Reasons people practice ear stretching healthfully. Piercing the earlobes is a commonplace activity in many cultures in many historical eras. Ear taper a tapered object only use steel or glass used to stretch a piercing such as an ear lobe. Many young, western people have adopted the practice of stretching ear.
Women shave their heads and remove two middle teeth on the lower jaw for oral delivery of traditional medicine. Theyre also the most commonly stretched piercing globally, with the stretching practices originally common to tribal cultures both continuously evolving and returning to. An examination of the history of pierced earlobes in the u. Treatment of thin ear lobe can include juvederm injection which i feel is more reliable than fat injection which relies on the fat graft developing new blood supply because the earlobes are relatively small structures small differences in fat graft take may be obvious, so for this reason i prefer juvederm the stretched earlobes can be reduced and reshaped by an office procedure performed. An ethnography of the stretched earlobe piercing as site.
Similar to the human eyes, nose, and lips, the earlobes also have special features. Thanks for your question its one we hear often from women whove worn earrings for years, especially large or heavy earrings. I lubed up my silicone taper and pushed it through. Jul 01, 20 this video shows progress from an 8g to 1 inch. When not strecthed, his earlobes measure just under 2. Later, one got infected and since i was a stubborn kid, i let the holes close. Ive met and surpassed more than one goal that i thought would be my end result, only to decide later that i wanted to go bigger. Dec 01, 2011 image caption susie mazur went to 20mm and is now at 8mm a few years later. Ear piercing and the stretching of earlobes are also part of maasai beauty, and both men and women wear metal hoops on their stretched earlobes. Stretched earlobes can be prevented by caring for the skin of the ear in much the same way that we would other parts of our body.
Im sure a lot of you are stretching your earlobes, plan to, or already have. I never had any issues with scar tissue, lumps, bumps, nothing. When i was a kid, i had my ears pierced in a yucky mall. The maasai often walk barefooted or wear simple sandals made of cow hide. The history of ear piercing and why we love it ilee desoto.
So you want to see what your stretched ear lobes will look. Her own earlobe ripped a few summers ago when someone at a wedding accidentally pulled at her earring. Apr 29, 2020 it does take time for ear stretching to heal, anywhere from 16 months. Ear stretching has been with the tribe for thousands of years. Over years ago, i started stretching my ear lobes. Stretching, in the context of body piercing, is the deliberate expansion of a healed piercing for the purpose of wearing certain types of jewelry.
According to elayne angels 2009 book, the piercing bible, ear stretching is receiving greater visibility and acceptability in wider society as more people choose this form of body modification. They are not called gauginggauges despite what anyone says, its called stretching. I have been stretching my ears on and off for about 4 years now. May 24, 2014 but this stretching of ear lobes seems quite a new phenomenon in the piercing movement although i read somewhere while preparing this post that it started back in the 1990s.
If youre a fan of body modification, you may be interested in stretching your earlobes. Making sure that the skin receives enough moisture is one of the best methods for reducing lobe stretching. Different stretching methods have been documented, from using weight to elongate the lobes, to stretching with increasingly larger pieces of tusk, wood, stone, thorn, and even film canister. In some cases the lower lobe is connected to the side of the face. Stretched ears is a sign of wisdom among the people of the massai tribe, largely because the elders will have the largest stretched ears. Stretching is usually done a little bit at a time, so the pierced hole would not bleed or get infected. Todays body mod norms owe everything to the ancient cultures and individuals that began ear stretching.
This involves gradually using larger plugs to increase the hole in your earlobe, a practice that has been done. Sep 14, 2012 todays body mod norms owe everything to the ancient cultures and individuals that began ear stretching. Yet still people recommend inferior and even dangerous techniques. Having emerged independently in such diverse locations as north america, t. The history of body modification is as long as human history itself.
It does take time for ear stretching to heal, anywhere from 16 months. As it turns out, my cousin can identify with my stretched ear woes. The first is to do a combined earlobe plumping with either fat or allogeneic dermis my preference as it will take better and separate the earlobe from the side of the face. Although the human ears look similar, there are minor structural differences that. Consequently, injury to the earlobe due to the weight of heavy earrings is also common. The maasai tribes of kenya have used ear stretching to alter their appearance for centuries. If you took your time and didnt skip sizes, this will greatly affect your chances of your ear. Media in category women with stretched ear lobes the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total.
Ear stretching has become more popular in western culture recently for a variety of reasons. Ear i have heard there is a point of no return with ear lobe stretching, where the hole will never return to a normal 16 or 18g size. Paul king provides a detailed exploration of earlobe piercing and stretching from. Buy bodyj4you holey buttr premium stretched ear lobe balm aftercare cream expander gauges taper plug on.
