Hmmmmm. Question time again. 6mm-7mm stretch?

[Big Chicken]

Hello,

A couple of weeks ago I stretched my right lobe from 5mm to 6mm (which I believe is 4g to 2g).

I'm going to let it setle down for a few more weeks, but I'm researching my next stretch. Seems to be (in the UK?) that there isn't really a 7mm size? It seems to jump from 6mm/2g to 8mm/0g.

When I've stretched before, I've done it in the shower and got my ear nice and warm and used a bit of soap to push the taper and then jewellery in. So far, so good, but these have only been for 1mm increases.

Obviously the next size looks like a 2mm increase.

I found this on a website:

"Larger gauge piercings are stretched gradually to a larger size, one size at a time with a minimum of about 3-4 weeks in between each stretch upwards.

To use the stretching taper, you will need to lubricate it (substances such as Savlon, Liquid Soap, Vitamin-E oil are recommended) and push it slowly through your piercing.

Once you have stretched up, these tapers can be left in your stretched piercing and worn as jewellery, making the whole process easy and fuss-free!"

Can I just slowly push the taper through my lobe as I have been??

2mm increases seems scary!!

[corazon_de_oro]

I'm not sure what website you found that from but it's all incorrect. :/

You should never wear tapers, and definitely NEVER push them through gradually; think about the shape of the taper. The back of the hole will most likely tighten up around the smaller part of the taper and it will mess up the stretch big time.

I got my 7mm jewelry from Glasswear Studios (http://www.glasswearstudios.com/), but they also have a good (and cheaper) selection at Crazy Factory (http://www.crazy-factory.com/). Body Jewellery Shop also has a few things in 7mm.

If you wait long enough you'll probably be able to dead stretch. The 6mm-7mm dead stretch was the easiest stretch I've ever done.

[joniponi]

you should not use tapers after 6g, i would go for bondage tape or plumbers tape.

[ast.riske]

I'm half with Joni. I would say it might be wise to avoid tapers for stretches greater than 1mm, but for a 2mm stretch? Ptfe tape might be better. On the other hand, if you go to a 1g like corazon is suggesting, you may want to tape up anyway since you may not be comfortable doing a dead stretch.

Personally, I wait until my ears are loose enough to dead stretch comfortably and just use a taper to guide the jewelry in. It takes a bit longer that way, but waiting extra never hurt anyone. ; )

[Big Chicken]

I see I see. Hmmm. Taping?! Ha ha. Ok. So I've just read about getting some tape, wraping it 3/times around a non-flared plug, lubing it up, and sliding it un. Then repeat after 4 days or so until at desired size. Am I on the right lines? I have some black electrical tape that may be ok... otherwise I may need to order some in.

So, once out of the 'smaller' sizes, is taping the best way to go as opposed to buying bigger and bigger tapers?? I hadn't realised that. I just thought you could buy larger tapers!! I kinda new you shouldn't wear them as jewellery. There is a lot of conflicting advice around!!

Oo - whilst I am at it... I don't really have a goal size. I originally said I would never stretch bigger than 3mm... ha ha. Now at 6mm. Did anyone else do this I guess I'm not gonna go too much bigger though. Maybe 00.

[ast.riske]

Eek, electrical tape is no good for piercings. You don't want to use anything that is porous or has adhesives on it. Plumbers tape is what I use, which is also known as ptfe tape or teflon tape. You can also use bondage tape, which can be found at your local adult store.

I got my plumbers tape from walmart for 1usd for a package of two rolls. It can also be purchased at a hardware store. : )

[Big Chicken]

cool. Cheers. Thanks for the info. I best put the electrical tape back! Will pop to the local adult store (not that I would know where one of those is) or hardware store tomorrow.

Cheers folks - will keep you posted.

This stretching malarky is more complicated than I thought.

Cool beans.

[corazon_de_oro]

There's nothing wrong with USING tapers, as long as you don't wear them. If you put in a pair of single-flare/no-flare plugs afterward it's a perfectly safe way to stretch as long as you're not forcing anything.

If you're gonna tape, definitely use plumber's tape... it's only like 97 cents for a roll. Plus it's way thinner than bondage tape so you can go more gradually.

[RADCAZ]

I'm Sure They'll All get Mad At Me
But Seriously Dude... I Stretched With Tapers All The Way To 00g It Really Doesn't Matter, But The 2g To 0g Is A Big Jump For Everyone. I Suggest You Wrap A Couple Of Layers Of Tape Around Your 2g Taper So As To Fashion A 1g Taper Worked Wonders for me
(No Hate Just An Option He Has)

[ast.riske]

That's really not a bad idea, radcaz. I hadn't thought of that at all. Possibly a better way to get a 1g plug in. : )