Piercing Mania offers you all sorts of information about all piercing types. This blog covers a very popular piercing type, ear stretchers and tapers. We already mentioned them shortly in the ‘All information about piercings’, this blog is a bit more extensive.
Everyone knows the standard earring, and most are aware of the relatively new plugs and tunnels. But there is another option to wear in your ear. Stretchers are used for stretching the earlobe to place plugs and tunnels, but with the wide variety that comes with stretchers and tapers they are much more than just a tool for stretching. You can divide tapers and stretchers into five categories, all of which you can find in the ‘Tapers / Stretchers’ category.
- The stretcher
- The curve taper
- The buffalo taper
- The spiral taper
- The stirrup hanger
The stretcher
The most classical and simplest taper is the stretcher. It is a fully straight taper and, therefore, perfect for stretching, which explains the name. A stretcher is a straight bar that widens in thickness. A stretcher is placed in such a way that there should only be a little bit visible at the front end of the lobe. Small rubber rings, o-rings, are used to keep the stretcher in place.
Because a stretcher is much longer than the earlobe’s thickness it will protrude at the back. This gives a stretcher it’s cool look as it emphasizes the fact that the ear is impaled. A plug or tunnel won’t give that impression as much.
But besides looks, the stretcher is also a useful tool. As mentioned before the stretcher varies in thickness which can be used to stretch the earlobe. When stretching it might mean that you can’t immediately wear it with most of it at the back of the ear. As stretching takes some time for the skin to strecht out you’ll have to start with the thinnest part.
If you know you want to stretch to a certain point you can get an ear stretch set which are bonus packs that contain ascending stretchers.
The size of a stretcher is always measured at its thickest point!
The curved taper
A logical follow-up is the curved taper. It looks roughly the same as a stretcher but, as the name implies, it is slightly curved. This does create a whole other look. Just like a stretcher the curve taper can be used to stretch earlobes and is held in place with o-rings.
The size of a curve taper is always measured at its thickest point!
The buffalo taper
The buffalo taper is like the curve taper but with a much bigger curve. Where the curve taper is only slightly curved the buffalo taper is almost fully round. It’s shape looks a set of (buffalo) horns from which it got its name. Although some claim that a buffalo taper can be used to stretch earlobes it isn’t recommended due to its strong curvature. Read the ‘Stretching Guide’ for more information about stretching.
A big difference between a curve taper and a buffalo taper is that the buffalo taper is less protruding at the back. Chances of the taper hitting you neck are slimmer. For some a big nuisance, others couldn’t care less.
As any other taper, the buffalo taper is measured at its thickest point.
The spiral taper
The spiral taper, in its turn a lot like the buffalo taper, but with an even stronger curvature. With its strong curvature the spiral taper ‘hangs’ from the ear, like most earrings. Therefore, it doesn’t need o-rings (with some exceptions) to keep the taper in place. It also creates a high ‘impaled’ look. Due to its strong curvature it isn’t recommended that you use spiral tapers for stretching.
As all the other tapers, the spiral taper is measured at its thickest point, which is often the highest point.
The stirrup hanger
A rather different taper is the stirrup hanger. The stirrup hanger is quite unknown but is very striking with its elegant looks. The stirrup hanger is a lot like an earring but really emphases that the ear is stretched and pierced. With is often impressive and outstanding designs a really unique type of taper. They are not meant to be used for stretching!
A stirrup hanger doesn’t require o-rings as it ‘hangs’ like an earring. Its size is measured at its thickest point, which is often also the highest point as that is where they are meant to be worn.
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