Fire play

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Fire play is a type of BDSM play that involves lighting 50% to 70% rubbing alcohol or other flammable substances on or very close to the skin. Fire play is often considered a form of edge play and can be very fun but also a very dangerous scene. If done correctly fire play can leave little to no marks on the skin or can permanently brand the skin of the bottom. A brand can also be applied by repeated applications to the same area of the body.

1 Safety
2 Materials
3 Styles of play
4 External Links

[edit] Safety

The safety of the Top and the bottom is paramount and all precautions should be followed to ensure the well being of everyone involved.

Safety practices include, but may not be limited to, the following:

Fire retardant drop cloth under the person and the immediate area
Having a fire extinguisher present
and/or having a small bucket of water available
and/or a fire blanket in good shape
Awareness of hair and clothing locations
Familiar with or certified in First Aid
Testing a small patch to see how the skin reacts
If cupping make sure that the cups do not have a sharp edge
The play area should be well ventilated.
Do not pour rubbing or isopropyl alcohol directly into the mouth.
Do not press fire cotton into the skin.

There may be ways to play with it more or less safely, but fire is dangerous.

[edit] Materials

Typical fire play scenes will include using some form of flammable material on or near the skin. Rubbing alcohol of 50% to 70% strength works well. Other materials may include flash paper, flash cotton, votive candles, or even hot wax. Small torches, cotton balls, batons, and cotton swabs are typically used to apply the material and also to ignite it. Some materials will burn at a higher temperature than others. Remember to do a test area first to see what the bottom can withstand both mentally and physically.

[edit] Styles of play

Play is usually limited only by the imagination. However, there are a number of scenes that one can typically come across when fire play is mentioned.

[edit] Bouncing

In this method fire batons or larger torches are typically used. Both are tapped onto the skin in a rapid succession so that the alcohol is set on fire at almost the same time that it touches the skin. This provides a quick and short burst of flame. Another way to carry out this method is to heavily soak one torch or baton in alcohol and then set it on fire. The skin is then quickly and heavily struck so to deposit and set alight the excess alcohol.

[edit] Fire cupping

Fire cupping is said to have predated traditional needle acupuncture and cupping sets can be found in some Asian stores, depending on your geographic location. The way that fire cupping works is that the air in the cups is heated and then placed upon the skin. If there is a good seal onto the skin then the result is that a vacuum is created and the skin will be partially pulled into the cup.

Some will wipe alcohol directly on the skin and then quickly place the cup over the area. Done correctly this will extinguish the fire and create a vacuum. Another method is to hold the cup over an open flame until it is warm and then apply it to cool skin. Yet another method involves placing small disks with cotton balls soaked in alcohol on them onto the skin. The cotton is then ignited and a cup is placed over the disk. It is important to note that the disk must be flame resistant and slightly smaller than the mouth of the cup.

Fire cupping will typically leave small, round marks on the body that may last for days. If a single area is cupped again and again, a deep bruise may form and not disappear for some time.

[edit] Streaking

Streaking is the process of applying the alcohol to the skin, usually in long strips or various designs, and then setting it on fire. The Top's free hand will then follow in the wake of the flame, extinguishing the flame. The amount of delay from the fire to the extinguishing of the flame will vary depending upon the material being set on fire, the goal of the scene, or the bottom's tolerance to pain and/or heat. While lit torches and fire batons are typically used it is not that unusual to see the same method being used with the violet wand.