so I have decided I want to get into seriously stretching my ears,

I've sort of stretched my ears a bit before, using some ghetto things around the house to put in my ears (some plastic tubing which was about 14 gauge)

That all went well, but since plastic tubing isn't the greatest thing to have in your ears methinks, I also don't have anything bigger so I can't continue stretching, I decided to get some more professional stuff for my birthday.

I think I want to stretch up to about 8 gauge, since  you can easily find tunnels at that size, and I would really like a pretty pair of tunnels. Even though I know how much 8 gauge is in millimeters, and I can see on my ruler how big it is, I have a hard time imagining how big it would actually be in my ears, does anyone know of a site which has pictures of peoples ears in various gauges?

 Also, about tapers, to go to 8 gauge, would i need tapers from 14 to 12, then from 12 to 10, and then from 10 to 8 plus jewelry for every gauge? I read somewhere here on the forum that you can't wear tapers, but then why do some tapers come with those fancy little black rubber rings?

Would it be possible to just buy one taper from 10 to 8 gauge, and then wear it at the small point first, slowly shoving it up more over the course of the months?  I have the idea that someone is going to tell me now this is not possible for some reason, or bad for my ears, but I'm asking because I personally cant really think of the reason why it would be so. (after all, the taper is tapered, so at the smallest point I imagine it to be quite small)

 Also, about sea salt and oils, if i go to my local supermarket and just buy a package of "sea salt" there, would it be good enough quality to use on my ears? And do you have to use like jojoba oil or tea tree oil for your ears? Could you also just use say, olive oil?

 Well thank you for putting up with my n00b questions :)

 

Tapers aren't jewellery. If you want to use tapers, then yes, you buy one for 12g, one for 10g and one for 8g, AND plugs or other jewellery (CBRs, barbells) for each size. You use tapers simply to help get the plugs in, you don't wear them - they're long and get knocked around lot, and tend to pull the piercing down at the back - irritating!

If you have to push it through over a few days/a week your ears aren't ready to stretch. And there should never be 'shoving' involved :P

Sea salt is sea salt. Stuff from the supermarket is fine.

Jojoba and tea tree oil are used for completely different things. If you're using it for massages, then jojoba. Olive oil is fine too. Tea tree oil is really harsh and drying though, completely the opposite effect.

& make sure you've read the stretching sticky, wherever that is...I think there's a link in quinns signature, I'm sure she'll be along at some point heh.

Thank you for your reply :)

I read the sticky, but it didn't say anything about oils though, but maybe I should read the sticky in general piercings.

I mainly wondered about wearing tapers because I have seen them come with the black rubber rings, but you are right it would be really annoying having them knocked around, and possibly also painful if you have sensitive ears after stretching xD Tapers and jewelry it is then.  

I was just wondering about the sea salt since I believe the stuff in the supermarket has iodine added to it, then again, I've always used iodine to disinfect wounds so I guess it wouldn't hurt.  

 

Stretching sticky is here:   http://forums.bodyartforms.com/forums/t/5641.aspx

BMEzine pictures of 8g lobes is here: http://www.molokosynthemesc.com/search/srch2004.exe?search=8g+lobes&lim=0

 

epsom salt and sea salt are two different things. If you look on the ingrediants on the label the only ingrediant should be sea salt.

i thought i'd add that it's not necessary to buy two tapers, since you would follow the taper immediately with jewelery. the o-rings that come with a taper are helpful to hold the taper in place while you get your jewelery lined up.

sorry if that's obvious, i just thought i'd throw that out there :)

 

editt* one taper in each size, that is

does anyone know of a site which has pictures of peoples ears in various gauges?

 You can also look at the gallery on BAF
http://www.bodyartforms.com/gallery/index.asp?type=Plugs
 Just flick through the pages for 8g

would i need tapers from 14 to 12, then from 12 to 10, and then from 10 to 8 plus jewelry for every gauge?

 To put it simply, yes.

I read somewhere here on the forum that you can't wear tapers, but then why do some tapers come with those fancy little black rubber rings?

 Those rings are called "orings" just to let you know. You cant wear tapers because they wernt designed to be worn. Theyll make life awkard and put unnecasary pressure and strain on your fresh stretch 

Would it be possible to just buy one taper from 10 to 8 gauge, and then wear it at the small point first, slowly shoving it up more over the course of the months? 

 Its possible, but not advisable, for the same reason as why you cant really wear em long term

Also, about sea salt and oils, if i go to my local supermarket and just buy a package of "sea salt" there, would it be good enough quality to use on my ears?

 Yes that salt is fine as long as its noniodenised (sp?). If im short I use normal table saltuntillI can getsome Sea Salt

 And do you have to use like jojoba oil or tea tree oil for your ears? Could you also just use say, olive oil?

    Jojoba is fine, tea tree is very harsh as Im told so its unadvisable. I use olive when im short too, like the table salt, but Jojoba, Neem Seed and Emu are better.

 Well thank you for putting up with my n00b questions :)

 Any day 

Well said, Rawrgasmic.

 

To me, wearing tapers as jewelry is like wearing your shoes on the wrong feet. Common sense tells you that you shouldn't because that's not what they're designed for, and not only is it uncomfortable, you look like an idiot doing it. 

 regarding the tapers and orings:

when I have tapered in the past, I'll always leave an oring on the end to stop the taper from slipping all the way through.  it is lubed up with oil, after all, and therefor very slippery.  then I'll remove the oring when I'm ready to put the jewelry in.

thank you guys so much for answering every of my questions ^__^

it's been really helpful.