Difference between revisions of "Wax Play"

From BDSM Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
[unchecked revision][unchecked revision]
(Complete overhaul of the page layout and content.)
Line 1: Line 1:
Wax play is a form of sensual play involving warm or hot wax usually dripped from candles or ladled onto a person's naked skin. Often techniques involving use of various color patterns and elaborate designs are used to make body art.
+
Wax play is a form of sensual play involving warm or hot wax, usually dripped from candles or ladled onto a person's naked skin. Techniques often involve using of various color patterns and elaborate designs are used to make body art.
  
== RACK ==
+
== Sensation ==
  
*There is significant difference between individuals' tolerance for heat, which can vary depending on exactly where the wax is applied.
+
There is a significant difference between individuals' tolerance for heat, which can also vary widely depending on where the wax is applied on the body. Additionally, disease, skin conditions, and medications may change how the body responds to wax pay and will therefore require additional precautions.
  
*Wax can splatter into the eyes and other sensitive areas.
+
Removing wax after a scene may require the use of additional tools such as a flea comb or a [[Knife Play| sharp knife]]; use of a knife for this purpose requires special skills, though a plastic card can work as well. Consider that the skin beneath the wax may be more sensitive than when the scene began. This difference in sensitivity can also be incorporated into the scene. Be especially careful removing wax from areas with hair, since the wax is likely to adhere.
  
*Wax that is too hot can cause serious burns.
+
== Types of Wax ==
  
*Wax may pool and concentrate heat.
+
When purchasing candles for wax play, it is safest to purchase candles specifically for use in BDSM scenes. However, if you know the type of wax of your candle, it might be safe to use for play. For example, most prayer candles are made of paraffin and melt at a relatively low temperature that is typically safe for humans. Below are several common types of wax used in candles and the temperatures at which they melt:
  
*Although there are many web sites that repeat the same advice that color additives make candles burn hotter, actual experiments performed indicate that this is ''usually'' not the case.  
+
*Tallow melts at 110 °F (43 °C).
 +
*Pure paraffin wax melts at around 135 °F (57 °C).
 +
*Soy wax melts at about 140 °F (60 °C).
 +
*Beeswax candles start to melt at about 145 °F (63 °C).
  
*The experience can be largely influenced by how far you let the wax drip. The higher you let it drip, the cooler it will be. Increasing the distance the wax falls by 1 meter will drop the temperature about 5 degrees Fahrenheit (3 C) with increased risk of splattering.
+
Stearin, a common additive in candles, makes the wax harder and increases the melting temperature. Taper candles, for instance, contain often contain high amounts of stearin and therefore melt at a much higher temperature than paraffin. This ingredient can be added to increase the intensity of wax used for play, but should be used with caution.
  
*If ordinary candles are too hot, a special wax blend with a high concentration of mineral oil can be heated to lower temperatures in a crock pot or double boiler.
+
On the contrary, mineral oil will soften wax and lower the melting temperature. By adding mineral oil to wax, you can lower its melting point and therefore render it safer for play.
  
*Adding stearine makes the wax harder and melt at a higher temperature.
+
== Best Practices ==
  
*Adding mineral oil makes the wax softer and melt at a lower temperature.
+
When engaging in wax play, remember that wax can cause serious burns if the wax is too hot. To mitigate the risk of injury, never use wax in a scene without testing it first on a small area of your skin. Furthermore, use wax that melts at a temperature safe for kink play. To control the temperature more precisely, you can use a crock pot. However, both crock pots and wax therapy spas usually feature heat controls, but not temperature controls. Consequently, the wax temperature may vary over time.
  
*Pure paraffin wax melts at around 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit (54 to 57 Celsius).  
+
After wax melts, it may also pool and concentrate heat. To prevent against this heat concentration, wax must be stirred vigorously before pouring.
  
*Soft candles in glass jars usually have mineral oil in their blend and burn cooler at around 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 C).
+
Regardless of the wax and the method of heating it, the temperature can be significantly influenced by how far you let the wax drip before reaching the body. The higher you let it drip, the cooler it will be when it lands. Increasing the distance the wax falls by 1 meter will drop the temperature approximately 5 °F (3 °C). However, greater distances will also increase the risk of the wax splattering upon impact.
  
*Pillar candles are mostly paraffin and burn warmer at around 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 C).
+
In addition to controlling the wax temperature, remember that some areas of the body are not suitable for wax play (e.g., the eyes). Even if you are avoiding a sensitive area, beware that wax can still splatter beyond where you intend it to.
  
*Taper candles have lots of stearine and burn hotter still at around 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 C).
+
Beware that some people may be allergic to certain perfumes and dyes used in candles.
  
*Beeswax candles burn about 10 degrees Fahrenheit (6 C) hotter than equivalent paraffin candles.
+
Make sure to secure your scene space to prevent against the risk of fire and be prepared to quickly extinguish should one arise. Whatever is above a burning candle can get very hot, even at distances that may seem surprising. Candles may also break and set fire to objects underneath or nearby. Wax is also difficult to wash out of clothes and bed linens. Use a large barrier such as a tarp or plastic wrap to help with cleanup.
  
