Play it by ear. Or, rather, play with your ears.

The average ear is roughly 2.5 inches long. This length is big enough to accommodate earrings, but not much else. If you want to make your ears spectacular, you should consider ear gauging.

What is ear gauging, and how does it change your ears? What tools do you need for great ear gauging? What is the process of gauging like?

Answer these questions and you can have incredible ears in no time. Here is your quick ear gauging guide.

The Aesthetics of Ear Gauging

Ear gauging is the process of stretching out your pierced earlobes. It is a slow and steady process so you do not damage your ears or develop an ear infection.

The end result is large holes in your earlobes. They will make your ears seem bigger, which can call attention away from other parts of your body.

Yet the main benefit is the jewelry you can put in your piercings. You can find a number of beads, studs, and earrings that can fit in your ears.

Ear gauging is irreversible past a certain point. You must know what ear gauging looks like and you must be comfortable committing to the entire process. Spend time reading ear gauging tips and find an ear gauging expert near you.

Ear Gauging Tools

You can’t gauge your ears using basic tools. You need to have special products in order to stretch your ears safely.

Tapers

Tapers are round cylinders with a pointed tip at one end. You slide tapers through your piercings to stretch the holes out.

There are two main kinds of tapers. Acrylic tapers are made with plastic, which means they are very cheap. But bacteria can grow on plastic, making it easy for you to develop an infection.

Steel tapers are made with lightweight steel. They are slick, which makes them easy to insert into your ears. They can cost more money than acrylic products, though you may be able to find some at cheap prices.

Whichever type you buy, you need to buy a set of tapers. These tapers should be of different ear gauge sizes so you can develop gradually larger piercings.

Plugs

Plugs are the round pieces of jewelry you will wear inside your ears. The plugs help keep your ears stretched, and they can serve as fashion statements.

You can find a wide variety of plugs. Steel plugs are small and durable, though they are not too appealing to the eye. Titanium plugs are lightweight, so they will not irritate your ears.

Organic plugs include ones made with glass, wood, and stone. You should keep in mind that organic materials can allow bacteria to grow and may require constant cleaning.

Plugs can have flares on them, which help keep the plugs in place. Single-flared plugs may fall out, so you can buy double-flared ones. Make sure the flares are not too tight against your skin.

Ear Care Tools

It is very important that you have tools on hand to care for your ears. At a minimum, you need a lubricant. You should spread the lubricant over the taper so it slides through your ears easily.

You should use a moisturizer on your ears to keep your skin soft. Coconut oil can double as a lubricant and a moisturizer. Rub a little oil on your lobes once a day.

You can buy bandages if you notice your ears are bleeding after a tapering session. You can also use cotton balls and a saline wound spray to disinfect open wounds. Do not use rubbing alcohol or peroxide because they can irritate your skin.

The Ear Gauging Process

The first step of ear gauging is to get your ears pierced. You don’t have to have large holes in your ears just yet. A small piercing is enough for you to slide a taper in.

You can go to a body piercing shop for a professional piercing. This is a good idea if you are inexperienced with ear piercing and want ear gauging advice. But you can pierce your own ears if you have done piercings before.

After the initial piercing, you should wait until you have healed completely. If you experience skin irritation or an infection, you should not go forward with the gauging process.

When you are ready to gauge, you should wash your hands and disinfect your taper. Place the tip of your taper against your piercing and slide the taper forward. Do not apply too much pressure or go too fast.

Stop when you feel pain or when the taper passes through. If you are in pain, wait for the pain to subside and then apply the taper to your other ear. Once the pain passes, you can put your plugs in.

Wait until you heal from the initial tapering before you use the next taper. Repeat the process until you reach the size you want.

The Essentials of Ear Gauging

Ear gauging is far more than piercing your ears. You will stretch your ears so you can insert pieces of jewelry inside them.

To make gauging possible, you need to have tapers of different sizes. You also need a series of plugs to fill the holes in your ears.

The process is gradual. You need to pierce your ears first and then insert small tapers. You may develop an infection or skin irritation, so being cautious is essential.

Ear gauging is just one way you can modify your body. Read more body modification guides by following our coverage.

Read for more Update blog: Do Sterling Silver Earrings Hurt Your Ears?