In today’s society, piercings and ear gauges are becoming more and more socially acceptable, but what is with this sudden ear gauging fad? It all started in the beginning of time with the indigenous tribes across the world.

Bone, horn, wood, and stone were generally carved for ear stretching, but other organic materials that had the right shape naturally, from shells to teeth and claws, were also used.

Ears are being stretched today for the same reasons they were being stretched back then, to stand out from a crowd.

For many people, there is an “ouch”  factor when they see someone with a substantial ear lobe stretch, but for those who have it done and are committed, they greatly appreciate it. Ear stretching has become more mainstream in the last decade and different people have become attracted to it because they see it on the catwalks and on celebrities.

Bethel Park graduate Dan Martin has 1 and 1/8 inch gauges. “I was about 16 years old when I first started to gauge my piercings,” Dan said, “when I saw members of a lot of the bands I listened to where it, and I really liked the way it looked.”

It took Dan quite awhile to gauge his ears to 1 and 1/8 inches.

“You’re suppose to allow a month in between stretching,” Dan explained, “but I skipped a few sizes and only waited a couple days, so about 2 months. 1 month to get to about 00, then another month to go up to 1 and 1/8”.

About the pain involved in the process of gauging his ears, Dan said, “It hurt when I first started because I decided to skip a few sizes and get it done rather quickly”.

Ear gauging is a very extreme fad that is starting to become more socially acceptable by the minute, and people across the United States and all over the world are conforming to the new style of body modification.