According to archaeological finds, earlobe stretching has been popular for many millennia, so why has it been such an enduring means of ear decoration?

Or have the earlobes always been stretched just for decoration, or have there been other, more hidden reasons for this practice? It certainly seems that in regions of Africa, South America, and Asia, earlobe stretching has been a tribal practice, and that stretched earlobes were not always just a sign of affiliation with a specific tribe or religion, but also of power or supremacy.

The practice may also have been associated with quasi-religious beliefs and the need to stretch the earlobes to accommodate the social and religious practices of the time. In other words, it was expected of people, no matter the reason, and that could also be a driving force for those looking to prick their ears today.

The influence of the tattoo

Another reason for the rise in popularity of stretched earlobes is the way in which tattoos have become ubiquitous among today’s youth, with most having a tattoo somewhere and many sporting half sleeves or sleeves. complete. Tattooing was originally done by world-travelling Westerners, in other words, sailors, who were exposed to this form of body decoration.

However, it became popular with the aristocracy during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and then became commonplace among the young as a means of body adornment until everyone who wanted it got a tattoo anywhere on their body. body. It’s no longer a visible sign of being different or ‘hip’, and neither are common piercings, including tragus, septum, eyebrow or lip piercings, which are also common in the 21st century.

Stretched earlobes: a matter of degree

Today, ear stretching can be worn as a fashion statement more than any simple piercing or tattoo, and stretched earlobes are a step up from the traditional ear piercing that has spread to multiple piercings. and then piercings in other parts of the body. One aspect of the earlobe stretch is that it can be done in degrees.

That means while one person might have a 4 gauge that spans around 5mm, another might have a 00 gauge that’s just over 10mm. So it’s not just ‘I have a pierced earlobe and so do you’, but I have stretched ears and ‘Mine is bigger than yours’.

It’s not being a ‘dedicated follower of fashion’ anymore, but oh boy! Stretched earlobes are popular not just because they show a willingness to embrace this new fashion trend, but because they can be embraced to some degree. In fact, the highest caliber is 20 g to 0.81 mm, while the lowest is 00 g to 10.4 mm.

As the gauge number decreases, the hole size increases. After 00, gauge sizes increase in mm or inches, so there is theoretically no maximum, although most gauge charts show up to 1 inch or even 30mm.

It is safe?

Is it safe to measure the ear? The short answer is yes, if it is done under hygienic conditions and the instructions are followed correctly. The safest way is to have your earlobes stretched by a professional, using hygienic tools and practices. However, you can do it yourself if you are aware of the dangers and understand the procedures to follow.

Some of the problems associated with ear stretching are:

There is a point after which the ear hole will not return to normal. That varies depending on your own physiology and the way the stretch has been carried out.

You may experience a “pop” when the flesh of the ear bulges out and extends beyond the level of the skin. This can be dangerous and disfiguring.

If you decide later that you no longer want this large hole in your earlobe, perhaps for work or some other reason, reconstructive cosmetic surgery is very expensive. Not all businessmen appreciate these embellishments, especially when it comes to certain sectors of the public. It may be meanness on your part, but that’s irrelevant.

What jewelry can I wear?

Forget narrow minded people and get some fabulous jewelry for your stretched piercing. Among the jewelry available for stretched earlobes are beautiful flesh tunnels and plugs that can be embellished with any gemstone or decorative stone of your choice. There seems to be a lack of genuine gemstones to stretch the ears, and diamond, emerald or ruby ​​jewelry is not easy to find.

However, there are many glass, stainless steel and plastic plugs and flesh tunnels, including many decorated with genuine amber and this is one reason why stretched earlobes are so popular. stretching, after which they can proceed to silver, and even specially made platinum or gold plugs and flesh tunnels.

Stretched earlobes are popular in the 21st century because they’re a step up from regular piercings, and with tattoos so ubiquitous, young people have few ways to express their individuality. Stretched piercings are one way, and stretched earlobes are currently considered one of the safest forms of gauge piercings.