| How to Close Gauged Ears Posted: 05 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT If you're starting a new job or just want a new look, consider your options for closing stretched ears. Although they won't completely seal shut, you can reduce the size of the holes by wearing smaller gauged jewelry. Once you've removed the jewelry, massage your ears with oil to help the scar tissue heal. For the best appearance, consider getting surgery to stitch the holes shut and restore the shape of your ear lobes. EditReducing Gauge Size - Set realistic expectations. Because your ear lobes have healed around the tunnel, plug, or taper you used to stretch the ear, your ears will never completely close. Keep in mind that your best expectation is to shrink the size of the holes. If you experienced tearing, infections, or blowouts, your ears may not shrink as much. Other factors that determine how much your ears will shrink include:
- The size of your holes.
- How long and gradually you stretched.
- How elastic your skin is.
- Decrease your plug by 1 size and wear it for at least 3 to 4 days. Choose a smaller plug, tunnel, or taper and put it in your ear. Leave the smaller piece in your ear for 3 to 4 days or up to a week so your ear gradually shrinks to hold it.
- If you switch to drastically smaller sizes too quickly, they may fall out of your ear.
- For example, if your normal gauge is a 000g (10.4 mm), put a 00g (9.26 mm) in your ear.
- Continue to decrease the gauge until you're wearing a 17g (1.14 mm). After your ears can comfortably hold the smaller piece, switch to the next smaller size gauge. Keep it in for another 3 to 4 days or up to a week. Keep decreasing the gauge until you're at the smallest gauge.
- The smallest gauge is 20g (0.812 mm) which fits a standard wire earring.
- Remove the gauge and gently rinse your ear lobes with water. Carefully remove the plugs, tunnels, or tapers once they're at the smallest gauge. Then dip a clean cloth or cotton swab in cool water and wipe your ear lobes to clean them.
- Avoid cleaning your ears with antiseptic. This will sting badly and dry out your ear lobes.
EditEncouraging the Holes to Close - Massage your ear lobes daily with oil. Once the plugs, tapers, or tunnels are out of your ear lobes, take the time to massage your ear lobes every day. Dip your fingers in a little jojoba or vitamin E oil and then rub the oil into your lobes for a minutes or two.[1]
- You can also use ear butter, which is a mixture of both jojoba and vitamin E oil.
- Try applying a hemorrhoid cream to speed the healing time. Although research is needed, some people believe that spreading a dab of hemorrhoid cream on the holes will reduce the scar tissue and allow the holes to close faster. Use your fingers or a cotton swab to rub the cream over the holes.[2]
- Hemorrhoid cream also contains a local anesthetic that will relieve any pain that you might have as your ears close.
- Continue to massage the lobes for several months. If you didn't stretch your ears very much or didn't wear plugs, tunnels, or tapers for very long, your ears will probably close within a few months.
- If you stretched your ears considerably or wore the jewelry for years, remember that your ears may not close completely.
EditGetting Surgery - Talk with a surgeon about the procedure. The surgeon will explain how they'll snip off some of the extra skin from the ear lobe and stitch back in place. The surgeon will try to make the earlobe match its original shape and curve although there will probably be a small scar in the center of the lobe.[3]
- Discuss possible complications of the surgery. For example, you might develop an infection, pain, redness or irritation, bleeding, and skin sensitivity.
- Consider the high cost of surgery. Although surgery is your best option for closing stretched ears, it's also the most expensive option. Most ear lobe reconstruction surgeries cost between $1,500 and $3,000.[4]
- Keep in mind that most insurance companies won't cover this procedure because it's considered to be cosmetic.
- Schedule the surgery to close the holes. If you do opt for the surgery, plan on a short procedure. You'll get a local anesthetic and the procedure should take less than 1 hour. A cosmetic surgeon will cut the ear and stitch together the lobe to repair the appearance.[5]
- Most surgeons will make lots of very fine stitches so the scars aren't very noticeable.