The magazines recent article on ear stretching prompted many. Although the human ears look similar, there are minor structural differences that make each ear different from. Eventually i decided that 1 would be my final result and, this time, i think that it actually is my final result and i am finally finished stretching. If you had largergauge earrings, you may need ear repair surgery to repair the stretched lobes. Stretched earlobes, a tradition almost famous body piercing. From ice man to modern man, the stretched lobe retains its standing as. Stretching is a word used to describe a kind of body modification. Image caption susie mazur went to 20mm and is now at 8mm a few years later. The act of stretching has been around for thousands of years and it has been seen throughout history as a rite of passage in tribal cultures. One common misconception about ear stretching is that you need to have other body modifications to do this. Earlobes with smallergauge earrings, generally 2gauge or less, often shrink on their own. Media in category stretching body piercing the following 24 files are in this category, out of 24 total.
As the image shows, unattached or free lobes have a more pendulous shape. For many of the worlds tribes, it is even an essential body modification. Monte pierce usa can stretch his earlobes to a length of 12. Ear scalpelling can certainly be done, and is usually when done by an experienced professional very successful. Oct 11, 2015 african ear stretching ear lobes and stretched hold dig sund og rask. Patients concerned about the appearance of the lobes can discuss options with a plastic surgeon to see if it is possible to minimize the scarring and give the lobes a smoother appearance. Remove largegauge or stretching earrings if you have them. While the significance of his body modification remains unclear, it is evidence that the practice of ear.
Ear stretching has made its way into western culture with growing popularity. Aug 17, 2016 getting your ears gauged can be a tricky business. The magazines recent article on ear stretching prompted many emails. The typical jewelry worn in stretched ear lobes is called a plug, the size of the plug is the gauge. Stretching is to gauging as timing is to minutinghouring. Stretching slowly can be a huge factor in whether your lobes will go back to standard size. He currently also holds the record for the greatest ear sling shot. Those in the tribe with long stretched lobes are well respected. Jun 28, 2011 both corrections to your earlobes can be done and there are two different approaches to doing it. It had been more than a month since my last stretch 56 and i thought i was ready. While all piercings can be stretched to some degree, cartilage piercings are usually more.
Stretched ears can go up to 3 and even beyond that sometimes. Cairns wildlife dome python and handler04 8228723955. As said in the beginning, stretching slowly and carefully will help with your earlobe health. Sep 10, 20 also important is whether your ear lobes are attached or unattached. In his early life as a rich aristocrat the buddha had worn heavy jewelley in his ears as a status. Healing a blowout is important because it can affect your earlobe health and halt any further stretching. In the shortterm, you can switch to studs or lightweight earrings in order to avoid further stretching of the piercing. Oct 11, 2015 oct 11, 2015 african ear stretching ear lobes and stretched hold dig sund og rask. I have a question regarding the stretching process. Attached ear lobes are still capable of stretching to large gauges, but it may take more time and effort. From otzi, to egypt to the maya, we see a diverse practice of ear gauging. Apr 15, 2020 it is possible for the ears to recover from earlobe stretching if a person decides to stop stretching or wants to actively reverse the process.
It hurt like a bitch, but since i needed the taper to stretch my left ear, i put a silicone tunnel in. Go to plugstunnels ear stretching not gauging the process of stretching increasing the diameter of a piercing. Vales and junos book research modern primitives 1989. Oct 31, 2012 ear stretching has been with the tribe for thousands of years. The gauge size chart is a handy tool for anyone stretching their ears. Stretched ears are when a person has stretched their ear lobes to the size that they desire. The main function of the human earlobe is to help maintain balance and warm the ear. We carry a wide selection of plugs crafted from wood, bone, steel, glass and silicone in. They make it easier to stretch as there is more flesh in the actual ear lobe itself. The history and current trends of earlobe stretching fulltext. Earlobe reconstruction surgery to repair stretched lobes. Earlobe reconstruction surgery to repair stretched lobes is. Ear stretching, also known as gauging, has gained popularity in the united states and other western societies in recent years. Stretching industrial strength body piercing studio.
People from various cultures and time periods throughout the world have stretched their earlobes because the cartilage of the ear has adequate strength to hold up large pieces of jewelry placed in pierced and stretched earlobes. About 3 days ago i stretched my right ear from 6mm 2 gauge to 8mm 0 gauge. Jewelry descriptions below the act of stretching ear lobes. His statues always show long ear lobes, such as this one in japan. If you had largergauge earrings, you may need earrepair surgery to repair the stretched lobes. Since the earlobe does not contain cartilage it has a large blood supply and may help to warm the ears and maintain balance. For some it is fashion while others are drawn to the primitive energy of ear stretching.
