How long can you leave your gauges out?

There is no steadfast rule on when it is a good idea to start allowing your lobes to relax. We personally believe that at ANY size it is beneficial to leave your plugs out for at least a little while, and that at any size larger than 2 gauge (1/4”) anyone should be able to leave their jewelry out overnight.

How long can you keep gauges out?

After a stretch, still take them out for an hour or two per day and massage / re lubricate your lobes and plugs. After a week has gone by you should be fine to leave them out overnight. If the jewelry won't go back in easily overnight, your stretching too fast.

Will my stretched ears close overnight?

Because your ear lobes have healed around the tunnel, plug, or taper you used to stretch the ear, your ears will never completely close. Keep in mind that your best expectation is to shrink the size of the holes. If you experienced tearing, infections, or blowouts, your ears may not shrink as much.

How often should I take my gauges out?

It's usually recommended that you go up one gauge at a time (expressed in measurements of 2) when moving to a larger piece of jewelry to avoid developing a blowout. Many people also recommend waiting 4 to 6 weeks before increasing sizes. The amount of time you need to wait may increase as your jewelry becomes larger.

At what size will gauges not close?

There are a lot of different opinions on this topic, but the majority of professionals in the body modification industry recommend never going any larger than 2 - 0 gauge if you want your ears to totally close up where you can't see through them.

How I Closed My Stretched Ears

Is 0g to 00g a big jump?

The half size between 0g and 00g is 9mm and is occasionally called 00g. Forcing a stretch too big or too soon will result in a ripped ear lobe. Even if the lobe is not visibly bleeding, micro-tears on the inside of the lobe occur.

Should I take my gauges out to shower?

Maintaining Ear Gauges. Remove your jewelry when you shower. Once your piercings are fully healed (after 12 weeks), you should remove your jewelry when you shower. This is the most effective way to clean both your piercings and your jewelry.

What's the point of no return for gauges?

In North America, most stretching methods go up by a single even-sized gauge increment at a time. 0g (8 mm), is generally considered to be "the point of no return": a hole larger than this size will rarely close to a standard piercing size.

What does a blowout look like ear?

The development of a blowout causes a ring of skin to form behind the piercing. This ring is usually red, irritated, and painful. A blowout may give the piercing the appearance of turning inside out.

What do stretched ears symbolize?

History has shown us that ear stretching was initially used to show that an individual belonged to a group or a tribe. It was accepted by the group and they were marked as being "one of us". When someone did not have stretched ears they were considered to be an outsider or someone who did not belong to the tribe.

Can I leave my gauges out for a day?

There is no steadfast rule on when it is a good idea to start allowing your lobes to relax. We personally believe that at ANY size it is beneficial to leave your plugs out for at least a little while, and that at any size larger than 2 gauge (1/4”) anyone should be able to leave their jewelry out overnight.

Should you take gauges out to sleep?

If you find they start loosening up too much in the future and you don't want to upsize, taking them out at night will help keep them at your goal size.

Can you join the military with gauges?

Soldiers are prohibited from willfully mutilating the body or any body parts in any manner, including tongue bifurcation (splitting of the tongue), or ear gauging (enlarging holes in the ear lobes greater than 1.6 mm). Also, stricter guidelines regulate hair cuts for both male and female Soldiers.

Can gauges shrink overnight?

The only way to start shrinking your ears is to take your plugs out. Your jewelry is keeping your ear stretched to a certain size - if you don't remove it, it will never shrink. Start by removing your plugs for a week and seeing how small they shrink in that time.

What is the hardest stretch?

Why are my stretched ears so itchy?

Blowouts are formed when you stretch the ear too quickly. The inner ring of skin around the piercing will become red and irritated, and potentially even lumpy. It will most likely be itchy or painful, and you may also experience an infection.

How do you make sizing up gauges less painful?

To prepare your ears for stretching, apply a warm compress to the piercing for several minutes in order to ease up the tissue and make the stretch easier. Then, wash the area, rinse well and pat dry. Once you're ready for the stretch, apply oil around the perimeter of your piercing.

How do you tell if your gauges are infected?

Is 00g the point of no return?

Most professionals would say that size 0g (8mm) to 00g (10mm) is the absolute point of no return. But, to be on the safe side most would recommend staying under 2g because at this point most people can shrink their ears back.

Can your ears go back to normal after 0g?

Decide On A Stopping Point

Most people can go between 2g (6mm) – 00g (10mm) and expect their ears to revert back to a normal piercing, after a few months of healing. If you don't want stretched ears forever, be sure to stretch slowly and never skip sizes.

Do ear gauges close?

Almost any hole in the ear eventually doesn't close. When you say 'gauges,' I assume you mean people trying to extend the hole to be super large. And so, even simple earring holes -- I know they are much less dramatic -- already for most people they don't close over time.

Can you sleep with gauges in your ears?

Generally speaking, sleeping with earplugs is considered safe to use here and there.

How long does it take for stretched ears to close?

Once it fits properly, go down another size until you reach the smallest gauge. Once you reach this point, your hole should be able to close on its own. This entire process usually takes at least 2 months. You can also help your ears along the road to healing by cleaning and massaging them with oils and moisturizers.

How long should I keep my tapers in before putting in plugs?

If you have recently stretched your ears you should wait around four to eight weeks before trying to wear double flared plugs. To insert double flared plugs you'll be using the “button up” method, where you'll be inserting them the same way you would thread a button – at an angle, to get the edge in first.