- Care for your earlobes after the surgery. Follow the doctor's care guidelines following the surgery. For example, you'll probably need to apply antibiotic ointment or cream to the earlobes for the first few days after surgery. The doctor may recommend that you put small bandages on the earlobes as they heal.[6]
- Your ears will probably feel painful or look bruised for a few days. Take over-the-counter pain medications to manage the pain.
- Ask your surgeon if the stitches will dissolve on their own or if they need to be removed after 1 week.
- Never use sandpaper to "irritate" the ear into healing itself. This can cause even more damage to the ear and prevent healing.
- Avoid "filling" the hole with superglue or toothpaste. These will damage the ear even more.
EditThings You'll Need - Smaller gauges in a variety of sizes
- Clean cloth or cotton swabs
- Hemorrhoid cream
- Jojoba or vitamin E oil
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Wear Dresses in the Fall Posted: 05 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT Dresses are easy to layer and dress up or down, making them the perfect fall wardrobe staple. Transition your dresses into the fall season by layering them with tops and outerwear such as sweaters, jackets, and coats. Add some cute cold-weather accessories, such as a scarf and a hat, and complete the look with a stylish pair of footwear. Rock your finished fall-weather look with confidence! EditLayering with Tops - Wear a simple white T-shirt under a slip dress for a casual, stylish outfit. The T-shirt will keep your neck and shoulders warm, as well as balance out the chic slip dress with a casual element. Make sure to pair this outfit with a long, warm overcoat, since slip dresses are made of a thin material.[1]
- For example, you could pair a long, olive-colored slip dress with a white T-shirt and a blazer-style overcoat.
- Wear a chunky sweater over a dress for a comfortable, chic look. Play with the length of the sweater and the dress for several different looks. For example, you could wear a longer sweater that lets a bit of dress peek out at the bottom, or you could pair a cropped sweater and a dress with a fuller skirt. You could also go for the classic dress and cardigan pairing.[2]
- For a playful, cute look, put a long red sweater over a shorter cream-colored dress and a pair of ankle boots. If it's cold out, add some tights or tall socks.
- Layer a fitted turtleneck under a sleeveless dress for a clean silhouette. A long-sleeved top will keep you warm and streamline your outfit. Choose a close-fitting turtleneck made of thinner material to pair underneath your dress, such as a thin cotton or rayon material. Avoid bulkier turtlenecks made from wool or with a chunky knit pattern, which will make the dress look lumpy and wrinkly.[3]
- For example, you could wear a simple cream turtleneck underneath a sleeveless mustard-colored dress.
- Wear a shift dress over tailored trousers for a boxy, modern feel. Add a crisp button-down oxford and a pair of heels to complete the look. This style combines 60s-style tailoring, office-wear chic, and clean lines.[4]
- To try this style, wear a white button-down shirt, a pair of cream dress pants, and a structured, rust-colored shift dress. For footwear, opt for a pair of black heels.
EditAdding Outerwear - Wear a leather jacket over a floral summer dress for an edgy touch. The combination of a feminine floral pattern and a structured leather jacket can balance out a cute outfit with a tough, cool piece. [5] This look also works well for both daytime and nighttime.[6]
- For example, you could wear a black dress with a pink and white floral pattern beneath a simple black moto-style leather jacket.
- Wear a fancier coat to make the outfit stylish and work-appropriate. Options such as a camel coat, a lightweight trench coat, and a thick blazer look especially good with a midi-length dress, which ends mid-calf, or a shift dress.[7]
- A camel coat combines the perfect color and thick, warm fabric for a fall outfit. Pair it with a fitted black midi-length dress for a simple, sophisticated outfit.
- The combination of a boxy, masculine blazer and a flowy, feminine dress is a popular style, perfect for wearing around town or to the office.[8]
- Try wearing a blush trench coat over a navy shirtdress for a Parisian-inspired outfit.
- Opt for a casual jacket to dress down the look. Pick a bomber jacket or denim jacket to layer over a dress if you want to keep things casual. This is a popular street style look, perfect for attending casual events, running errands, or going out for the night.
- Try wearing a taupe slip dress with a simple white T-shirt under an olive green bomber jacket for an effortlessly cool look.