*Temperatures listed above only apply when wax is in equilibrium.
+
== Contraindications ==
  
*Different types of candles and different crock pot temperatures produce different temperatures of wax that can range from warm and soothing to dangerously hot wax.
+
The following factors are known to make those that are waxed more prone to “skin lifting,where the top layer of skin is torn away during wax removal:
 
+
*Crock pots and wax therapy spas almost always have heat controls, not temperature controls; temperature will vary over time. 
+
 
+
*Wax heated in any sort of pot must be stirred vigorously or there can be dangerous temperature variations. Some people may be allergic to certain perfumes and dyes used in candles.
+
 
+
*Wax may be difficult to remove, particularly from areas with hair. A flea comb or a [[Knife Play| sharp knife]] may be necessary for wax removal; use of a knife for this purpose requires special skills, though a plastic card can work as well.
+
 
+
*Whatever is above a burning candle can get very hot, even at distances that may seem surprising.
+
 
+
*Candles may break and set fire to objects underneath or nearby.
+
 
+
*Wax is difficult to wash out of clothes and bed linens.  Use a large barrier such as a tarp or plastic wrap.
+
 
+
*People with certain diseases, skin conditions, or taking certain medications may require additional precautions. The page on waxing for hair removal has additional safety considerations.
+
 
+
=== Contraindications ===
+
 
+
The following factors are known to make those that are waxed more prone to "skin lifting," where the top layer of skin is torn away during wax removal:
+
  
 
*Taking blood-thinning medications
 
*Taking blood-thinning medications
Line 65: Line 50:
 
*Using Tretinoin, Tazarotene, Adapalene, Azelex, or any other peeling agent.
 
*Using Tretinoin, Tazarotene, Adapalene, Azelex, or any other peeling agent.
 
*Using hydroquinone
 
*Using hydroquinone
*Recent surgical peel, microdermabrasion or chemical peel using glycolic, alpha hydroxy, or salicylic acid, or other acid-based products
+
*Recent surgical peel, microdermabrasion or chemical peel using glycolic, alpha hydroxyl, or salicylic acid, or other acid-based products
  
 
[[Category:Fire Play]][[Category:Gunge]]
 
[[Category:Fire Play]][[Category:Gunge]]

Revision as of 07:09, 26 February 2023

Wax play is a form of sensual play involving warm or hot wax, usually dripped from candles or ladled onto a person's naked skin. Techniques often involve using of various color patterns and elaborate designs are used to make body art.

Sensation

There is a significant difference between individuals' tolerance for heat, which can also vary widely depending on where the wax is applied on the body. Additionally, disease, skin conditions, and medications may change how the body responds to wax pay and will therefore require additional precautions.

Removing wax after a scene may require the use of additional tools such as a flea comb or a sharp knife; use of a knife for this purpose requires special skills, though a plastic card can work as well. Consider that the skin beneath the wax may be more sensitive than when the scene began. This difference in sensitivity can also be incorporated into the scene. Be especially careful removing wax from areas with hair, since the wax is likely to adhere.

Types of Wax

When purchasing candles for wax play, it is safest to purchase candles specifically for use in BDSM scenes. However, if you know the type of wax of your candle, it might be safe to use for play. For example, most prayer candles are made of paraffin and melt at a relatively low temperature that is typically safe for humans. Below are several common types of wax used in candles and the temperatures at which they melt:

  • Tallow melts at 110 °F (43 °C).
  • Pure paraffin wax melts at around 135 °F (57 °C).
  • Soy wax melts at about 140 °F (60 °C).
  • Beeswax candles start to melt at about 145 °F (63 °C).

Stearin, a common additive in candles, makes the wax harder and increases the melting temperature. Taper candles, for instance, contain often contain high amounts of stearin and therefore melt at a much higher temperature than paraffin. This ingredient can be added to increase the intensity of wax used for play, but should be used with caution.

On the contrary, mineral oil will soften wax and lower the melting temperature. By adding mineral oil to wax, you can lower its melting point and therefore render it safer for play.

Best Practices

When engaging in wax play, remember that wax can cause serious burns if the wax is too hot. To mitigate the risk of injury, never use wax in a scene without testing it first on a small area of your skin. Furthermore, use wax that melts at a temperature safe for kink play. To control the temperature more precisely, you can use a crock pot. However, both crock pots and wax therapy spas usually feature heat controls, but not temperature controls. Consequently, the wax temperature may vary over time.

After wax melts, it may also pool and concentrate heat. To prevent against this heat concentration, wax must be stirred vigorously before pouring.

Regardless of the wax and the method of heating it, the temperature can be significantly influenced by how far you let the wax drip before reaching the body. The higher you let it drip, the cooler it will be when it lands. Increasing the distance the wax falls by 1 meter will drop the temperature approximately 5 °F (3 °C). However, greater distances will also increase the risk of the wax splattering upon impact.

In addition to controlling the wax temperature, remember that some areas of the body are not suitable for wax play (e.g., the eyes). Even if you are avoiding a sensitive area, beware that wax can still splatter beyond where you intend it to.

Beware that some people may be allergic to certain perfumes and dyes used in candles.

Make sure to secure your scene space to prevent against the risk of fire and be prepared to quickly extinguish should one arise. Whatever is above a burning candle can get very hot, even at distances that may seem surprising. Candles may also break and set fire to objects underneath or nearby. Wax is also difficult to wash out of clothes and bed linens. Use a large barrier such as a tarp or plastic wrap to help with cleanup.

Contraindications

The following factors are known to make those that are waxed more prone to “skin lifting,” where the top layer of skin is torn away during wax removal:

  • Taking blood-thinning medications
  • Taking drugs for autoimmune diseases, including lupus
  • Taking prednisone or steroids
  • Psoriasis, eczema, or other chronic skin diseases
  • Recent sunburn
  • Recent cosmetic or reconstructive surgery
  • Recent laser skin treatment
  • Severe varicose leg veins
  • Rosacea or very sensitive skin
  • History of fever blisters or cold sores (waxing can cause a flare-up)
  • Using Tretinoin, Tazarotene, Adapalene, Azelex, or any other peeling agent.
  • Using hydroquinone
  • Recent surgical peel, microdermabrasion or chemical peel using glycolic, alpha hydroxyl, or salicylic acid, or other acid-based products