by corazon_de_oro » Mon May 03, 2010 2:14 am
First of all, guns really aren't suitable for piercings; getting your lobes pierced with one may have created scar tissue that will make it hard to stretch.
That being said, most "standard" earrings are 20-18G, meaning you should start at about 16G. Some people who've had lobe piercings for a while find they've stretched over time and can fit bigger jewelry in. If you had no problem fitting the 12G in one lobe that's fine, but don't force it into your other lobe. You may need to start at 16G or even 18G on that side.
As for your whole stretching journey, here's my advice: Wait 6 weeks or more between every size, massage your lobes with an oil like emu, vitamin E, jojoba, etc., don't skip any sizes, and don't wear tapers. If you stretch slowly enough you shouldn't be creating wounds that you need to "clean," but you can clean your jewelry with antibacterial soap and water.
I'm Lindsay.
I have 1/2" lobes and 11 piercings: left helix x2, both conches, both nostrils, septum, navel, and VCH.
My lobes are small but I know a lot about stretching and how to do it safely, so message me if you have any questions!