- You could also pair a summer dress with a dark-wash denim jacket and a pair of tights for a casual but put-together outfit.
EditChoosing Accessories - Wear a pair of opaque tights under your dress for warmth and coverage. Tights are a perfect addition to make your outfit cold weather-ready. You could go for a pair of classic black tights, or try a more daring color like navy or burgundy. When the fall weather starts to turn even colder, switch your normal tights to a pair that's fleece-lined.
- For example, you could wear a pair of fleece-lined black tights underneath a burgundy sweater dress and a light grey coat for maximum warmth. Finish the look with some black leather riding boots.
- Cinch the waist in with a belt to make a silhouette more flattering. Add a belt to a loose, baggy dress to emphasize your waist and add a point of interest to the outfit.[9] You could choose a simple black belt with a metal buckle, or you could go for something with more detail, such as an embroidered, chain, or suede belt.
- For example, you could cinch in a denim shirt dress with a black leather belt that features a vintage silver buckle. Add a pair of suede ankle boots and a patterned scarf to complete the look.
- Add a long, soft blanket scarf for warmth and versatility. Wear your blanket scarf wrapped around the neck or as a wrap, depending on how cold it is outside. Choose a soft, lightweight fabric and a neutral color, such as black, gray, navy, taupe, or cream.[10]
- Pair an olive-colored shift dress with a cream-colored coat and arrange a taupe blanket scarf around your shoulders. Add a pair of tall brown suede boots.
- Add a knit or felt hat to complete the outfit. Pretty knit hats are both cute and functional. Pair these with more casual outfits.[11] Brimmed felt hats also add some stylishness to the outfit, particularly when paired with dressier outfits.
- Pair a black-and-white striped T-shirt dress with a pink bomber jacket, then add a white beanie and white sneakers to create a casual cool-weather look.
- Go with a pair of tall boots to stay warm and chic. Choose between a classic pair of knee-high riding boots or a daring pair of fitted over-the-knee suede boots.[12] Wear some tights or add a pair of cozy knit socks to your riding boots for extra warmth.
- Let the tops of the socks peek out above the boots for a cozy, layered look.
- For example, you could pair some charcoal suede over-the-knee boots with a black fitted turtleneck and a burgundy sleeveless dress.
- Opt for a classic pair of ankle boots for style and versatility. These shoes are a popular fall staple, perfect for pairing with any length of dress, from summer dresses to maxi dresses.[13] Choose a sleek leather pair for instant class or a pair in suede for a soft, autumnal texture.[14]
- For example, you could wear a rust-colored T-shirt dress with a chunky cream-colored cardigan and some tan leather ankle boots.
- Trade in your summer sandals for a pair of heels to wear with dresses. Pairing your summer dresses with pumps instead of sandals will help you stay warm, chic, and fall-appropriate. Go for a pair in a neutral shade, such as black, navy, or taupe, and choose a pair of opaque tights that matches.
- For example, you could wear a patterned, burgundy summer dress with some black tights and a pair of black pumps. Add a warm gray blazer to finish off the look.
