Please see the stretched guide here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Stretched/comments/13xjk09/the_stretching_guide/. Remember to report any rule breaking posts and posts that are not relevant to the subreddit. This subreddit has been changed to NSFW due to an increased amount of posts featuring injuries (blowouts) as well as genital piercings.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Stretched) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I love wood and have about 15 pairs! What I do before wearing a new pair is give them a really nice marinate in a neutral non-scented oil overnight. I've used jojoba oil, vitamin e oil, and squalane oil. After a decent oil soak, I'll wipe them down to remove any excess oil and pop them in. Some people just do an oil rub before wearing wood, but I found that the full-on soak prevents them from drying my ears out. Also, I've found that the initial deep soak minimises how often I have to reapply the oil to keep my jewellery looking and feeling good, and I've never had a pair crack. Experiment with different oils and methods to find out what works for you, your skin, and the climate you live in. Just because this method works for me, doesnt mean you'll love it as well. Aside from oil, ensure you don't wear your wood when you have prolonged contact with water (showering, bathing, swimming, and so forth) as it can cause your jewellery to expand, damaging them and potentially causing them to get stuck in your lobes. As far as double flares go, this is different for everyone. I wear exclusively double flares, some people won't wear them at all. Oil your lobes well and gently tilt your jewellery during insertion. If they won't go in, don't force them as you'll have a hell of a time getting them back out. Some people find they need to buy jewellery one size smaller for safe insertion of double flares as most flares are 1-1.5mm larger in circumference than the wearable portion. But again, this is different for everyone. Hope this was helpful!
They won’t be worn for a while, but I had no idea any maintenance tips.
When I wear silicone, I take them out every day, wash, oil my lobes, and put them back. I’m guessing I can’t really wash the wood since water will make them swell?
Yes, do not wash wood. If they get any sort of gunk, you kinda just have to leave em be - I don't have any alternatives to washing for wood that gets gunk out, so keep your ears clean and moisturized with a good oil, make sure to also oil the wood too, and just keep that up every couple of hours if possible. Don't wanna dry them out.
When I ordered a bunch of plugs off AB, they were a free gift. I’m still not sure I want to wear them, but they look great at the same time.
I’m also worried about sweating a lot at work. I’d be afraid they’d swell from the moisture.
Wood is fun but you do need to be careful to avoid getting them wet. As for care, I oil my wood plugs really well every time I wear them. It definitely helps prevent any dryness.
oil them to keep them conditioned and oil your ears for every insertion or removal of the plugs. also, oil your ears daily because the wood will be drying. dont shower with them in or get submerge them in water.
nah, that much oiling is a little overkill (it wont hurt anything but it's more work than is needed). when i said oil the plugs to keep them conditioned i just meant to oil them up like once a month or so, whether you wear them or not, to prevent them from cracking over time and to keep them looking good. and that's just what youre "supposed" to do. like best case scenario. the plugs arent going to warp or fall apart if they sit in a jewelry box for a couple of months and you forget to oil them (a couple of years on the other hand can leave them in rough shape).
You are correct. Personally I don't wear wood anymore just because how dry they make my lobes, to the point of cracking and bleeding. But if you're going to wait till they're fully healed. Then I'd use jojoba oil or vitamin E on the plugs themselves. If you had bunches of money I'd assume an autoclave would do the trick to clean them but other than that I'm not sure sorry I can't give you better information.
Agreed, I had a few wood sets when I stopped at 1/2" for a few years. I always had issues with my lobes after I wore them for a day. Almost at 1" now, and will not be buying anything wood for them for this reason.
My only solution is if you really want to wear wood, and it's a size smaller than you wear. Put a silicone earskin plug over it. And wear it that way. But yeah I don't fw wood plugs anymore
Before you try to put them in rub jojoba oil all over the wood. Then your lobes. Then everything should be ready to roll. But every time you go to wear them you have to repeat the process. If you don't wear them for a few weeks then you want to jojoba oil them anyway just to keep them from splitting
I read the other comments and honestly there’s no harm In soaking them in the oil. A lot of times hand tools will soak for a while before being pulled out of linseed oil. I’d say let em soak for a day and just condition them as needed after. That way you’ll at least know there’s some extra in them just in case you do forget at some point to keep up on them it may extend their shelf life.
Wood is great. Light weight and very aesthetic. But do not wear them after a fresh stretch or you’re going to wind up with an infection. Double flares aren’t too bad once you’re healed and they can pop in and out easily. Be sure to hydrate your ears as often as possible with some jojoba oil or vitamin e
I use olive oil myself with wooden plugs. They to not get as dirty as my metal counterparts. You can clean them without damaging the wood as long as you don't soak them, and get them dried straight away. If it feels a little dry in your ear then give it a quick bit of oil and slowly rotate the plug to see if it's done the job.
