Stretching Guides
Before discussing methods it is important to note that it is very important that you take your time, listen to your body, allow adequate healing time and only stretch one size (1mm to 1.5mm or 1/16") at a time. The development of scar tissue resulting from improper stretching can make future stretching painful or impossible, affect blood flow to the ear resulting in tissue thinning, and greatly reduce the chances that your ears (or any other stretched piercing) will ever shrink in size should it be necessary.
The “tape wrap” method of stretching is an alternative method of stretching for larger sizes where tapers are less available and significantly more expensive. To use this method, purchase a roll of PTFE (Teflon) tape at any hardware store. Once your lobes are completely healed, take out your current jewelry and put one or two wraps of tape around it, then reinsert the jewelry in your ear. You can do this every few days as your ear adjusts to each new wrap of tape - thus gradually stretching your piercing up to the next size. While this method works quite well for many people, some people find that the Teflon tape gets stuck/attached to the inside of their ear after insertion, thus making removal of the jewelry significantly more difficult. If this happens, you can also try bondage tape, which is available online and at most adult stores. Remember, slow stretching and long healing times are key to healthy lobes.
Do not attempt to use duct tape, electrical tape, or other industrial or household tapes. They contain chemicals in the base tape material and adhesive that are toxic and can cause nasty skin reactions.
Stretching with weight
Historically, weight has been used across many cultures as a way to stretch piercings. It is possible to stretch using heavy jewelry (solid stone plugs at larger sizes, for example), by wearing jewelry specifically design to act as a hanging weight, or by wearing weight through tunnels. Weight through tunnels is the healthiest method for stretching because it allows you to vary the amount of weight, and the tunnel allows the weight itself to be distributed across a larger surface area. Great care must be taken when using weight to stretch - it is very possible, with long term wear of too much weight or weight with a very small surface area (wearing heavy weight jewelry without tunnels) to ruin the elasticity of skin or cause significant irreparable thinning in the area where the weight sits in the piercing.
Your tunnels should be rigid material (implant grade steel or titanium) and not glass or organic, which can break. Cheap CBR (captive bead ring) jewelry is great for wearing through tunnels because they come in an array of sizes and you can wear multiples. 8mm (0g) or 9mm (00g) cheap imported CBR's arenot okay to wear in contact with your skin because they are made from cheap metal and polished poorly, but they make a great option for good weight worn through suitable tunnels when stretching at larger sizes.
Weight should only be used periodically and you should permit your lobes extra time to relax after their use.
Stretching by unaided insertion of larger jewelry (dead stretching)
"Dead" stretching means to insert larger jewelry without the use of tapers, tape, or weights. This method is based on the fact that after wearing a certain size for a long enough period of time, your tissue may naturally relax and loosen, thus making it easier to insert a slightly larger size. Single or non- flared jewelry works best for this method as you do not have to force in a flare. Again, this method does not mean take bigger jewelry and simply shove it into your piercing. You are relying on a long healing time to allow the tissue to relax simply from weight of jewelry at the current size before easing in the next size. Dead stretching is a method that happens naturally for many individuals who regularly wear solid stone plugs or other heavier jewelry. You can aid this process by gently tugging at your jewelry when you're bored.
If the jewelry won't go in easily, the piercing is not ready. Do not force your body to do things it is not ready to do, you will only be impeding your own progress later and doing yourself a disservice.