Ear gauging is one of the most popular body modifications, there are many people that want to get their ears pierced, but they don’t want to use traditional earrings.
They may wish to have a more exotic look, or they may just not like the idea of having holes in their ears and for these reasons, many people choose instead to stretch their earlobe piercings so that they can wear a wide variety of different jewelry.
Ear Gauges
Ear gauges are also known as ear plugs or ear tunnels and they are basically jewelry worn in the ears and are used for decoration purposes.
The size of the gauge determines how big your ear hole will be, which means that you can control how much of your lobe is visible by choosing a certain size of earring.
There are different types of gauges to choose from:
- Regular – These have a circular opening that can be used with any standard-sized jewelry such as studs and hoops.
They’re great if you want something simple but still want to change up your look from time-to-time by switching out your regular studs for something different like hoop earrings or dangle drops.
- Gauge Twist – These have two openings instead just one making it easier for people who have trouble putting on regular twists due their dexterity issues being able to do so without help from others since twisties come preloaded onto their own retainer posts making them easier than ever before.
What Are Ear Gauges
Ear gauges are jewelry that is inserted into the earlobe, then stretched over time and they can be plugs, tunnels or both.
The jewelry is made of metal or plastic and comes in a variety of styles and sizes where some people use them for fashion, but others use them for medical reasons such as stretched earlobes due to trauma or infection.
How Do Ear Gauges Work
In order to understand how ear gauges work, it’s important to know the basic anatomy of your ears and the outer ear consists of two parts: the pinna and the external auditory meatus.
The pinna has many functions, including filtering sound waves as they enter into our body and helping us tell where sounds are coming from by bouncing them around in our skull before they reach our eardrums.
The middle ear lies behind this opening and connects up with an air-filled cavity called tympanic membrane.
This structure acts as a barrier between ourselves and whatever else is happening outside our bodies whether that’s water pressure or sound waves traveling through air so it can vibrate against itself without letting anything else through into our innermost parts.
The Stretching Process
Stretching is the process of gradually increasing the size of your piercing, this can be done by using a taper, which is a curved piece of metal with a hole that gets inserted into the piercing. The taper gradually increases in diameter over time, allowing your earlobe to stretch and expand as well.
This is a great option for people who want to stretch their earlobes but don’t have the time or patience to wait. Stretching with a taper can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how quickly your body accepts the new size.
What Is The Size For You
The size of your ear gauge is determined by the size of your earlobe, the size of your earlobe is determined by the size of your ear and the size of your head? That’s up to you.
Ear gauges are measured in millimeters, with smaller gauges corresponding to smaller openings in your lobe and vice versa.
Most people start out with a 6mm piercing and go up from there, though some people prefer going down instead. It all depends on how much pain tolerance they have and how far they want their piercings stretched out over time.
How to Clean Plug and Tunnel Jewelry
- Use a soft cloth to clean the jewelry
- Soap and water or alcohol is also a good way to clean your plugs and tunnels
- Hydrogen peroxide can be used as well, but it may remove some of the color from your jewelry if you’re not careful
- Vinegar is another option for cleaning your piercing jewelry–it’s safe for all materials except titanium
How To Clean Stainless Steel Plugs And Tunnels
- Use a soft cloth and mild soap to clean the plugs and tunnels
- Rinse with lukewarm water, then dry with a cotton soft towel
- Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or other harsh chemicals on your stainless steel jewelry
How To Clean Organic Plugs And Tunnels
- If you have organic plugs or tunnels, you can clean them with a soft toothbrush.
- You should also use a cotton swab to clean the outside of your earring
- To clean organic plugs and tunnels, use a mild soap and water solution or hydrogen peroxide to clean both sides of your ears before putting in new earrings
Metal Allergy And Ear Gauges
There are many different kinds of metals used in the construction of ear gauges, including nickel, cobalt, titanium and gold.
The most common are stainless steel and biocompatible materials such as acrylic and if you have any allergies to metals or other materials that may be present in your piercing jewelry it is important to know exactly what kind of material is being used so that you can avoid having an allergic reaction when wearing your new jewelry.
Consider Facts Beforehand
Ear gauges are a popular body modification that can be used to create a variety of different looks and the process is not one-size-fits-all and will vary depending on the size and shape of your ear plugs or tunnels.
Most people use stretched earlobes as an alternative to wearing jewelry in their ears because it’s more comfortable than having something hanging from them all day long.
Conclusion
Ear gauges can be a fun way to express yourself and show off your style, however, if you’re thinking about getting some new plugs or tunnels in your ears, it’s important that you know all the facts before making the decision.