Let's stretch!

Stretched piercings have a long and intricate history, spanning several cultures over thousands of years. While lobe piercings are most commonly associated with stretching, many other piercings can be stretched. These guides will cover the best ways to stretch each type of piercing. Stretching is a major commitment and should not be done lightly, as there is no guarantee that your piercing will revert back to its original size. It depends entirely on the elasticity and general health of your skin.

Stretching shouldn’t be done unless you are comfortable with having a stretched piercing forever. The most commonly agreed upon “point of no return” is between a 2g-0g for lobes and 8g for most other piercings. Properly stretched ears can be healthy and beautiful. Improperly stretched ears can be unsightly, unhealthy and lead to constant problems. Proper methods and care are crucial to a properly stretched piercing.

It is extremely important while stretching to only go up one gauge at a time and to wait the appropriate amount of time before stretching to the next biggest size. The first few stretches can be easy, but don’t be fooled. As the surface area increases, so do the jumps. Putting too much stress on your freshly stretched hole can lead to problems like blowouts and tears. Listen to your body: if it hurts, you’re probably going too fast.