Ear stretching and stretched or large gauge piercings have been a common link through many cultures. Maasai tribe masai people of kenya history and culture. A fleshed out history of ear stretching screw yourself. Ear stretching amongst tribes screw yourself body jewelry.
Stretching ones ears or another pierced body part involves a process wherein slightly larger jewelry is installed into the earlobes to create largerthantypicalpierced holes, explains john. If your ear is comfortable with the current size, you can take it out at night to prevent thin ear lobes. Instead of large plates, they would pierce the ears and hang heavy brass weights to stretch the lobes. According to elayne angels 2009 book, the piercing bible, ear stretching is receiving greater visibility and acceptability in wider society as more people choose this form of. Since that time, a plethora of valuable information has become available on the subject of ear lobe stretching.
We have many years of experience in safe and comfortable stretching techniques. Also important is whether your ear lobes are attached or unattached. Stretching soft tissue such as ear lobes is a lengthy process, but when done correctly it is in my opinion, the most fulfilling and easiest way to get good, healthy stretched ears. The practice of expanding the ear lobes goes back about as far as human history, from king tutankhamen to the iceman.
People with long ear lobes were considered revered and were highly respected. In the book of genesis, abrahams son isaac is described as giving his wife. Otzis mummy also sported ear piercings and stretched earlobes. Its the most common location for a body piercing, and many cultures practice earlobe stretching. It is important to stretch slowly to safely stretch your ears, so only increase your ears one gauge at a time, and only when your ears are fully healed from their most recent stretch. A beginners guide to ear stretching the krafty lady hq. Aug 23, 2018 similar to the human eyes, nose, and lips, the earlobes also have special features. How to stretch an ear lobe piercing with pictures wikihow. African ear stretching ear lobes and stretched stretched. Posted in 1990s, historical figures, history, procedures, websites and tagged bme, bme, bmezine, body piercing, shannon larratt, shannon larratt, spconline, stretched lobes on august 14, 2015 by shawn porter.
Gauges for ears, 4 gauge ear plugs, 8 gauge ear plugs, 2 gauge ear plugs, 8 gauge earrings, ear stretching jewelry. Stretching body piercing simple english wikipedia, the. After the ears heal completely from earlobe stretching, the lobes may look slightly different, and some scarring will be present around the site of the hole. Ear stretching not gauging the process of stretching increasing the diameter of a piercing.
Mar 23, 2020 the jewelry that is worn in stretched ear lobes. The most commonly stretched body piercings are ear lobe piercings. Besides downsizing a few sizes, you can also massage your ears a few times a day with vitamin e oil to help aid the process of healing along. The human earlobe lobulus auriculae is composed of tough areolar and adipose connective tissues, lacking the firmness and elasticity of the rest of the auricle the external structure of the ear. In earlobe stretching, progressively larger earrings and plugs are placed into a pierced ear over time to stretch out the tissue. This will keep your ear lobes stretched while also allowing room for your ear lobe to heal. Over time, youre basically stretching the pierced hole in your lobe to a desired size. A beginners guide to ear stretching the krafty lady hq blog. Ear stretching guide how to stretch gauge your ears. Stretching, piecing, tattoos, branding, scarification, implants, binding, body building and hair cuts have been around for about as long we have. I wanted to make this video to give you guys all the deets about it the mistakes i made when stretching, the regrets i have and. Their ears were stretched in a different way, where other civilization where more focused on the diameter of the stretched ears, their focus was on the length. Heavier ornamental earrings might dangle from their stretched lobes, though mostly in women. Ear stretching may have been performed in various ways within the tribe.
Ear plugs ear tunnels eyelets ear spacers jewelry that you can wear inside your stretched lobe. Body modifications of all types have been ear lobe stretching history used as a simple way to change ones appearance, adding to the individuals natural. It is when a person widens a pierced hole in their body. How to stretch or gauge your ears what is stretching or. Take some time out and sit in a room with your favourite music then, when youre ready to stretch massage the ear lobes for 1015 minutes or more if you have the time to relax the ear lobes this should help the taper to go in properly.
1297 1064 266 1541 247 489 1522 1097 1353 395 595 13 170 1527 1173 1609 831 1511 1376 1280 238 405 1333 1214 1293 163 712 286 154 379 852 36