Wax Play Safety and Hints
by Shakti
-------
For a first foray into the realm of bdsm many lovers choose
to use wax. It is a very distinctive and unique sensation. One
people usually love or hate. I thought I'd put together a few
tips for beginners so they can do this with a maximum amount
of safety.
First a word of caution. Wax can burn very badly. If you want
to care for you partner in a way conducive to your being able
to play again, you need to be careful.
TYPE OF CANDLES and WAX
There are many different types of candles available. The degree
of heat of the dripping wax varies depending on the materials
from which the candle is constructed. Beeswax is the hottest,
and something that a beginner should avoid. I would recommend
that a person not use it at all, but some experienced players
do use this type of candle. It can cause second or third degree
burns as there is often honey left in the beeswax which gives
the candles their distinctive pleasant smell, but also holds
the heat.
Other types of materials also cause the candles to burn hotter.
You may see information that says the color of the candle makes
a difference, and that is not actually true. Additives do make
a difference, but the ones to watch out for are hardeners such
as those used in dripless candles. Often the most expensive
candles are the ones that burn with the highest degree of heat,
for a beginner you will want to start with cheap, paraffin based
ones. In my experience whether the candle is white or red or
yellow actually makes little difference.
My favorites for someone just starting out are the novena candles
available in the Hispanic section of most grocery stores (at
least those in larger areas). They come in tall glass containers,
and you can buy them without the religious pictures. The wax
is very cool compared to most others, so a good choice for a
first time. Another possibility are the emergency candles sold
for times your electricity goes out. They too are usually very
low temperature.
WORKING WITH WAX
The best way to see how a candle feels is to test it out on
yourself. Allpeople do not have the same degree of pain tolerance
but it will give you an idea. Light the candle, making sure
you have a good place to set it down. If you have the novena
candles the container is built in, if you are using a taper
candle, make sure you have a holder that the candle fits snugly
into, and the base is wide enough to avoid easy tipping. Never
forget that you are literally playing with fire, and the few
extra cents spent on a good candle holder are little weighed
against a fire from a tipped candle.
Oh... I always have something nearby just in case a fire does
get started, after all, if you have a bound and helpless person
under your care, you will want to do your best honor their trust.
A small fire extinguisher is not that expensive. At the very
least a container of water and something to use smothering the
fire should be nearby.
Okay, that said back to testing. Light the candle and set it
aside to burn for a few moments. This will allow a small pool
of wax to build up around the burning wick. Once you see a pool
there hold your forearm out and holding the candle about a foot
from your arm, tip it until one or two drops fall onto your
arm. Use the sensitive skin on your wrist or elbow to get a
feel for how hot this candle is.
I find the pain from wax to be a unique feeling. Very intense,
but concentrated in a very small area. It happens to be one
of my favorite kinds of painplay.
Once you know what kind of candle you are going to use (and
you might choose a couple, a cooler one to begin with, graduating
to a hotter one) you will be ready to experiment with your partner.
Many people find that being tied and blindfolded during wax
play heightensthe sensations, not knowing where the next drop
will fall, and being unable to move away from it can add a great
deal to the erotic sensations.
Where to begin dropping the wax is mostly a matter of preference.
But I would recommend, especially in the beginning, starting
on the belly or back.
Drop a few drops and carefully note your partner's reaction.
You can vary the heat of the drops by holding the candle lower
or higher. Again, make sure you have a good idea of just how
hot this is. Burns, especially on sensitive tissue are not usually
much fun.
I have found in my experience that some of the most sensitive
areas on both sexes are the inner thighs, the area of the belly
that joins the hip, the nipples, and the genitals. I begin in
a less sensitive area, moving to an occasionally drop on a highly
sensitive one.
Remember that if you drop wax on top of wax, it will hold the
heat in and possibly cause burns, so be careful when you layer.
REMOVING THE WAX
Peeling bits of wax off, is almost as much fun as dropping
it. As it pulls away from the skin, the sensation is again intense,
and running a feather or fingernails or even a tongue over this
sensitized skin is a very sexy way to prolong the 'waxing' session.
Wax cleanup is a pain, and I always put down a shower curtain
that I cover with an old sheet, and have my partner lay on that.
I do not want to ruin my sheets and wax is not washable, so
I use an old one I can just toss after awhile.
Some people advocate oiling the skin before you drop the wax,
this makes cleanup especially areas with hair, as in pubic areas
or the chests of some males. This will make the cleanup much
easier, as the wax does not adhere, but you must remember the
oil will make the wax seem a bit hotter, and you cannot do the
trick with the pulling away of the wax.
I have seen people use vampire gloves or those pet brushes
sometimes used for sensation play, as an easier way to take
the wax off, they work well, and do add another twist to your
session.
Remember, wax has the potential to damage your partner... play
safe.
Shakti
|
