by Tina TV on Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:13 am
It's great fun, and everyone should try it, at least once. But...
Cheap handcuffs from a high street sex/toy shop are not a good idea, they are likely to chafe and worse jam. Likewise cheap rope is not good and without care and knowing how to use it can lead you into a lot of trouble.
My main advice would be to go to your local fetish fair. (This is a fun and sexy experience on it's own in any case.) There you will find the widest range of cuff, ropes and other equipment you could wish for, but also you'll find people who use it rather than just sell it. They can advise you on what works and how to play safe. Many fairs run demos and workshops and any stall holder will always be happy to talk to you about safety.
Now I guess the safety tips.
Never ever play with someone you're not 100% sure of. You're effectively trusting them with your life. This includes don't play while either of you are drunk or otherwise distracted.
Discuss and agree what you're going to do first. Agree what your limits and boundrys are before you start.
Agree a "safe word" that will stop and get you out if things aren't working properly. Something that can't be confused. People often scream "No" when they mean "Yes". A common usage is the traffic light, Red means "Stop! get me out now", Orange is "Easy or slow down a bit", and Green is "Yes! do that some more".
Don't underestimate what happens if you get a sudden cramp. Keep warm to try and avoid this.
Assume locks will jam, and that knots will become impossible snarls, that ropes will shrink and become too tight. Have safety sissors to crunch through those ropes in an emergency, pliers or even bolt cutters for the locks, and have them immediately to hand, not in the back of a kitchen draw somewhere.
Make sure your mother in law can't walk in unexpected.
And I could go on and on. Don't let me discourage you, just please play safe, sometimes the planning and preparation can become fun in itself. May all you encounters be Green, Green, Green.