gauged lobe piercing

I'm thinking of getting both lobes gauged. What is the general
process? From googling around for information
(http://jewelry.about.com/od/bodyjewe...ing_lobes.htm), most say
that they use a small diameter needle (guns are bad, is what I've
heard), and won't take a huge chunk out of my lobe which makes sense.

Thanks in advance,
Adam

also, as far as the starter ring, what will they give me for the
starter ring for my ears? I've read bad stuff about studs/posts and
how they jab into your head and such. I've also read recommendations
of a hoop/loop earring, to help in the gradual stretching process.

ahoier wrote:
> I'm thinking of getting both lobes gauged.

The easiest way to determine the gauge of your lobes is to hold a ruler
against them, find the measurement in inches or millimeters and then
use a chart to convert to gauge.

Hope that helps.

Kavin

ahoier wrote:

> I'm thinking of getting both lobes gauged. What is the general
> process? From googling around for information
> (http://jewelry.about.com/od/bodyjewe...ing_lobes.htm), most
> say that they use a small diameter needle (guns are bad, is what I've
> heard), and won't take a huge chunk out of my lobe which makes sense.
>
> also, as far as the starter ring, what will they give me for the
> starter ring for my ears? I've read bad stuff about studs/posts and
> how they jab into your head and such. I've also read recommendations
> of a hoop/loop earring, to help in the gradual stretching process.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Adam

Adam,

You said "both lobes gauged," but it sounds like you're actually simply
getting your ears pierced for the first time. Do you currently have
your ears pierced?

The about.com link you provided offers, "Even if your ears were pierced
to a more standard size, you can stretch your ear lobe holes using a
gradual process that some people call gauging." This would indicate
that you do have your ears pierced and are anticipating or considering
stretching or gauging them.

Stretching is the preferred term by old school enthusiasts but gauging
is apparently becoming more acceptable as a synonym for increasing the
hole size of lobe (and other) piercings.

The general process involves waiting until your piercing has healed and
then increasing the size of your hole incrementally or gradually as the
about.com info states.

The typical Piercing Pagoda jewelry is 16 gauge. I currently wear 00
gauge posts, but I only stretched slightly as I had my ears punched
initially at 2 gauge.

My limited experience at gauging or stretching was then from 2 gauge to
0 gauge and finally to 00 gauge where I've maintained for several years
now.

My particular "general process" included wearing the 2 gauge tunnels
for many months and then simply sliding in a pair of 0 gauge tunnels. I
have fairly large lobes and the stretch was easily accomplished.
Likewise 00 gauge.

You may want to Google scalpeling as there are many people who simply
have their lobes scalpeled so they can wear 00 gauge or larger
immediately rather than gradually stretch from 16 g to 14 to 12 to 8
to...

Risks of skipping sizes, say 16 gauge to 8 gauge would include the
chance of a blow-out.

I was looking at the about.com page you linked to. It provides good
information from what I read. You may also be interested in the wiki
page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earlobe_stretching

As far as I know, you can select your own "starter ring" at the shop
when you get your lobes stretched or pierced. I've never heard of
studs/posts "jabbing into your heard," btw. And wrt to hoop/loop
earrings helping, I have seen a guy hang a padlock onto his captive
bead ring to help in stretching his piercing, but I think that's
unnecessary or a case of overkill. Ymmv.

Best of luck with your ear project, Adam. Please post a follow-up.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

"Curt James" <curtjames@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1161031422.886329.24680@f16g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> Risks of skipping sizes, say 16 gauge to 8 gauge would include the
> chance of a blow-out.

I had no problem skipping during the smaller sizes(I started from regular
earring holes), but as they got larger it was harder to skip. I could NOT
use a taper. I just lubed up the lobes and plugs and went for it. The worst
that happened was my lobe felt a little raw, but if that happened I
discovered that keeping a&d on it for a day and turning the plugs
frequently(gasp!! that's a RAB sin, isn't it!?), it was ok.
Marie

thanks for the info.

On Oct 16, 4:43 pm, "Curt James" <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:
> You said "both lobes gauged," but it sounds like you're actually simply
> getting your ears pierced for the first time. Do you currently have
> your ears pierced?

No I don't. So I guess my goal would be to get them eventually gauged.
Though I really don't know how wide I want them yet, I guess I'll just
wait til I get that far.

> The about.com link you provided offers, "Even if your ears were pierced
> to a more standard size, you can stretch your ear lobe holes using a
> gradual process that some people call gauging." This would indicate
> that you do have your ears pierced and are anticipating or considering
> stretching or gauging them.

correct

> Stretching is the preferred term by old school enthusiasts but gauging
> is apparently becoming more acceptable as a synonym for increasing the
> hole size of lobe (and other) piercings.

yea, was hard finding research but everyone I've known with gauged
lobes referred to them as "gauging" lol. I guess just a result of the
changing of the language through the years.

> The general process involves waiting until your piercing has healed and
> then increasing the size of your hole incrementally or gradually as the
> about.com info states.
>
> The typical Piercing Pagoda jewelry is 16 gauge. I currently wear 00
> gauge posts, but I only stretched slightly as I had my ears punched
> initially at 2 gauge.
>
> My limited experience at gauging or stretching was then from 2 gauge to
> 0 gauge and finally to 00 gauge where I've maintained for several years
> now.
>
> My particular "general process" included wearing the 2 gauge tunnels
> for many months and then simply sliding in a pair of 0 gauge tunnels. I
> have fairly large lobes and the stretch was easily accomplished.
> Likewise 00 gauge.
>
> You may want to Google scalpeling as there are many people who simply
> have their lobes scalpeled so they can wear 00 gauge or larger
> immediately rather than gradually stretch from 16 g to 14 to 12 to 8
> to...