- As a general rule, you should never wear more than 3 layers at a time.[15]
- Choose clothes in autumnal colors to match the season. Colors like cream, red, orange, rust, and mustard are perfect for the fall weather.[16]
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Survive in the Wild Posted: 05 Oct 2018 01:00 AM PDT Whether you're lost in the forest or testing your mettle against nature, you need to be prepared if you're trying to survive in the wild. Certain survivalist celebrities might tell you to drink specific bodily fluids. But, as long as you stick to the basics and do what you have to to find water, build a shelter, obtain food, and stay warm, those celebrities will be eating crow figuratively while you potentially eat crow literally. EditFinding Water - Locate a body of water like a river, stream, lake, or pond. Water flows downhill, so you should look for bodies of water in depressions in the earth and valleys. If you're in a mountainous region, there's a reasonable chance that if you walk parallel to a mountain you'll find a stream or river eventually.[1]
- If you do find a body of water, you should build your shelter near it. Don't build the shelter on the water's edge, though, because chances are that (possibly dangerous) animals will frequent the area to quench their thirst.[2]
- Sterilize water from lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. You should always boil any water that you collect from a body of water in nature.[3] If you have a metal container, you can put it on your fire to boil for at least 20 minutes to sterilize it. If you don't have a container you can put onto a fire, you can still boil the water with a boiling pit.[4]
- To boil water with a boiling pit, dig a hole approximately long by wide by deep next to your campfire.[5]
- Then, separate out the clay from the soil (it will be sticky and reddish), and line the hole with the clay, making sure there are no cracks or openings in the layer of clay.[6]
- Then, use a container like a hat or a shoe to transport water from your water source to the boiling pit until it's full[7]
- Once your pit is full, heat rocks on your campfire. Heat them for approximately 10 minutes, then start dropping them in the pit. Rotate freshly hot rocks with ones in the pit that have cooled down until you have a steady boil for 20 minutes.[8]
- Dig for water if you can't find a lake, pond, stream, or river. Before you go to sleep, dig a hole that is approximately long by wide by deep. The hole should fill with water overnight. The water will be muddy, so you should strain it with a piece of cloth like your shirt.[9]
- If you don't have a container to strain your water into, you can use your shirt to soak up water and then wring it into your mouth. The shirt should hold on to most of the mud.[10]
- Use your shirt to collect moisture from the ground and plants if you can't find other water. In the mornings, you can use your shirt to collect dew. Just press it into the ground and it should soak up some water that you can wring into your mouth. During the day, trail your shirt behind you through the underbrush. It should pick up some moisture from the leaves that you can also wring into your mouth.[11]
- Follow ants climbing trees to find pockets of moisture in the bark. If you see ants climbing trees, there's a good chance they're traveling toward a deposit of moisture that is collecting in one of the tree's grooves. Follow the line of ants to their destination on the tree and, if it's within reach, press your shirt against the water deposit to soak up the moisture. Then you can wring the water into your mouth.[12]
- Be careful not to swallow any ants using this method; they could have pincers. [13]
EditBuilding a Shelter - Find a fallen tree or cliffside. You'll want to build your shelter against a large surface that can block out any wind and hide you from predatory animals. Search near your water source (if you have one) for fallen trees or rock outcroppings.[14]
- Make sure there are no animals already living in the vicinity.[15]
- Lean large branches against the tree or cliffside. The forest floor is usually littered with fallen branches, so you shouldn't need to chop any off of the trees themselves. Search for larger branches in the forest, and lean them against the tree or rock as close together as possible.[16]
- Ideally, the branches should be as straight as possible and approximately in length and to in diameter.[17]
- Make the shelter small, but still large enough to fit your whole body if it's curled up. The smaller the shelter, the easier it will be for you to warm it with your body heat.[18]
- Fill in the gaps between the larger branches with smaller ones. No matter how straight your large branches are or how close together you place them, there will be gaps between them. Fill in those gaps with smaller branches. Then, cover the entire shelter with leaves and debris from the forest floor.[19]
- Line the ground inside the shelter with dry leaves or pine needles. You won't be able to conserve body heat if you're sleeping on the damp ground. Pile a layer of dry leaves or pine needles (or both) inside your shelter to provide some insulation against the cold dirt beneath you.[20]
- You should replace the bedding in your shelter every day that you can find dry leaves or needles.[21]
