Body Jewelry Plugs Tips

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How do I begin the gauging process?

How to start stretching you earlobe

Gauging is an ear piercing method that is essentially ear stretching. Gauge refers to the diameter of your piercing. 18 - 20-gauge needles are used for standard ear piercing. The lower the gauge number of the needle, the larger the hole. Gauge sizes increase in increments of two. So if your ears were pierced with a 20-gauge needle, you would next purchase an 18-gauge ring or body jewelry ear plug to begin stretching your ear. Begin the stretching process slowly, waiting for your earlobe to heal before you step up in size. If you increase the size too fast, you could create unsightly scar tissue.

   
How long has earlobe stretching existed?

History of earlobe stretching

Earlobe stretching has existed for centuries. Ancient earlobe stretching artifacts have been found in Mexico and Asia. Ancient body jewelry plugs ranged from one centimeter to one inch in diameter. In some cultures, it is common to stretch earlobes until they reach the shoulder.

   
What is "stretching"?

Stretching

"Stretching" is a procedure by which the ear lobe is gradually enlarged so that a person may put in larger and larger ear plug jewelry. The lobe is stretched by means of a taper – a metal or acrylic device that is wider on one end. After lubricating the taper, the narrow end is inserted in the ear lobe. The entire taper is pushed through the ear lobe and then a larger ear plug is inserted. The ear lobe should be allowed to heal before the process is repeated.

   
What should I know about hardwood plug jewelry?

Hardwood body jewelry plugs

Wood plugs are hand crafted, making each piece unique. The hardwoods are from birch, maple, oak, walnut, and cherry trees, which are resilient woods. A perfect pair is nearly impossible to find since no two wood plugs are exactly alike. However, the wood's intricate grain is part of what makes wood plugs desirable.

Wood body jewelry plugs are porous, making it easier for bacteria to grow. Hardwood plug jewelry is not recommended for piercings that are still healing. It is especially important to keep wood body jewelry plugs clean and sterile.

   
What are horn and bone body jewelry plugs?

Horn and bone body jewelry plugs

A water buffalo horn is usually black and the bone is white. Horn is made from keratin, which is very different than bone, which is largely composed of the mineral calcium carbonate.

Horn and bone body plugs are hand carved into intricate shapes. Some pieces are available with inlays, such as amber or coconut wood.

   
What is an amber body jewelry plug?

Amber body jewelry plugs

Body jewelry plugs are made from many materials, including amber. Amber is a semi-translucent material that allows light to pass through it, which gives amber body jewelry plugs an ethereal quality. Some pieces of amber plug jewelry are sold with fossilized bugs in them.

   
What are body jewelry plugs made of?

Ear Plug Styles

Ear plugs come in many different styles and are made of many different things. The following are just a few different types of ear plugoptions: expander plugs, stone body jewelry plugs, wood body jewelry plugs, body jewelry glass plugs, and body jewelry flared plugs.

   
What type of plug should I use for gauging?

Use quality rings when gauging your ears

Gauging is a slow, delicate process and it's important to use high-quality rings while stretching your ear. Stainless steel rings work best because they don't absorb infection-causing bacteria and dirt. Once your ears are healed, you can choose from the wide variety of ear plug jewelry available, including stone body jewelry plugs, and wood body jewelry plugs.

   
What types of stone are used to make plug jewelry?

Stone body jewelry plugs

Stone body plugs come in many different colors and patterns. They are made either solid or hollow and can come with inlays of contrasting stone. For example, the Neolithic quartz is estimated to be 4,000 to 6,000 years old and is from the Tillemsi region of Mali. Stone body plugs come from all other the world, giving the jewelry owner an interesting conversation starter.

   
What are body jewelry plugs?

Body Jewelry Plug Definition

A Body jewelry plug is a cylinder-shaped plug that is inserted into the ear lobe for a unique body decoration statement. Don't stick a body jewelry plug into your ear canal! That may not only damage your eardrum, but people may also laugh at you.

   
How does an ear plug stay in the ear?

Ear Plug Styles

Most body jewelry ear plugs are double flared. These plugs are wide on both ends and narrow in the middle. Thus, the ear plug stays in the hole because the wide ends are wider than the ear lobe hole. Some other ear plugs have o-rings that keep the ear plug in the lobe.

   
Will my earlobe return to its original shape if I stretch it?

Earlobe stretching is permanent

The larger you stretch your earlobe, the less likely it is to return to its original shape. Though the hole will retract, it probably won't heal completely. Be sure that stretching your earlobe is something you can live with permanently before beginning the earlobe stretching process.

   
How far can I stretch my ear?

Stretching

Some ear plug jewelry can be as large as 1” in diameter, but you should do a lot of soul searching before you stretch your ear that far. It varies by person, but there is a possibility that your ear may never heal if you stretch your ear beyond ¼”.

   
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