Ear stretching (also called ear gauging) is when you gradually stretch out pierced holes in your earlobes. Given enough time, the size of these holes could be anywhere from the diameter of a pencil to that of a soda can.
What do ear gauges symbolize?
History has shown us that ear stretching was initially used to show that an individual belonged to a group or a tribe. It was accepted by the group and they were marked as being “one of us”. When someone did not have stretched ears they were considered to be an outsider or someone who did not belong to the tribe.
Why do people have gauged ears?
Ear stretching allows people to wear unique types of jewelry in their ears known as “spacers” or “gauges.” Some people stretch their ears because of cultural traditions, while others just like how it looks.
What religion stretches ears?
Aztec and Mayan men are traditionally known to have had stretched ears. The Aztecs crafted plugs from gold and silver for the higher-class men whereas the lower class wore materials such as shells, wood, and copper. The same idea can be seen with the Mayas.
What are gauged ears called?
Plugs are sometimes called earplugs or earspools. In the world of body modification, plugs refer to the short, cylindrical jewelry worn with larger-gauge body piercings.
Why did King Tut stretch his ears?
This shows that everyday Egyptians wore ear jewellery and modified their ears at a young age, and often removed or discarded them once they reached adulthood. That’s likely the reason why the ear stretching was only depicted for King Tut’s mask over other pharaohs is because he died quite young.
Where did gauges come from?
Gauges are old measures of thickness. They originated in the British iron wire industry at a time when there was no universal unit of thickness. The sizes of the gauge numbers were the result of the process of wire-drawing and the nature of iron as a substance.
How do you get your ears gauged?
If you’ve always wanted to stretch your ears to accommodate gauges, you can do so from the comfort of your home. Just get your ears pierced at a local studio, then use professional tools like tapers and surgical tape to stretch the holes out over time.
Does gauging your ears hurt?
Does ear stretching hurt? Ear stretching tends to tingle or sting but it shouldn’t hurt a lot. If your earlobe feels tight or you’re in pain after inserting the taper or plug, then the size is too big and you should opt for something smaller.
Are gauges healthy?
Each time you insert a new gauge, you run the risk for infection. Here’s why. When you stretch the ear lobe, you are opening up a wound that is trying to heal. Any gauges or instruments that aren’t sterile have the potential to introduce bacteria into the wound.
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What does ear stretching mean in Africa?
The Mursi tribe in Ethiopia practices the custom of stretching their ears and their mouths as a sign of respect. Traditionally around 15 years of age and before marriage, a girl’s lip and ears are pierced. The stretched ears and lip show that the girl has grown into a woman and is now able to have children.
Do gauged ears go back to normal?
Most people can go between 2g (6mm) – 00g (10mm) and expect their ears to revert back to a normal piercing, after a few months of healing. If you want don’t want stretched ears forever, be sure to stretch slowly and never skip sizes.
Why did Egyptians pierce their ears?
The first ear piercings arose amongst primitive tribes for magical purposes. Believing that demons and spirits were repelled by metal, the tribe’s wore metallic ear piercings to prevent the penetration of bad spirits. … Egyptians wore earrings to display their wealth and portray their beauty.
Can you sleep with gauges in your ears?
Remove them often. Choose sensibly the plugs and tunnels to wear while sleeping. The only items we can safely recommend for wearing while asleep are the soft silicon plugs and tunnels. … Some flared items can slip deeper into the ear than intended while leaning on them while asleep.
What type of gauges are best for your ears?
Steel. Steel, specifically 316l surgical steel, is widely considered the best choice when stretching your ears from one gauge to another. It can be boiled or autoclaved (if you have one available) and is non-porous, which greatly reduces the chance for infection.
What are the gauge sizes for ears?
Standard ear piercings are usually pierced at 20g or 18g. Gauge sizes go up (or down, depending on how you look at it) in even numbers from there, so the next largest size from an 18g is 16g, then 14g, then 12g, and so on. When you get to 0g, the next size is 00g (pronounced “double zero gauge”).