Why won't my new cartilage stud fit?

Are you struggling to fit your new 16 gauge jewellery in your cartilage piercing?
Don't worry, we're here to help!

Why won't my 16 gauge jewellery fit?

Most needle cartilage piercings are pierced with a 16 gauge (1.2mm) needle and fitted with 16g initial jewellery for healing, however if you had your ear pierced with a gun, it will have a with a much thinner post around 20 gauge. The reason why you're having trouble is because your piercing hole simply isn't wide enough for the 16 gauge jewellery. If you were pierced with a 16g needle but removed the jewellery and started wearing thinner earrings, this will cause your piercing hole to shrink down to the size of the earring being worn.

Cartilage Piercing Gauge Size Chart

16 gauge	1.2mm
18 gauge	1.0mm
20 gauge	0.8mm

What gauge is a normal stud earring?

A traditional stud earring with a butterfly back earring is 20 gauge thickness.

What gauge are cartilage earrings?

Earrings for cartilage piercings such as helix, tragus and conch are usually 16 gauge thickness. The style of earring could be a labret, barbell, clicker or seamless ring.

Is there a big difference between 16g and 18g earrings?

There is 0.2mm difference between 16 gauge and 18 gauge earrings, which doesn't seem like much but it can be the difference between your earring fitting through your piercing hole or not which is why it's important to make sure you know the size you need for your individual piercing.

Can I wear 16g earrings in a 18g piercing hole?

Yes, it's possible to wear 16g earrings in an 18g piercing hole but you will need to slightly stretch your piercing first. It's advised to use a labret taper to gradually make the hole larger.

Is 16 gauge suitable for a normal piercing?

A 16 gauge hollow needle is used for new lobe and cartilage piercings, since any licensed professional piercer will refuse to use a gun. If you were pierced with a gun, your piercing hole will be smaller than 16 gauge so you may struggle to wear 16 gauge earrings once your piercing is healed. It's possible to stretch your piercing to 16g so you can wear 16 gauge piercing jewellery. The best way to do this is to use a labret taper. A taper is a Stainless Steel tool which gradually gets thicker to slowly stretch the piercing hole, it starts at 20g and finishes at 16g.

How do I use a taper to stretch my cartilage piercing?

Use a labret taper after showering as the warm water softens and loosens the skin making it easier to stretch. Once you can fit the taper all the way to the thicker end, you'll be able to put your thicker piercing jewellery through. It may take a bit of time and perseverance and it may be a little sore for the first few hours once fitted but it will subside.