What to use and what to avoid for a good stretch?

If you read below you'll see I've used ear stretching horns to stretch and up size and also gone up one size with no stretcher. Well since my last post I've tried some more jewellery in my piercings. So here's my advice.

Stainless steel tunnels( pictured above) - These are great with on flared end and "O" ring at the back to keep them in place. The back end of them is smooth curved, they will send any gauged piercing up by one mm in size everytime with just alittle pain and slide back out easily too. You can go up a size with one of these after a week or less after the initial stretch.

Flared end Pluggs & tunnels - these are no good for going up a size or even putting in to a newely gauged(stretched) piercing. The problem being they are generally flared at bothe ends to half a mm or so above the gauge they are rated at. So your stretch piercing will need to stretch some more any how. they go in a treat after your are 5-6 weeks healed but even then can't really be used to go up a size easily. They are also no good to clean as the don't move much as they are a tight fit, hard to pull out some times.

Normal pluggs - These are great the flat ended ones with the "o" rings at either end are o.k as they tend to have a slight bezel edge. The best ones are the glass ones with the "o" rings as the tend to be very round ended, they are the best.

Screw backs - Screw backs are o.k for going up a size but a little sore, I say sore as the the thread from the screw back tends to ripp the inside of the hole if you are going up a size. once in they are easy to clean.

Suggestions - when stretching up one size with out a stretcher, anti septic cream helps it slide in nicely as if there not wet in some way it can be a little rough. I used to use spirits but it some time caused the hole to contract. I guess you could use ky jelly if you have some knocking around or vasaline. Lubrication of any type really helps.