5 Things to Keep In Mind When You Play With Wax

For Kink of the Week this week, the topic is wax play, and we have a confession to make…

Even with a few beautiful purple candles in our toy box and the desire to try, we still haven’t tried wax play yet.

I know! How awful, right?!

Well, sad but true. But we’re prepared for the day when we try it on by doing research and making sure we know how to play safe. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.

Not All Candles are the Same

Not everything can be perverted, y’all. Please don’t grab your Yankee Candle and drip the melted wax on your partner. It burns at a different temperature and can (and maybe will) cause serious harm. Pure paraffin is white and burns hotter than scented candles. Soy is another option for candles.  If you’re unsure, buy candles made specifically for wax play.

Practice Fire Safety

Anyone else remember the school lessons of Stop, Drop, and Roll during fire safety week? You’re going to need to know more than that before you start playing with fire.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Have a non-flammable place to set your candle between drips like a bowl.
• Move anything flammable – like paper and oils – away from the place you want to play.
• Don’t place lit candles on the floor or on unstable surfaces.
• Keep curious pets out of the room.
• Make sure you have a way to put out a flame quickly – water, a damp cloth, hell, even a fire extinguisher if you’re paranoid like I am.

The Higher You Drop, the Cooler the Wax Feels

Everyone I’ve ever watched or talked to about wax play says the same thing. The higher you hold the candle, the “cooler” the wax is when it lands. Although “cool” is a relative term — it will still be warm or hot. But also know your candle. Some candles burn hotter than others. You might have to hold one type of candle at a different level than another to get the same sensation.

Know Your Allergies and Sensitivities

If you’re willing to have hot wax dripped on your bare skin (and I am!) talk about any allergies or sensitivities you might have. You can’t predict every reaction you’ll have to a substance, but communicate with your partner. If you have a skin condition, like eczema, or you’re taking medication you may react differently than someone who isn’t. Take your time and test your reaction before you strip down and commit to a scene. Tops/Doms, check in with your partner frequently. Subs and bottoms, don’t be afraid to say something doesn’t feel right.

Plan for Clean Up

Everyone who loves wax play tells me it’s amazing, beautiful, and sensational (pun intended) but clean up can be a nightmare if you’re not prepared.

• Lay down a sheet, tarp, or old shower curtain where you’re going to play to catch the extra wax.
• Decide how you’ll get the wax off. Some people like to use their nails for extra sensation. Others use knives. And some people “pick” themselves clean.
• You may want to avoid parts of the body with lots of hair, as I’ve been told, it can get stuck in there for a loooong time and be a nightmare to get the wax out. If you have long hair, pull it up and out of the way.
• Applying mineral oil to the skin before play may make removal easier. I’ll let wax players tell us if that’s true or not.

Obviously this isn’t everything there is to know about wax play, and if we ever get to try it, we’ll share what we learn. But the more information you have, the better prepared you’ll be for the fun…and the reality.

If you’ve played with wax, please share your tips and tricks with us so we can all learn together! What else should people know before they play?