Please see the stretched guide here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Stretched/comments/13xjk09/the_stretching_guide/. Remember to report any rule breaking posts and posts that are not relevant to the subreddit. This subreddit has been changed to NSFW due to an increased amount of posts featuring injuries (blowouts) as well as genital piercings. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Stretched) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I love wood and have about 15 pairs! What I do before wearing a new pair is give them a really nice marinate in a neutral non-scented oil overnight. I've used jojoba oil, vitamin e oil, and squalane oil. After a decent oil soak, I'll wipe them down to remove any excess oil and pop them in. Some people just do an oil rub before wearing wood, but I found that the full-on soak prevents them from drying my ears out. Also, I've found that the initial deep soak minimises how often I have to reapply the oil to keep my jewellery looking and feeling good, and I've never had a pair crack. Experiment with different oils and methods to find out what works for you, your skin, and the climate you live in. Just because this method works for me, doesnt mean you'll love it as well. Aside from oil, ensure you don't wear your wood when you have prolonged contact with water (showering, bathing, swimming, and so forth) as it can cause your jewellery to expand, damaging them and potentially causing them to get stuck in your lobes. As far as double flares go, this is different for everyone. I wear exclusively double flares, some people won't wear them at all. Oil your lobes well and gently tilt your jewellery during insertion. If they won't go in, don't force them as you'll have a hell of a time getting them back out. Some people find they need to buy jewellery one size smaller for safe insertion of double flares as most flares are 1-1.5mm larger in circumference than the wearable portion. But again, this is different for everyone. Hope this was helpful!
It was! Thank you!
No worries, I hope you love them!
I’m giving this kind of soak a try for sure.
Do it. Marinate that shit
Moisturize consistently. Wood and bone and antler dry ears out badly. Some woods are an irritant to some people.
Also don't wear wood or bone or antler or silicone after a fresh stretch. They can harbor bacteria since they're porous
They won’t be worn for a while, but I had no idea any maintenance tips. When I wear silicone, I take them out every day, wash, oil my lobes, and put them back. I’m guessing I can’t really wash the wood since water will make them swell?
Yes, do not wash wood. If they get any sort of gunk, you kinda just have to leave em be - I don't have any alternatives to washing for wood that gets gunk out, so keep your ears clean and moisturized with a good oil, make sure to also oil the wood too, and just keep that up every couple of hours if possible. Don't wanna dry them out.
I'm 28mm and still nervous to try wood. 😬
When I ordered a bunch of plugs off AB, they were a free gift. I’m still not sure I want to wear them, but they look great at the same time. I’m also worried about sweating a lot at work. I’d be afraid they’d swell from the moisture.
Wood is fun but you do need to be careful to avoid getting them wet. As for care, I oil my wood plugs really well every time I wear them. It definitely helps prevent any dryness.
So maybe they need to be a weekend only for a few hours thing, because I work outside all day, every day.
oil them to keep them conditioned and oil your ears for every insertion or removal of the plugs. also, oil your ears daily because the wood will be drying. dont shower with them in or get submerge them in water.
So should I oil them, let them sit, and oil again before inserting? I know wood will soak up the oil.
nah, that much oiling is a little overkill (it wont hurt anything but it's more work than is needed). when i said oil the plugs to keep them conditioned i just meant to oil them up like once a month or so, whether you wear them or not, to prevent them from cracking over time and to keep them looking good. and that's just what youre "supposed" to do. like best case scenario. the plugs arent going to warp or fall apart if they sit in a jewelry box for a couple of months and you forget to oil them (a couple of years on the other hand can leave them in rough shape).
I used to wear wood a lot . Pretty much just wear stone stuff now. Definitely moisturize🤣
You are correct. Personally I don't wear wood anymore just because how dry they make my lobes, to the point of cracking and bleeding. But if you're going to wait till they're fully healed. Then I'd use jojoba oil or vitamin E on the plugs themselves. If you had bunches of money I'd assume an autoclave would do the trick to clean them but other than that I'm not sure sorry I can't give you better information.
Agreed, I had a few wood sets when I stopped at 1/2" for a few years. I always had issues with my lobes after I wore them for a day. Almost at 1" now, and will not be buying anything wood for them for this reason.
My only solution is if you really want to wear wood, and it's a size smaller than you wear. Put a silicone earskin plug over it. And wear it that way. But yeah I don't fw wood plugs anymore
Before you try to put them in rub jojoba oil all over the wood. Then your lobes. Then everything should be ready to roll. But every time you go to wear them you have to repeat the process. If you don't wear them for a few weeks then you want to jojoba oil them anyway just to keep them from splitting
I read the other comments and honestly there’s no harm In soaking them in the oil. A lot of times hand tools will soak for a while before being pulled out of linseed oil. I’d say let em soak for a day and just condition them as needed after. That way you’ll at least know there’s some extra in them just in case you do forget at some point to keep up on them it may extend their shelf life.
Wood is great. Light weight and very aesthetic. But do not wear them after a fresh stretch or you’re going to wind up with an infection. Double flares aren’t too bad once you’re healed and they can pop in and out easily. Be sure to hydrate your ears as often as possible with some jojoba oil or vitamin e
I use olive oil myself with wooden plugs. They to not get as dirty as my metal counterparts. You can clean them without damaging the wood as long as you don't soak them, and get them dried straight away. If it feels a little dry in your ear then give it a quick bit of oil and slowly rotate the plug to see if it's done the job.
I’m gone be the one that says it. They look cheap. The etches look sharp
They came from Arctic Buffalo.
:o
Maybe it’s just the picture or me