With the growing popularity of body piercings. Freedom lovers are shocking grandmas around the world with bigger gauges. If and when you choose to guage up it is always safest to hire a piercing professional. If you try the DIY method minimize the risk of infection by stretching gradually.

1: Get the tools, supplies and jewelry you will need:

Antibacterial mild liquid soap - Dial or equivelant

Sterile gloves

Lubricant JELLY - KY or equivelant

Rubbing alcohol

Tools - Do not try to go up more than one gauge at a time. A gradual stretch is far less risky. A standard ear piercing is 20 gauge. Stretch up to 18 gauge then 16 gauge, tools are not necessary for these smaller gauges. You can easily stretch with your jewelry ie... steel horseshoes or captive bead rings. Choose a medium to large diameter ring ie... 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8" or 1 inch. Small diameter rings ie... 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" - are harder to work with because the opening is so small and your fingers will get in the way. 

Use 316L surgical steel, acrylic or formica tapers when going through the larger guages... 14g, 12g, 10g, 8g, 6g, 4g, 2g, 0g (8mm), 00g (9mm), 000g (10mm), 7/16" (11mm), 1/2" (12mm), 9/16" (14mm), 5/8" (16mm), 11/16" (18mm), 3/4" (19mm), 13/16" (20mm).

***NEVER USE ORGANIC TOOLS (TAPERS AND SPIRALS) OR JEWELRY WHEN STRETCHING YOUR EAR LOBES (OR OTHER BODY PIERCINGS)!!! ORGANIC BONE/HORN, IVORY, WOOD AND STONE SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN HEALED PIERCINGS. NEVER IN RECENTLY STRETCHED PIERCINGS.***

Jewelry - 316L Surgical steel internally threaded horseshoes work great. Choose a medium to large diameter... 1/2" or 5/8". 316L surgical steel or acrylic plugs and captive bead rings can also be used in recently stretched lobes.

If you're waiting for your jewelry and tools in the mail you can prepare the piercing by gently pulling and spinning your existing jewelry. This will make the stretch less painful and time consuming.

2: Sterilize

When you have your supplies. Sterilize everything with rubbing alcohol: bottles, tapers, jewelry, hands and ear lobes.

3: Stretch

Put on gloves and apply lubricant to the small point of the taper. Apply lubricant often,  keeping the area moist. DO NOT LET THE PIERCING DRY OUT!

Begin pushing it through the piercing. Slowly working the taper through the hole. This process could take seconds or hours depending on your preperation and skin elasticity. Keep your hands clean throughout the process.

When you've reached the largest point of the taper. Place your jewelry flush with the end of the taper. Pull the taper out from the back of your ear lobe while pushing the jewelry through the front of the earlobe. Lubricate the jewelry for easier insertion.

4: Aftercare

Keep the area clean with antibacterial soap. Keep the piercing moist with lubricant, spinning the jewelry often, until you can spin the jewelry easily without lubricant. Allow at least 2 weeks in between gauges.