Need info

[TonyxMAE]

So i've been thinking about stretching for a while. One question i have is, is there anyway i can stretch without using tapers? i just simply dont like the way the look.
and what would be a good gauge to start at from a normal piercing?

[Acacia]

The tapers are not to be worn as jewellery- you only use them to slide through and then immediately following that, you put a plug in.

[Drrob]

What I do or are doing is have my piercer do my gauging up for me, he uses tapers and I supply the tunnel/plug.
Doing it this way when you are starting out makes sense to me as if you are doing it yourself and you feel pain you will stop.

I also started with an initial 4mm / 6 Gauge Cannula Needle piercing as I had not had been pierced before.

The above is all dependent if you have a local piercer who can do stretching and that you trust him to do it correctly and safely.
These are really important as some think they can but maybe give bad advice and stretch you quicker without allowing the tissue to heal inside the hole.

In the end the decision is yours and yours alone.

I hope this is of interest.

Regards
Dr Rob.

[HiMyNameIsMegan]

You just stretch with tapers you dont wear them as jewelerry. You replace the taper with the same size of plug preferably stainless steel or something that won't cause problems!

[Acacia]

If you want to stretch with something you leave in the ear, try cresents or spirals- preferably in glass, steel or titanium.

[TonyxMAE]

I know they're used for the stretching, i just wanted to know if there was anything i could use to substitute it.
Any other info on what size to start on?
Thanks everyone.

[loiselisabeth]

I stretched with spirals and pinchers Tapers are not a very good idea because the weight is uneven and they are uncomfortable to wear.

A good size to start is 14g.

[TonyxMAE]

Ok. Thanks for all the information everyone.

[Acacia]

So far I have never used a taper, I have used pinchers/cresents and spirals in glass or steel. And I want to try taping next when I get to a big enough size.

[WindowLicker]

As for what size to start at it depends on what size you want to reach. If you don't know exactly it helps to at least have a general idea. When I first got my ears pierced I knew right off the bat I'd want my lobes stretched to 00g, so I pierced at an 8g. If you know for a fact you wanna go up to a larger size but they don't have a needle for that size, use the biggest one they've got, trust me the size doesn't make it hurt any more or less. I didn't even feel it when they put the needle through my ears. If however, you know you don't wanna go very big (smaller than 00g) just pierce at the size you want to be at.