How to Tape Up Plugs

Piercing aficionados with a penchant for more extreme body modifications often stretch their earlobe piercings to 1 inch or larger. Stretches of up to 1/2 inch are usually done with stainless steel tapers, but larger piercings are stretched by wrapping polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape around the plugs worn in the ears. This is because tapers do not exist in very large sizes, and stretches between gauges become larger the bigger you go. Wrapping plugs allows for a gradual stretch and decreases the chance of blowout and pain.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• PTFE tape
• Scissors

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Clean your plugs by washing them with soap and water. Allow them to dry completely.

   • 2

     Cut the end of the PTFE tape straight across with scissors.

   • 3

     Lay the cut end of the tape on the part of the plug that sits in your ear. Wrap the tape all the way around so that it overlaps slightly. Cut the end of the wrap and press it to the first end of the tape to make it stick.

   • 4

     Insert the plug into your ear. If it is loose, repeat steps two and three until the plug is snug.

   • 5

     Wrap another piece of tape around your plugs every two to three days until you reach the next size plug.