I first got my ears pierced with a gun at Claire's for my 8th birthday. At the time I was oblivious to guns being bad for the piercing, and as soon as the 6weeks healing period was over I put in some cheap studs that caused havoc, leaving me to change back to the studs used in the first place. I was terrible at cleaning them, and pretty much forgot about them. When I entered high school, I decided I wanted second holes, these were also done with a gun, and about 2months later I took all of my ear piercings out. The second holes got infected and my ears were constantly swollen, if I just took them out for my P.E lesson by the end of that hour they would have started to close up. I just couldn't be bothered.
At A Glance Author myspace.com/cloielou Contact ewchloe@hotmail.co.uk When It just happened Location Norwich,Norfolk. England Skip forward 3 years, my parents finally gave in (well my dad did), and said I could have an industrial piercing. I decided that I wanted my lobes done as well and pierced them myself a few days before my industrial. I ended up with two holes in each lobe, but took the second ones out after a week or so. After a bad healing process with the industrial, I was back at stage one with normal lobe piercings, that for some odd reason didn't get infected. This is round about the time ear stretching took off in England. I knew a girl that had 8mm plugs, but to suddenly walk round Norwich and see everyone with stretched ears was strange, but some how amazing. I decided I wanted plugs.
My parents were set against gauges completely. I was told I could do anything to my ears, as long as I didn't stretch them. But you know, I have long hair :)
I started off trying to buy a 2mm expander, and the lady behind the counter refused saying I would have to start at a 1.6mm. I was confused, as I knew I had small ears, but other people I knew had started out at 2mm. I was put off the idea for a few months, worried my ears would rip if I plugged them.
It didn't last for long; I went to Boujangles in Norwich, which is the best place for buying expanders and plugs. It's cheap compared to everywhere else, as I know some places where it is £20 for simple tunnel. I bought a 2mm expander for £2.50 and walked with some friends to Jarrolds, and ran upstairs to the toilets. I didn't have any Vaseline, so I just ran it under the tap and pushed it through my ear. At the time I thought it hurt a lot, but to feel your ear stretch is an amazing experience. I went back the same day to buy a 3mm expander which I put through at home, it took me a few tries but eventually it went in.
This carried on, with me buying an expander the next size up each saturday until I got to a 6mm. It hurt so so so bad. I wore it for a few days, but my ear was bleeding and swollen. I took it out and put in a 2mm ring. A few weeks passed, and I started again. It stretched to a 6mm easily, and I got a pink transparent tunnel which I wore for a few months. I loved it and decided, after feeling my little hole was a bit pathetic compared to my friends 20mm, I would stretch to an 8mm. You can't get 7mm expanders, as far as I know, anywhere. I had to go straight to an 8mm, and fuckfuckfuck it hurt. It was like stretching to a 6mm all over again. It bled, puss dripped from it, and it smelt really bad. I decided I would have to clean it, although I have never felt the need to clean plugs before, taking it out, it turned out I couldn't get it back in. I gave up, prom was in 2months and I wanted to wear some fancy earrings. I forgot all about them.
That was until 3days ago. It hit me prom was last week, and my ears were free for stretching. I went upstairs and put a 2mm into the ear I had got to an 8mm, it went in easily; I then tried a 3mm, fine. I don't have a 4mm expander, so after sleeping with a 3mm in I tried the 5mm in the morning, and despite a little pinch, easy.
This morning I put in a 6mm expander, I was expecting the worst, especially as the 5mm had hurt a bit, but with a bit of Vaseline it slipped in fine, no pain at all. The only pain I have right now is from my other ear, which I have never stretched to more than a 2mm before. I lubed up the 3mm with my Vaseline and tried to stretch my lobe, it took a few tries, but now I have a 6mm and a 3mm. I'm going to get a 4mm expander at the weekend, and I have an 8mm expander upstairs, which I may use sometime this summer. However, I don't think I'll go to 8mm straight away; I'll buy a tunnel and let my ears rest for a bit. I think I am one to stretch too quickly, as some people say wait a month before stretching again, so maybe if I let them rest a bit, eventually I will manage to get to 10mm.
And know, my parents never did notice, tip: If you get a bannana shaped expander, twist it so insted of curving down it goes up, less obvious :)