Ear stretching help... am I doing something wrong?

I am trying to stretch from 3/4" to 7/8". My ears were well healed and I could see a gap when I pulled them down but I just got some 7/8" steel ear-lets but I can't get them in even with the gauge and my ear lubed with aquaphor. should I load my silicone 7/8" with a bunch of aquaphor so they don't stick and wait until tomorrow and try to slide the steel ones in, or is there a better way?