How quickly can I gauge my ears?
Noah Mitchell
Published May 11, 2026
Besides, what happens if you gauge your ears too fast?
A “blow out” happens when you stretch your ear too fast and scar tissue builds up in the hole. This can result in permanent scarring. Stretching too quickly can tear your ear tissue in half or cause earlobe skin to detach and hang from your head.
Also, why do gauges stink? The reason your ear gauges smell bad is because they're sitting in your ear. Your skin sheds almost every hour on the hour and all of those dead skin cells are left sitting on the gauge. Thus the stinky smell. To prevent this, a strict cleaning regiment is needed.
Additionally, how do I know my ear gauge size?
Standard ear piercings are usually pierced at 20g or 18g. Gauge sizes go up (or down, depending on how you look at it) in even numbers from there, so the next largest size from an 18g is 16g, then 14g, then 12g, and so on. When you get to 0g, the next size is 00g (pronounced “double zero gauge").
Can I leave tapers in overnight?
Repeat until you get the taper all the way in. Leave it for at least a couple of hours, ideally overnight. Later or in the morning, keep pushing the taper out and insert your sterilized plug with your clean hands.
Related Question Answers
What size gauge will shrink back?
Most professionals in the piercing world suggest going no larger than a 0 gauge, preferably a 2 gauge, if you want your ears to shrink back to standard size. If you stop at this point, you should have no problem with your ears shrinking back.Can you sleep with gauges in your ears?
I recommend you sleep with your plugs in your ears. Sleeping without them can cause irritation, dryness, and cracking. (This could just be my preference.) Once your ears completely heal, purchase a pair of wood plugs.Can you use Vaseline to gauge your ears?
Stretching ProcessThe first thing you will need is a lubricant to use on your taper. Lubricant will make the taper super slick, so it will slide through super easy. Lubricants make a stretch easier. (Neosporin and Vaseline are not good lubes for ear stretching).
Why are my gauges crusty?
If you just had your body pierced and you start to notice a crusty material around the piercing site, don't worry. Crusting after body piercing is perfectly normal—this is just the result of your body trying to heal itself. 1? Dead blood cells and plasma make their way to the surface and then dry when exposed to air.Are wood plugs bad for your ears?
Wood is not an appropriate material to stretch ears with. Wood plugs should only be worn in completely healed ear lobes or piercings. Trust us, it is worth the wait. Wood is a porous material and it can harbor bacteria.How long should you leave tapers in before going up a size?
Don't leave the taper in, go back to your 5mm jewelry and wait longer. Don't force a stretch it will only cause tearing or blowouts. When I went from 5mm to 6mm, I got the half size. I dead stretched between those two sizes over a period of 6 months.How often should I stretch my ears?
Wait at least 6 weeks between gauges.It may take longer based on your own healing process. Don't touch the piercing with dirty hands to avoid introducing bacteria.
How Big Should I stretch my ears?
To get to your desired gauge size, you need to start stretching your piercing slowly – only stretch one step at a time (18g to 16g and so on). To do that you can purchase what is called a taper. This is a stretching tool that is thinner on one end and larger on the other to get up to the next gauge size.Is stinging normal when stretching ears?
Once you're happy with your stretch, slide a smaller o-ring onto the stretching taper, and stop right before the o-ring touches your skin. It's normal for your piercing to feel uncomfortable for a few days, and you might also experience throbbing pain, itching or swelling.Does Ear stretching hurt?
Is ear stretching painful? Ear stretching should not be too painful. Yes, there will be some discomfort, but your ears should not be screaming in pain. If this is so please go to your local piercer for care.Can you skip sizes when stretching ears?
No! Skipping gauge sizes is never a good idea. Doing so increases the chances that you will cause permanent damage to your ears and may even mean that you have to stop the process of ear stretching altogether as a result.How can I stretch my ears at home without tapers?
How to Stretch Ears Without Tapers- 1 Wearing Heavier Plugs to Make Ears Bigger.
- 2 Adding Larger Jewelry to Stretch Your Gauge.
- 3 Adding PTFE Tape to Your Current Plugs.
Is it bad to stretch your ears every week?
Human skin only has a certain elasticity so going too big and too fast is enough to cause ripping and tearing of your skin. It's highly recommended to wait at least a full month between each stretch and to never skip sizes so your ears will have minimal chances for long term problems.What is the most common ear gauge size?
The most common gauges for this are the 16g, 18g and 19g. Next to the Forward Helix is the Helix or the outer rim of the ear that stretches down near the earlobe. Typical earring sizes for this part of the ear are 16g, 18g, 19g and 20g.What size comes after 1 inch in ear gauges?
Convert Ear Gauge to mm and Inch| Millimeters (mm) | Inches (") |
|---|---|
| 21mm | 53/64" |
| 22mm | 7/8" |
| 24mm | 15/16" |
| 25mm | 1" |
What is the smallest gauge size?
Gauge to Millimeters Conversion| Gauge | Inches | Millimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 18G | .040" | 1.0mm |
| 16G | .050" | 1.2mm |
| 14G | .064" | 1.6mm |
| 12G | .082" | 2.0mm |