- Build your shelter around a depression in the ground if you're in the desert. If you're in a desert rather than a forested area, start your shelter by digging a depression in the ground. Use the sand you dig up to form a protective barrier around the depression. Then, cover the depression with brush if you can find it or with any cloth you might have available to protect yourself from the elements.[22]
- Make a snow trench shelter if you're in a colder climate. To build a snow trench shelter, dig a trench into the snow a little longer than your body and pile the snow you dig up around the trench to form a barrier against the elements. Then, create the roof of your shelter by forming a lattice pattern with sticks over your shelter and pile packed snow on top.[23]
EditObtaining Food - Eat bugs. Bugs can be a good source of protein and sustenance when you're out in the wild. Search on the ground and dig in the dirt for bugs like worms, beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. Look in particular in patches of damp earth and in rotting logs. Bugs love moisture.[24]
- Don't just eat any bug, because some are poisonous or have pincers.[25]
- Before you eat the bugs, remove their extremities and outer shells if they have them. Then crush them with a rock and cook the pulp over your fire.[26]
- Use trees for nuts and edible bark. Search at the base of trees for edible nuts like acorns. These can be roasted on a fire and are a valuable source of protein.[27] Some trees, particularly pines, spruces, and firs (all evergreens with needles) also have edible inner bark. Once you've found one of these trees, you can dig into the bark with a rock to get to the rubbery, cream-colored edible inner layer.[28]
- Pine needles can also be steeped in hot water to make a tea. Pine needle tea is a source of valuable nutrients, particularly Vitamin C.[29]
- Do not drink pine needle tea if you are pregnant, as it has been shown to be harmful to unborn babies.[30]
- Search for bird nests on the ground and in low-hanging branches. As you move around during the day, keep an eye out for bird nests on the ground among tree roots or in the branches of trees with eggs in them. You can collect the eggs, and even possibly catch the bird itself if you hang out until it returns to the nest.[31]
- To cook an egg without a pan, gently tap a hole in the top wide by long with a small branch.[32]
- Then, use a stick to pull some of the coals from the fire to the edge of your fire pit, and make a bed for the egg with a circular depression in it.[33]
- Place the egg in the coal bed and let it cook for approximately 5 to 10 minutes (you should be able to tell if it's cooked by looking through the hole on the top).[34]
- Once the egg is cooked, you can peel off the shell and eat it![35]
- Fashion a spear and carry it with you to catch small animals. Find a young hardwood sapling and use a rock to cut it down. You'll want a sapling that is approximately in length and at least to in diameter. Use your rock to cut off any branches and sharpen the end into a point. Then harden the point by holding it over your fire.[36]
- If you carry your spear with you during the day, you can use it to opportunistically kill small animals like rabbits, squirrels, frogs, and fish that you can roast over your fire.[37]
- Look for cactus plants and lizards to eat if you're in the desert. A wide variety of cactus plants have edible pads (leaves) that can be eaten raw. First, wrap your hand in your shirt to protect it from the spines and break the pads off the plant. Then, use a rock to scrape off the spines before eating the pad. To catch a lizard, on the other hand, try to act opportunistically. If there are lizards nearby, sit as still as possible until they approach, then grab them as quickly as you can.[38]
- If you intend to eat a lizard, cook it as thoroughly as possible to avoid salmonella. Focus on eating the tail meat. Avoid the mouth, because that's where salmonella tends to be most prevalent.[39]
- Focus on finding fish in colder climates. If you're near the ocean in a colder climate, you can catch fish by digging holes in areas where the high tide meets the low tide (you'll have to observe the tides first to identify the right places for your holes). Fish will get trapped in these holes as the tide recedes. If you're not near the ocean, you can still catch fish by fashioning a spear and using to catch fish in rivers and lakes.[40]
EditBuilding a Fire - Build a fire pit. Make a fire pit at least away from your shelter by digging a hole long by wide by deep with a rock and circling the edge of the hole with stones.[41]
- Once you've dug your fire pit, form a small pile of leaves or pine needles as your kindling.[42]
- Make a bow drill. Find a piece of hardwood or rock that has a divot in it for the top of your drill to rest in. Then, find a piece of softwood and carve a hole through it with a sharp rock. Create a triangular cut from the edge of the softwood to the hole, with the point of the triangle at the hole. Find a green, pliable branch and tie one of your shoestrings to either end of it to form a bow. Then find a hardwood stick approximately in diameter to serve as your drill.[43]
- If you don't have shoelaces and you're in a forested area, you can create a string by digging into a tree with a rock to the fibrous inner layer, pulling out the fibers, and tying them together.[44]
