In advance, I apologize for this lengthy post.
I had my ears pierced since I was a baby. I had my mind set on stretching my ears for awhile now. I decided to buy a kit online from body jewelry source. bodyjewelrysource.com/body-jewelry/ear-gauge-sets-kits/ear-stretching-kit.html. So I started from a 16g regular piercing to a 14g. I have had my 14g done for almost a month now.
Now for my questions:
1. I have been wearing my 14g taper since the first day I stretched, only removing them to clean my ears. I've seen on here that you shouldn't leave your taper in. Does this mean only for larger sizes? Or should I not be wearing my taper? My ears seem completely healthy, never giving me discomfort. If I am not supposed to be wearing my taper, what should I be wearing? I cannot find plugs that are 14g.
2. My tapers are acrylic. Is this okay?
3. How long should I wait to size up to a 12g? I've heard a month, I've heard two, I've heard three, etc. My ears seem to be completely healed, but then again it's hard to tell since the hole is still so small.
4. Are you supposed to COMPLETELY remove the taper/plug in order to clean your ears the next day or next few days after stretching? I feel as if the constant taking in and out of the taper would cause scar tissue, but also I feel as if I don't remove them completely I am not properly cleaning them.
5. Because I removed my tapers for cleaning, my ears bled once they were removed for the first few days after stretching. I started with the smallest size I could, so I wasn't sure what was causing this?
6. I've been cleaning my ears/tapers everyday with Dial foaming anti-bacterial soap. Also, I've been using this bodyjewelrysource.com/piercing-supplies-kits/sanitary-supplies/holey-butt-r.html when I stretched to my 14g and sometimes after I clean them. Should I just use Vitamin E oil?
Sorry for all the questions. But I've heard multiple things from SO many of my friends who have stretched ears.
Thanks