answer:Hey @yasminemaried , welcome to Fluther. I’ve been at 0g for years. Silicone tunnels are a really bad way to stretch your piercings, because they are squishy!!! I would never attempt to gauge with silicone. Can you buy some glass tapers instead? That is better than stone, metal, or plastic, because you can thoroughly clean them and there are no invisible grooves for bacteria to live in. Spencer’s may not be the best place to find gauging equipment. If you can order things online, I highly recommend the bmezine.com shop. If not, at least find someone with serious piercings at Spencer’s, Hot Topic, or a piercing shop to guide you. When you find a taper you want to use, be sure to clean it thoroughly in hot water and soap. The best time to try is after a hot shower. Spray Bactine on the taper and the hole in your ear lobe. If it doesn’t go in, don’t force it. You don’t want to hurt yourself. It might take a couple days of trying this process to succeed in getting the 00g taper in. Good luck!