Question

[MeggieKakez]

Alright c: Well today I finally got taper's.
Though I can't seem to push them in far enough to put the little black rings on to keep them in.
I could put 16g in my ear before, and it didn't hurt really, but the taper's I got are 14g-8g

My ear's are a bit red and sore, but I was wondering should I proceed (there is resistance and it hurts)

Also what lube's work? I have carmex(which eveyone says here is vaseline) and baby oil, which says for EXTERNAL use only.

Any help I can get you guys?

[Deano]

First things first, you shouldn't make a habit of wearing tapers, as they are tools made for stretching body piercings and immediately replaced by jewelry.

Secondly, when did you pierce your ears or stretch to 16g? If your ears are red and sore after trying to stretch, you need to back off and put your 16g back in, because your ears are not ready.

Thirdly, Try to stay away from petroleum based products for lube. I use vitamin E oil, but others have used KY Jelly with great success.

[Jingle Bells]

Hi

I'm a newby to this as well but doing my research it did say to take it real slow so not to damage the tissue, as this would make future stretching a litttle more difficult. I use KY Jelly as it is water based only and Vasaline is not really a good prduct to use.

Go slow and it will pay off .....don't force the tapper.....nothing worse than having sore ear lobes that look red and angry.

Good luck

Jingle Bells.

[Jezzz549]

Why not use tapers as jewlery? I can possibly understand not to wear them over night in bed but hmm.. It's probably just a scam to get you to buy more jewlery

[corazon_de_oro]

The tapers you're trying to use right now are 8G? Or do you mean they come in a set from 14G-8G? If you're trying to go directly to 8G, there's your problem. If you just can't get the 14G in, wait longer. How long have you had the piercings/how long have you been at 16G? If it hurts, you're not ready to stretch.

Also, I'd recommend a lubricant that's good for your skin, like vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, or emu oil. Vaseline will lubricate, but it'll just sit on top of skin and act as a breeding ground for bacteria, and baby oil is loaded with fragrance and stuff that you don't really want in a new stretch.

[shellbournian]

Why not use tapers as jewlery? I can possibly understand not to wear them over night in bed but hmm.. It's probably just a scam to get you to buy more jewlery

because tapers are tools and not jewelry. if you wear them as jewelry, you'll end up with uneven stretches at larger sizes (you ever see people with their ear lobes sticking out sideways? that.)

also, speaking from personal experience, when I was at 8, I wore some acrylic tapers for a couple of days (as TERRIBLE as they looked) and one day during class, I was playing with one, broke it, in my ear, blood all over my desk, had to excuse myself to the bathroom to pull a shard of plastic out of my ear. good times. not really.

[Jezzz549]

Thanks shellbournian.

Yeah I thought somthing like that actually but I was abit like annoyed aha but after seeing this comment I downsized to a tunnel then bought the next size tunnel but it is acrylic too?.. Do you recon acrylic is ok for sleeping in cos in the day I do twizle it so that it doesn't grow into it. Obviously I can't do that at night though.

Haha ouch, yeah I only just realised they were abit flexible.

[corazon_de_oro]

Twisting jewelry does more harm than good; it's a myth created by Claire's and other crappy places that the jewelry will fuse to your ears (or whatever they say) if you don't turn it. All moving the jewelry around does is disrupt healing tissue and introduce bacteria from your hands into the piercing.

Anyway, acrylic isn't the best thing for a fresh stretch, so try to get some metal or glass if you can. As long as you don't leave it in for a super long time you should be fine, though.

[Jezzz549]

Twisting jewelry does more harm than good; it's a myth created by Claire's and other crappy places that the jewelry will fuse to your ears (or whatever they say) if you don't turn it. All moving the jewelry around does is disrupt healing tissue and introduce bacteria from your hands into the piercing.

Anyway, acrylic isn't the best thing for a fresh stretch, so try to get some metal or glass if you can. As long as you don't leave it in for a super long time you should be fine, though.

Oh right, Claire's? Not Claire's accessories you're talking about? haha.
I think it was definetly on a youtube video and maybe somthing i read that acrylic and wood is quite porous so acrylic is better for fresh stretches than wood but it can still like 'grow in to it' if you don't twist. Yep that's a good point.

I'm thinking of getting some next stretch yep.