Thanks. I did look into that, but that sounded like too much. I think
I'll just go the gradual route. And if I ever decide I don't like em,
I can just let them close up hehe.

> Risks of skipping sizes, say 16 gauge to 8 gauge would include the
> chance of a blow-out.
>
> I was looking at the about.com page you linked to. It provides good
> information from what I read. You may also be interested in the wiki
> page:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earlobe_stretching

some good reading there. I looked at the scalpaling part in
particular. But that sounded too drastic for me hehehe. Im in really
no "rush" to get it done :) Just wanted to get some questions answered
beforehand as this will be my first piercing.

> As far as I know, you can select your own "starter ring" at the shop
> when you get your lobes stretched or pierced. I've never heard of
> studs/posts "jabbing into your heard," btw. And wrt to hoop/loop
> earrings helping, I have seen a guy hang a padlock onto his captive
> bead ring to help in stretching his piercing, but I think that's
> unnecessary or a case of overkill. Ymmv.
>
> Best of luck with your ear project, Adam. Please post a follow-up.

I surely will when I get it done :) Thanks for the indepth information
and links.

> --
> Curthttp://curtjames.com/

"ahoier" <ahoier@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1161106810.124604.274810@i3g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
> Thanks. I did look into that, but that sounded like too much. I think
> I'll just go the gradual route. And if I ever decide I don't like em,
> I can just let them close up hehe.

Now, some people's piercings do NOT close up. My lobes did shrink up over a
few weeks, and a normal earring would not even go through the hole. Now I'm
up again to a 0 or 00, I don't remember anymore. I've seen some lobes with
scars from being stretched. It's just different for everyone.
Marie

Marie wrote:
> "ahoier" <ahoier@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1161106810.124604.274810@i3g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
> > Thanks. I did look into that, but that sounded like too much. I think
> > I'll just go the gradual route. And if I ever decide I don't like em,
> > I can just let them close up hehe.
>
> Now, some people's piercings do NOT close up. My lobes did shrink up over a
> few weeks, and a normal earring would not even go through the hole. Now I'm
> up again to a 0 or 00, I don't remember anymore. I've seen some lobes with
> scars from being stretched. It's just different for everyone.
> Marie

Mine at 00 gauge maintain a perfect "donut hole" when I remove my
posts.

Ta da!

Yes, it's one of my special talents.

I've thought about going larger, but I'm thinking that the lobe would
have that floppy, stretched out appearance if I did. Oh, yeah, I FEAR
the droopy lobe! ;o)

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

ahoier wrote:
> thanks for the info.

You bet. :o)

[...]

> <snip> everyone I've known with gauged lobes referred to
> them as "gauging" lol. I guess just a result of the changing
> of the language through the years.

Yes.

Some people handle change better than others. :o)

re punching

> Thanks. I did look into that, but that sounded like too much. I think
> I'll just go the gradual route. And if I ever decide I don't like em,
> I can just let them close up hehe.

Cool.

re scalpeling

> <snip> that sounded too drastic for me hehehe. Im in really
> no "rush" to get it done :) Just wanted to get some questions
> answered beforehand as this will be my first piercing.

[...]

Excellent.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

I scribbled:

[...]

> re punching
>
> > Thanks. I did look into that, but that sounded like too much. I think
> > I'll just go the gradual route. And if I ever decide I don't like em,
> > I can just let them close up hehe.
>
> Cool.
>
> re scalpeling

[...]

D'OH!

I'm a fan of judicious snipping, but the first bit should've read re
scalpeling just as the second portion was.

Yeah, fwiw.

Sincerely,
Mr. Facts Straight

P.S. And I didn't even have to use Google! (Well, I posted via Google
groups, but... never mind.)

--

"Curt James" <curtjames@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1161120357.973246.299520@h48g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
> Mine at 00 gauge maintain a perfect "donut hole" when I remove my
> posts.

Well, mine did take a few weeks to shrink all the way back but it was ok.

> Ta da!
>
> Yes, it's one of my special talents.
>
> I've thought about going larger, but I'm thinking that the lobe would
> have that floppy, stretched out appearance if I did. Oh, yeah, I FEAR
> the droopy lobe! ;o)

I don't want mine droopy so I haven't gone any larger. I used the pierced
holes I got when I was 4 or 5 years old so they aren't centered the way I'd
like, and I worry that if I go any bigger it will tear. Ha doesn't that
sound a bit dirty?
Marie

Marie wrote:
[...]

> <snip> I worry that if I go any bigger it will tear.

(blink!)

> Ha doesn't that sound a bit dirty?

Weeeeeeeeell, taken out of context, yes!

> Marie

Uh, that was regarding lobes and jewelry, of course! ;o)

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

ahoier <ahoier@gmail.com> wrote:

> No I don't. So I guess my goal would be to get them eventually gauged.

Stretched. The word is stretched.

The Queen of Mis and Comprehension wrote:
> ahoier <ahoier@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > No I don't. So I guess my goal would be to get them
> > eventually gauged.
>
> Stretched. The word is stretched.

Wrt The Queen of What and Ever's reading comprehension skills, the word
is thick. Another word is clueless. Perhaps she missed these words:

"... but everyone I've known with gauged lobes referred to them as
"gauging" lol. I guess just a result of the changing of the language
through the years."

Hth!

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

Curt James <curtjames@gmail.com> wrote:

> "... but all the morons I've known with gauged lobes referred to them as
> "gauging" lol. I guess just a result of de-evolution."

HTH.