According to archaeological findings, the earlobe lift has been popular for many millennia, so why has it been such a long-lasting means of decorating the ears?
Or have the earlobes always been stretched just for decoration, or have there been other more hidden reasons for this practice? It certainly appears that in regions of Africa, South America, and Asia, earlobe stretching has been a tribal practice, and that pulled-out earlobes were not always just a sign of affiliation to 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, whatever the reason, and that could also be a driving force for those looking to stretch their ears today.
The influence of the tattoo
Another reason for the rise in popularity of stretched earlobes is the way tattoos have become ubiquitous among today’s youth, with most having a tattoo somewhere and many sporting half sleeves or full sleeves. Tattooing was something originally done by westerners who traveled the world, 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 common among young people as a means of body adornment until everyone who loved it got a tattoo anywhere on the body. It is no longer a visible sign of being different or ‘modern’, nor are ordinary piercings, including the tragus, septum, eyebrow or lips that are also common in the 21st century.
Stretched earlobes – a matter of degree
Today, the ear lift can be used as a fashion statement more than any simple piercing or tattoo, and the stretched earlobes are one more step from the traditional ear piercing that stretched out into multiple piercings and then piercings. in other parts of the body. One aspect of the earlobe lift is that it can be done in degrees.
That means that while one person may have a 4 gauge that extends around 5mm, another may have a 00 gauge in just over 10mm. So it’s not just ‘I have a pierced earlobe and so are you’, but I have my ears stretched out and ‘Mine is bigger than yours’.
It’s no longer about being a ‘dedicated fashion follower’ but how much! Stretched earlobes are popular not only because they show the willingness to embrace this new fashion trend, but because it can be adopted gradually. In fact, the highest gauge is 20 g to 0.81 mm, while the lowest is 00 g to 10.4 mm.
As the gauge number is reduced, the hole size increases. After 00, the 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 calibrate the ears? The short answer is yes, if it is done in hygienic conditions and the instructions are followed correctly. The safest way is to have your earlobes extended by a professional, using hygienic tools and practices. However, you can do it yourself if you know the dangers and understand the procedures to follow.
Some of the problems associated with ear lift 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 performed.
You can suffer a ‘blowout’ when the flesh in your ear explodes and spreads beyond the level of the skin. This can be dangerous and disfiguring.
If you decide at a later date that you no longer want this big hole in your earlobe, perhaps for work or for some other reason, reconstructive cosmetic surgery is very expensive. Not all employers appreciate these adornments, especially when it comes to certain sections of the public. They may be petty on their part, but that’s irrelevant.
What jewelry can I wear?
Forget narrow-minded people and get fabulous jewelry for your stretched piercing. Among the jewelry available for stretched earlobes are some beautiful flesh tunnels and plugs that can be adorned 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 plenty of glass, stainless steel and plastic plugs and meat tunnels including many decorated with genuine amber and this is one of the reasons that stretched earlobes are so popular Most of the people They tend to tolerate organic or glass jewelry in the early days of their life. stretching, after which they can move on to silver, and even to specially made platinum or gold plugs and meat tunnels.
Stretched earlobes are popular in the 21st century because they are a step beyond normal piercings, and with tattoos so ubiquitous, young people have few ways to express their individuality. Stretched piercings are one shape, and stretched earlobes are currently considered one of the safest forms of gauged piercings.
