit just right, and there is no room for the O-rings. So normally every morning I wake up and one of them is missing and I have to spend a couple minutes lubing and re inserting. But in general, the best rule is to listen to your body. No one but you can know when to and how far to stretch. I wish that I had known what I know now when I started stretching. I spent around 6 monthes or so to get to 1/2 inch, and thats when I got the other ear pierced. Both were up to one inch about June of 06. And went to 1 1/8th about April.
Also another tip is if you can't afford plugs all the time. Just get the tapers. And my Redneck side of plugs. Go to Lowes and in the Lumber section they have long poles in many sizes. Get the ones that fit your size. They normally are couple bucks, and you can make many pairs of the same size. Which is good if you need custum ones like I need sometimes. Get a saw and cut what you need for a plug. The wrap one layer of electrical tape around the wood. Cause if you don't, your piercing will grow into the grain and IT WILL HURT trying to get the plugs out. But that is what I did with 1 1/8th untill I got my bamboo plugs ordered and recieved. It isn't the best means, but My local professional piercer that has done all of my piercings, had his ears at around 3 1/2 inches. And he said he used the tape wrapping method. And the wood cylenders from Lowes is my own hillbilly rigging.
In West Virginia, the piercing tattooed community is alive, but not organized and kinda underground. No conventions or shows, a few shops and outside navels and eyebrows not many pierced. I enjoy the questions that I'am asked, And enjoy talking to parents who think that thier son or daughter wanting a piercing will lead to drugs and gangs (for some reason) I work in a hot kitchen for my money, and have obtained everything I have on my own. I try to show that pierced and tattooed are productive members of society that are like everyone else, just more thought full and determined on looking the way they feel, no matter what others think.
If you want to go for something, don't let people or religon stop you. I have crosses tattooed and the letters MLAS on my hand which means My Lord And Saviour. The piercings and tattoos stay in the grave, but your spirits leave un changed by what we do to our bodies. Anyways, I love how BME have set this site up. It is a great informative site, something that is lacking in my area.