Earstretching.net

Hi All,
I have been reading up on stretching online, and am trying to figure out the best way to begin. I have a helix piercing that was done maybe 12 years ago or more with a gun. I believe it is a 20 or 22-gauge piercing. I would like to stretch it just large enough that I can put a ring with a ball in it. Most of the rings I see online that I like are either 14 or 16-gauge. Right now I just have a crappy ring from Claire's in it that I almost bent just putting it in (it's the kind with the thin wire that you pull out and then push back in to the end of the ring).

So I guess my questions are:

1) Is it okay to stretch a helix piercing, or is stretching mainly just for lobe piercing?

2) If I am starting from a 20-gauge piercing, what is the best method for stretching? I like the idea of using a talon to gradually stretch it, but cannot seem to find one that starts at a small enough gauge.

I definitely appreciate any advice, as you can tell from my questions I am a total noob when it comes to this stuff.

the jewelry you're referring to is called a captive bead ring or CBR. if you go to a professional piercer, you can get a CBR with the initial piercing.

I recommend going that route if its the look you're going for. stretching cartilage from 20-14 just to wear a CBR will be a really long (think months upon months and months) and annoying process considering you can just get it pierced like that in two seconds. probably cheaper, too.

Stretching cartilage is not advised, but a lot of people do it anyway. There isn't going to be any 'slack' in the cartilage and you can really hurt yourself if you don't know what you are doing.
I would advise you to go to a professional body piercer and tell them you want to put a captive bead ring in your helix, many shops do carry them in 20G and 18G. They will be able to help you out and can taper it for you if needed. Just keep in mind that cartilage takes much longer to heal than earlobes, you are going to have to keep it clean and sea salt soaks are a must for cartilage.

Cartilage piercings can be hard to stretch, which is why a lot of people recommend simply getting pierced or dermal punched to your goal size for them.
You could always just take the piercing you have in now out, and then get re-pierced at your goal size.

The local piercing shop we have here has CBR's up to like 2g sizes, and if yours doesn't stock them you can always order them online.

Also, note that cartilage piercings can also take a lot longer to heal than your regular piercings. I have double helixes, one I've had about 4 months, the other 3. They still hurt to sleep on T_T

~Zack

You should be able to find 20g captives. If you actually want a larger piercing, then buy a very long, high quality 18g metal taper and a nice 18g captive. If you have any type of 20ish gauge jewelry that's always felt larger to you, but is still comfortable to wear, then put it in and keep it in for at least a few months before trying to stretch, it may help a little. If an 18g lubed taper won't easily slide in after a hot shower, you're better off getting pierced at a larger size.

Cartilage is fragile, it can't be safely stretched more than one size every year or two, perhaps more. Gunned cartilage is even harder, it needs more time since it's usually more damaged than a needled piercing. Teflon taping is a much better idea with cartilage, but it's still very difficult at small sizes. After 12 years your cartilage can probably take being stretched one size. But all the same rules apply. If it hurts, stop. Get repierced, or try again next year.

If you've had it done for such a long time (although being done with a gun will probably make stretching a lot harder) you might be able to put 18G in fairly easily. Just give it a try with lots of oil/lube after a shower, and don't force it if it hurts. I agree that if you want 14G you could just get re-pierced at that size, but get it done with a straight barbell or labret stud at first instead of a ring. Rings move around too much and can prolong healing, and helix piercings usually take ages to heal anyway!