Use a taper or have a shop taper it out.
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To fit a 16 gauge earring into an 18 gauge piercing, you'll need to stretch the piercing slowly and carefully using tapers or gradually increasing the size of the jewelry over time. It's important to allow enough healing time between stretches to prevent irritation or damage to the piercing. Consulting a professional piercer for guidance and assistance is recommended for this process.
A normal post earring typically has a gauge of around 20 to 22 and a length of about 10-12 millimeters. This size is common for standard ear piercings and is comfortable for most people to wear.
The standard gauge for most ear piercings, such as earlobes, is typically 20 gauge. However, cartilage piercings may be done at a slightly larger gauge, often 18 or 16 gauge. It's important to consult with a professional piercer to determine the most suitable gauge for your specific piercing.
The next size smaller after 16 gauge is 18 gauge. Smaller gauge numbers indicate thicker wire diameters, so as the gauge number decreases, the wire thickness increases.
A dime is approximately 18mm in diameter, which is close to 11/16 inch. In gauge sizes, 11/16 inch is usually equated to around 17-18 gauge for ear piercings, although individual anatomy can vary. It's recommended to consult with a professional piercer for accurate sizing and fitting.
18 gauge is 0.0478 inches thick. In general, the lower the gauge number, the thicker the metal.