A beginner guide to bondage: what to buy first, agreeing a safe word, circulation checks, and the safety scissors rule. From a real Adelaide shop.
You need less equipment than you think and more conversation than you think. Almost everything that goes wrong here is a communication problem, not a gear problem.
Talk about it first
Agree what is on and off the table before anything starts. Agree a safe word, something that would never come up otherwise. Agree a non-verbal signal too, in case someone is gagged or simply cannot speak.
The person being restrained is the one in control of when it stops. That is the whole arrangement.
What to buy first
A blindfold is the single best first purchase. Nothing is restrained, nothing needs undoing, and it comes off in a second, but it changes the experience completely by taking away anticipation.
After that, soft cuffs with a quick-release. Padded or fur-lined, with a clip rather than a lock. Avoid metal handcuffs entirely, as they tighten under pressure and injure wrists.
A beginner kit with cuffs, a blindfold and a light tickler is usually better value than buying the pieces separately.
Safety, briefly and seriously
- Keep safety scissors within reach any time rope or tape is involved. Blunt-nosed, so they can go under a binding without catching skin.
- Never leave someone restrained on their own. Not for a moment.
- Check circulation. Cold hands, tingling, colour change or numbness means loosen it now. You should fit two fingers under any binding.
- Avoid the neck entirely. Nothing tied, nothing restricting.
- Twenty minutes is a sensible limit for any one position.
Bondage tape
Proper bondage tape sticks only to itself, not to skin or hair, which makes it forgiving and easy to remove. Do not substitute regular tape.
Afterwards
Take some time together afterwards. Water, a blanket, a conversation about what worked and what did not. It is not an afterthought, it is part of doing this well.
Any questions?
If you are still not sure, ask us. Call the shop or come in to 177 Unley Road, Unley, open seven days from 10am until midnight. We give straight, shame-free advice and we will happily talk you out of something that is wrong for you.
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