stretching from 12 to 10??

ok, i'm pretty new to stretching, though i've done my research and i'm going very slowly. i had mine at 16 for a long time, 14s were loose, so i left them in for two weeks and went to 12. these are tight, and i'll be leaving them there for a while.

BUT, i want some real life experiences here... how tough was it to go from 12 to 10 gauge? it seems like a much bigger jump than the 14 to 12 was. so, i thought i'd probably get tapers to do that, since it's a bigger stretch, and i don't wanna create a blowout. but is it a big enough stretch that i'll need to leave the tapers in for a while before i can get them all the way through, or should it be a pretty easy stretch and i'll be able to just slip it through and pop in the jewelry?

the main reason for this question is because, lol, i'm a cheapskate, and if i can get away with only getting one taper and using it for both ears i will... but i do want to do this right, so any advice?

 

Everybody's skin reacts different. I don't have "stretchy" skin, so it takes forever to stretch.

What you can do is only buy one piece of jewelery in each size and stretch one side at a time. That way, you only have to buy half the amount of jewelery until you get to the desired size. Same goes with tapers. Just stretch one side a size larger than the other.

Another option is to wrap teflon tape around the piercing to make it thicker as you stretch. Some people will tell you not to do this because it increases the risk of infection because you can't sterilize the tape like metal. Its a matter of personal choice whether or not to try, but I've known several people who ave done this without problems.

 

I had a hard time going from a 12g to a 10g. It was the stretch that took the longest for me. I did use tapers though and then moved to glass plugs.

 

My helixes (upper ear cartilage) went from 14 to 12 to 10ga quite easily.. The difference in diameter between 14 to 12 and 12 to 10 is practically the same, but everyones different. Personally I'd just wait until theyd loosened up a bit then give it a shot.. If its a no go, try a taper.

 

wow, that's cool to hear. i actually had more issues with the 12 than i thought i would. the left one got really really sore, and actually started bleeding/oozing. oops! i think it was because i slept on it funny, and i had a pimple right next to it or something going on. but in 2 days with sea salt soaks, it cleared up and it's doing great now. i can now rotate the ring through it without pain or pulling. it's still tight-ish, but not bad.

 

it should be an easy stretch as long as your ears are ready. just use lube and a taper or single flared, rounded plug if your ears are really loose. you should be able to use the taper and follow right away with a plug (i find its best to do it quickly provided theres no resistance because once it swells, its harder to get the plug in) so you should only need one taper.
i went from 14g to 10g actually with externally threaded jewellery iirc. i dont reccomend it.

 

My stretch was relatively easy-- in fact, my ears got more pissy when i went from 14 to 12. I'd say wait a week or so longer if you're not sure, but don't worry about it.

Your dreads are super cute.

 

i stopped at 8. 12 to 10 was probly worst for me, but going from 10 to 8 was really easy! i just took my next piercings down to 10's and it hardly bothered me. you start to get used to it, and it's nothing compared to getting a new piercing. i say goo for it! i love my 8's and 10's, they look great and don't stretch my holes much bigger than the size they're supposed to be..