I've been thinking about stretching my ears for quite some time. I've read up one people's experiences on it (and their advice), so I don't exactly have NO IDEA about it. I know not to skip gauges, to keep the ears clean - much like you would if you'd have just gotten them pierced, etc.
I was in town on Saturday and thought I'd have a look around the two best known piercing shops and seeing what they had to offer. I had also planned to talk to the person who pierces me and to see what they have to say.
Sadly, Tribal Voice has been closed until this Friday because it's been flooded. So, off I went to Blue Banana.
I was just looking at the plugs, tapers and stuff and one of the cashiers asked if they could help. So I said that I was planning on stretching my ears.
She 'advised' me on starting with 10g (2.4mm) CBRs. She said that my holes are 20g (0.8mm) (they're actually at 14g (1.6mm)), so starting off with more than double the width would obviously be a good idea.
I did buy the CBRs (not for use NOW though, I'm waiting for my crescent stretchers to come through the post 
) and I thought that I'd give it a go; try and get those babies into my ears. I didn't put much effort into it but I could immediately tell that they weren't going to just slide into my ears, so I've left it.
If I'd have followed her advice, I'd probably have very sore, swollen and most likely torn earlobes. I'm so glad that I'm not an idiot.
Let that be a lesson, kids - ask a professional before doing any modding to yourself. The piercers should be happy to give you free information.
Blue Banana... Pierced my cartilage wrong. It got infected. I was told it may never heal properly. I now know better than to go to them! Professionals indeed.
I go to a local shop known as The Trinket Box now, and I've (touch wood) had no problems.
Never thought about stretching my ears, let me know how it goes though. If you decide to do it.