BDSM 101
Hot Wax Play
I.
Introduction
a. Hot
wax play involves hot wax from lighted candles being dripped or poured on any
part of the body below the neck. Paraffin
(canning) wax can also be melted and poured on any part of the body below the
neck.
b. Hot
wax can be the cause of an extreme burn if applied improperly. Because of this risk and the unpredictable
nature of hot wax, some people categorize wax play as “edge play”. Safe temperatures to use when applying wax
are 110-135 degrees F.
c. Sometimes
the dripping of hot wax on particularly sensitive areas of the body (chest and
genitals) follows directly after a period of time in which they have been
chilled with ice.
II.
Types of candles
a. Not
all candles are made from the same type of wax.
Therefore, not all candles are suitable for hot wax play.
i.
Candles made from paraffin wax or soy are
perfect for wax play because they burn at a relatively low temperature (115-135
degrees F) and they tend to burn evenly.
ii.
Never use candles made of Bees wax for wax
play. Bees wax candles burn at very high
temperatures (145 degrees F+) and can cause harm to the play partner.
iii.
General rule to follow: always test each and
every candle out on the back of your hand or forearm before using it on your
play partner.
iv.
Soft, inexpensive, unscented, white paraffin or
soy candles burn at slightly lower temperatures than colored and scented
candles made of the same type of wax.
b. Styles
i.
Pillar
1. Great
for pouring small quantities of wax
2. Extinguish
flame a minute or two prior to pouring pooled wax.
ii.
Votives
1. Great
for applying directly to the play partner and letting the melting wax drip down
over the body as the candle burns.
2. Very
little temperature difference between white and colored votives.
iii.
Tealights
1. DO
NOT use tealight candles for wax play.
2. Tealight
candles burn at temperatures above 140 Degrees F and can cause harm.
iv.
Taper
1. Great
for dripping wax slowly drop by drop
2. Can
hold multiple taper candles in your hands at one time.
v.
Container
1. Poured
paraffin wax into a glass container
2. Usually
found in tall, cylinder type glass containers that allow for pooling of wax.
III.
Body Parts Commonly Used in Wax Play
a. Anywhere
on the body below the neck
i.
Nipples (most popular body part on a woman for
wax play)
ii.
Genitals (most popular body part on a man for
wax play)
iii.
Feet (top and bottom of foot)
iv.
Chest/Pecs/Torso
v.
Upper Back and Shoulders
vi.
Inner Thighs
vii.
Buttocks
IV.
Technique
a. Wax
cools slightly as it falls through the air.
Therefore, the higher the candle is held above the play partner’s body,
the cooler the wax will be when it makes contact with the skin.
i.
Wax should feel hot upon impact with the skin,
but it should not burn the skin.
ii.
The higher a candle is elevated above the body
the greater the risk that the wax may splatter upon impact.
b. Suggested
positions for the play partner being waxed; please note that the overall
comfort of the play partner position has a major impact on the length of the
wax play session. With proper
accommodations, a wax play session can last 4 hours or more.
i.
Restrained or unrestrained spread-eagle/flat:
front or back on table or bed
ii.
Bent over table, stool, or saw-horses
iii.
Standing and attached to a Saint Andrews Cross
or other device
c. Dripping
and Pouring Hot Wax
i.
Prior to dripping hot wax onto your play partner,
you can rub a very thin layer of baby oil over the areas of the body where hot
wax will be applied. Doing so will allow
for very easy clean-up and removal of hardened wax.
ii.
For inexperienced play partners, it is best to
start the session by holding the candle up high from the surface of the
skin. Carefully observe the physical
responses of your play partner. The
candle can then be lowered closer to the skin once your play partner begins to
adapt and channel the heat and effects of the hot wax.
iii.
Give time between drops for the wax to cool and
the play partner to react to the sensations.
iv.
Wax play should always begin by dripping small
droplets of wax onto areas of the body that are not overly sensitive i.e.
hands, forearms, upper back, shoulders etc.