- If you're not in a forested area and need string, you can create it by cutting off bits of your hair and tying them together.[45]
- If you don't have enough hair, you can make a string by tying together pieces of brush.[46]
- Use your bow drill to start a fire. Position your softwood in your firepit so that the kindling fills the triangular cut on the edge. Then, put your drill in the hole with the string of your bow wrapped around it in a single loop with the bow parallel to the ground. Hold the softwood firmly with your foot and place the top of the drill in the divot of the hardwood or rock you found to hold it securely in position. Then draw the bow back and forth so that the drill spins and creates friction on the softwood and makes a spark.[47]
- After several minutes of vigorous sawing, you should start to see smoke. Once you do, you can blow on the kindling gently to encourage the spark to spread.[48]
- Once your kindling has started burning, form a pyramid around it with twigs and bark in the center, then build another pyramid around that with small branches, and a final pyramid around the whole thing with larger branches.[49]
- Once you've started your first fire, you should keep it burning continuously by adding wood to it throughout the day.[50]
EditProtecting Yourself from the Elements - Eat late. Bodies create heat as they metabolize food, so you should use this to your advantage. Eat high fat foods like nuts, bugs, and small animals just before you go to sleep to that your body creates warmth at night when it's coldest out.[51]
- Cover yourself with dirt, debris, and leaves when you go to sleep. When you go to sleep in your shelter for the night, cover yourself with a few layers of dirt, debris, and leaves that you've collected during the day. This can serve as insulation against the cold night air.[52]
- Don't make yourself so warm that you sweat. Sweat will cool your body down and make your bedding damp, which will interfere with its ability to insulate you from the cold.[53]
- Stay inside your shelter when it rains. This is particularly important in tropical climates where rain occurs frequently. If it's raining, you should stay in your shelter. If you get wet, try to dry yourself and your clothes as thoroughly as possible. Staying wet can potentially cause illnesses and fungal infections.[54]
EditStaying Safe and Healthy - Avoid predators. Predators will be an issue regardless of what part of the world you're in. To avoid encountering them, try to provide them with advance warnings of your approach by whistling or singing as your travel. You should also keep your camp free of food smells by discarding your food remains far away from it. It's also a good idea to give any fresh animal kills you encounter a wide berth, since some predators will wander away from their food for a while before returning to it.[55]
- If you do encounter a predator, don't panic. Don't look the animal in the eye, and move calmly away from it while making yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms in the air.[56]
- Keep your skin covered to avoid scratches and bug bites that might cause an infection. This is particularly important in tropical climates, where the warm, moist weather can speed infections and many of the local insects may be poisonous. If you don't have long sleeves or pants, cover your skin by wrapping leaves around your arms and legs and tying them on with pliable twigs.[57]
- Set broken bones and avoid overexerting yourself until the bone has healed. If you're in a forested area, you can splint a broken bone by lining up 2 tree branches on either side of the bone and tying them in place with shoelaces or young, pliable branches. If you're not in a forested area with access to branches, you'll need to avoid moving the bone as much as possible so that it can heal properly. Regardless, you'll need to rest as much as possible so the bone has the energy it needs to mend.[58]
- Stay properly hydrated and get adequate rest if you start to get sick. If you feel yourself starting to get sick, or have already gotten sick, the most important care you can give yourself is to stay hydrated and rested. Stay inside your shelter and keep water nearby while you convalesce. You should also try to stay warm. Cold bodies don't heal as quickly.[59]
- Staying hydrated should be your first priority. You can survive several days without shelter and a few weeks without food, but you will start to experience the effects of dehydration within a few days.
- Survival in the wilderness is all about creating and storing adequate levels of energy. Make sure you eat plenty, get adequate amounts of sleep, and don't make unnecessary movements.
- Don't eat any plants unless you have sufficient knowledge of which are edible and which are not. Inedible plants can make you sick and dehydrated.
- When you move about during the day, mark your path by making gashes in trees with a rock or piling up stones. That way you won't get lost.
- If you encounter a large animal, move slowly away from it until you are out of range. Quick movements will signal that you are a threat, and even non-predatory animals may attack.
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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