TAPERS

[joniponi]

I just can't understand the "rule" that you mustn't wear tapers as jewelry, and they should be more like tools or something... I still wear them as jewelry because i don't want to spend too much money on tapers and plugs GÖadlshnb töl<gjnkdspjm?!?!?!?

[StrickyCub]

The main issue with the whole tapers thing is, once you hit about the 6g ish size, they start to get really long and heavy, which can cause them to get knocked on things, pulled, ripped etc which can cause damage to your freshly stretched lobes.
They can also stretch unevenly because they "hang".
Personally I used tapers as jewellery up until 10g, at which point I have "non taper" jewellery for each size.

[corazon_de_oro]

They move around too much and can weigh down your ear, especially if they're made out of steel (and if they're acrylic you shouldn't wear them in a fresh stretch anyway). They also put too much pressure on the fistula which can lead to a blowout even if your ears were ready to stretch. There are worse things you can do than wear tapers as jewelry, especially at smaller sizes, but it's still not the best idea. Bodyartforms.com has some really cheap steel taper/plug sets; I think all sizes are only like $5 for one taper and one set of plugs.

[joniponi]

okay, i see the point, but i have worn acrylic tapers from 14g to 00g so yeah nothing bad has happened except the smelly stuff after those i have worn silicone tunnels which are pretty easy to put in :p