{"id":332,"date":"2018-09-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lovenselife.com\/uncategorized\/flogger-materials"},"modified":"2018-09-06T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T00:00:00","slug":"flogger-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lovense.com\/sex-blog\/kink-bdsm\/flogger-materials","title":{"rendered":"BDSM Flogger Materials – What Will Make Things Sting or Thud"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you\u2019re interested in floggers but aren\u2019t sure what your first one should be, understanding their materials is a good place to start.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best baby step is getting something soft and then working your way up to harder or more challenging materials when you\u2019re more comfortable and confident in your technique and communication skills.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a list of things you might find on the market\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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QUICK LANGUAGE GUIDE<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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STING<\/strong><\/span> = Localized pain on the surface of the skin often with a burning sensation, think of snapping your arm with a rubber band. They come from lighter, quicker objects.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THUD<\/strong><\/span> = A broad strike that goes deeper into the tissue and resonates within that area. They come from heavier, slower objects.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each person has their own unique tolerance to these sensations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FLOGGER ANATOMY\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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POSSIBLE MATERIALS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BUFFALO HIDE <\/strong>\u2013 heavy, considerably thicker than cowhide, heavy to wield, mild sting with a deep thud, produces considerable bruises<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHAIN <\/strong>\u2013 very hard (obviously), intense sting, can be put in the fridge for cold temperature play, only for experienced players because chain can inflict serious damage if used incorrectly \u2013 cuts, abrasions, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMBINATION<\/strong> \u2013 different materials mixed together, usually skin with skin and synthetic with synthetic (but not always); a mixture of sting and thud levels depends on the material<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COTTON<\/strong> \u2013 very light, virtually no sting or thud, great for beginners or light play\/ending a session, edges will fray unless edges are sewn properly.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEERSKIN<\/strong> \u2013 very soft, comparable to cloth or silk, mild thud with little to no sting, better for those who enjoy light play or need a break from heavy flogging<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELK SKIN <\/strong>\u2013 comparable to suede, heavier than now but still soft, light sting and medium thud<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HORSE HAIR <\/strong>\u2013<\/span> medium to high sting along with “scratchiness”, can be a bit pricey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NYLON<\/strong> \u2013 material is \u201csoft\u201d but sting or thud depends if you keep the falls in rope form (higher sting) or unbraid them to be individual strands (no sting and nearly no thud).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OILED LEATHER<\/strong> \u2013 stiff leather, mid to high levels of sting, not a warm-up material, not for beginners<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PVC<\/strong> \u2013 similar(ish) to rubber and silicone, flexible, stingy \u2013 I\u2019ve seen some examples made from clotheslines (ouch)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RABBIT FUR<\/strong> \u2013 very soft, furry, little to no sting or thud, better for beginners or those who enjoy light play<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RUBBER<\/strong> \u2013 firm core yet flexible falls, heavy sting, can cause serious bruising<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SILICONE<\/strong> \u2013 similar to rubber but softer (especially if the widths are thin) and can be sterilized<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUEDE\/COW<\/strong> \u2013 flexible soft leather, more thud than sting <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A SIDE NOTE ON ROPE<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are many kinds of rope (a previous example being nylon).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is hemp, sisal, coir, manila, wool, jute, linen, hemp, Kevlar, polypropylene, paracord, polyester, the list goes one. Some are commonly found in floggers, but some are not. Some can be unbraided while others cannot. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that thin braided materials will always have a greater sting than unraveled. Rougher materials also run the risk of causing abrasions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just about the materials, it\u2019s HOW it\u2019s made\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uneven tails (the ends are cut at different lengths) will give more sting, while even ends will be more \u201cthuddy\u201d. It also goes for if the ends are cut diagonally or straight. After that, it\u2019s how thick\/long the tails are and how many are in the flogger. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some models even have metal tips, steel studs, extra material wrapped around the tails to give the illusion of barbed wire. There are SO many variations. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of this will change the sensation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FINDING ONE THAT\u2019S RIGHT FOR YOU<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It depends if you\u2019re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced Dom (and how serious you are about flogging).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also must factor in what you sub prefers. <\/strong>Then there\u2019s your budget (synthetic is often cheaper than natural). Rabbit fur is a dream, but not cheap; so it\u2019s not the best idea for those just getting into this kink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not sure, it\u2019s better to go for the softer options and work your way up. Or you can visit BDSM stores and talk to the owner. Taking classes is also a good idea \u2013 aside from learning more, you\u2019ll get to see other people\u2019s floggers and hold\/try them before you commit to buying one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMPORTANT<\/span> <\/strong>\u2013 Always ask permission before touching someone else\u2019s BDSM toys. If they say no, politely thank them anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There is much, much more to flogging, but knowing your materials is an excellent start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want more articles on impact play and similar ideas, check these out\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n