1. Drip
wax from candles or pour small quantities of melted paraffin (melted in a crock
pot) from a ladle and crock pot are typical ways to apply hot wax. Just be sure to gauge your play partner’s
response carefully.
a. Large
quantities of hot wax poured onto the submissive can be harmful because the
heat produced will not dissipate nearly as quickly and therefore will remain
much hotter on the skin.
b. The
heat sensation of large quantities of hot wax poured onto the skin is much more
difficult to channel.
c. When
pouring small quantities of pooled wax from a pillar candle, always allow the
pool of wax to cool for a minute or two, then lean your head down and be ready
to blow on the wax as soon as it hits the skin of your play partner. Use extreme caution because on a burning
pillar candle, the wax nearest the wick can be as hot as 250 degrees F.
d. The
best place on the body to pour small quantities of wax is onto the side of the
pecs/breasts and onto the lower stomach area because the natural curves will
cause the wax to run over the body like a small river.
2. You
want to bring your play partner up gradually drop by drop. Remember, the anticipation of each drop is
what creates the S/M bonding experience between the Dom and sub. So, go slow
and let the experience build up.
3. The
best technique is to slowly move the candle around letting the wax fall, drop
by drop, making lines or trails of wax along the body.
d. Multiple
Stimulations
i.
Gently massage the chest, stomach, or thighs while
applying hot wax to the genitals
ii.
Gently massage the genitals while applying hot
wax to the torso, inner thighs, or feet.
iii.
Pulling nipples while applying hot wax to the
genitals
iv.
Preforming periodic oral sex on your play
partner while applying hot wax to the nipples (positioning of both the Dom and
sub are important to reduce the possibility of a mishap/harm).
v.
Straddling your play partner, letting him/her
stroke your dick while you drip wax on the chest, stomach, or arms
vi.
Consider the experience-level of the sub
1. When
working with less experienced subs the primary focus of erotic pain stimulation
should be from the hot wax. Other
stimulations should be gentle and tactile and should serve to encourage the sub
to continue being waxed further.
a. An
experienced and willing masochist can be massaged with ice cubes,
clamped/clothes pinned, etc. and find it
an erotic and fulfilling experience.
Just know the level of your sub prior to attempting these things. Impact play should not be integrated into a
hot wax session due to the high risk of a mishap.
e. Clean-Up:
Removing Wax Once Hardened
i.
Prior to dripping hot wax onto your play partner
you can rub a very thin layer of baby oil over the areas of the body where hot
wax will be applied. Doing so will allow
for a very easy clean-up and removal of hardened wax.
ii.
You can easily remove hardened wax from a
lightly oiled body with a wet plastic card, plastic scraper, or a dull
smooth-edged butter knife.
iii.
Hardened wax can also be removed from the skin
with ice cubes. Ice makes the wax very
cold and helps the wax to crumble as you are removing it with your
fingers. There is also a certain level
of sadistic pleasure achieved from running ice cubes over a play partner that
is not particularly fond of cold sensations.
iv.
If hardened wax must be removed from hair, use a
flea comb.
V.
Safety Precautions
a. Carefully
inspect the playroom area for flammable items which should be removed from the
play space.
i.
Remember that curtains, sheets, bedspreads,
cloth or silk restraining and blindfolding materials can catch fire.
ii.
Have a fire extinguisher close by.
b. Do
not drip hot wax into body piercings.
i.
Wax will get into the piercing hole and can
cause irritation or an infection.
ii.
Wax can be very difficult to remove from some
types of piercing jewelry.
c. Eye
Safety
i.
Never drip hot wax above the shoulders to reduce
the risk of wax splattering into the sub’s eyes.
ii.
As a general rule, even if the sub is
blindfolded, avoid dripping hot wax on the sub’s face to eliminate the risk of
facial marks resulting from the hot wax.
d. Allergies
i.
Be aware of what allergies or sensitivities your
submissive/play partner may have to certain fragrances.
