Introduction to Hoods and Deprivation

Sensory deprivation can take many forms. There are basic forms such as blindfolds and gags but if you feel the need to step it up a gear, hoods can be the way to go.

Hoods are not for everyone, in fact if you suffer from panic attacks or fear close confinement. If you do suffer from these, please DON'T try it.

If however, you are game to try it, its a wonderful world to explore. Different parts of it appeal to different people but for me, the fun is the confinement, feeling the preasure of the hood. Not being able to speak or see or even hear is a total turn on. Every sensation, be it a set of nipple clamps or a bit of CBT torture makes it all the more exciting. It's very much a high high, if you see.

Before you jump headlong into hoods though, you need to sort out the boring stuff, the stuff that may just save your life!

Ok, so you cant walk, see, talk or speak. Sexy or what. However you need to let the other person know if you get into trouble because don't forget it's a two way street. You can't see, and they can't see you or your screams of pleasure. So to get round this, one method offered is to have two small balls, ie ping pong balls, both of different colours. Hold one in each hand and agree that if you are in trouble drop the red ball, ie this means stop everything. Get this off me now. IE STOP!

In the other hand have an amber ball (or whatever as long as you both recognise what it means) and this can be used to say just back off a bit, its a little too intense just at the moment. This is widely used protocol and I advise you to try it because you want you partner well and enjoying it don't you?

As to hoods, material, quality and level of deprevation can vary wildly. Here we hope to help you choose a decent beginners hood.

My first experience buying a hood was very much a sub optimal buying experience to be truthful. We had somehow ended up in Soho in london and in the sex shop. I purchased this hood on impulse. The rubber was reasonable but the part around the mouth was made from a hard 5-8 mil piece of rubber with breathing holes drilled into it. Whilst using it, it kept irritating my skin because it was so rough and before long I had to take a hot knife to modify it to be less itchy (I don't recommend you do this though, as it can cause problems with the rubber) and it made it a bit more palitable before it tore and became useless. A wasted $200 that was.

The other main issue with it was that because it was mass produced to a price rather than a quality, it had no zip up tbe back so has quite hard to get on and exceptionally hard to get off, especially as it seemed a little on the small size for my head. Not all hoods have zips, but ones that do make life easier for the wearer.

Now I know better I buy from established online BDSM boutiques you can pretty much be assured of the quality of the hood.

A quick overview of deprevation hoods.

Spandex Hoods

For a beginner rubber is a big gamble. It can be quite expensive, especially if you find you don't like it. To fix this problem I would recommend a spandex hood. Basically these are lightweight fabric hoods that hug the skin but allow the skin to breath and can be breathed throuh, if you follow, whilst still allowing a feeling os deprivation and submission. It's also fairly easy to put on and take off and requires very little maintainance and can even be put in the washing machine.

Latex Hoods in general.

Latex is a delicate material. It must be treated with care, otherwise it will rot and over time become pretty much unusable. A previous article deals with this, but as a quick and dirty guide:

After use always turn them inside out an wipe them down with a damp cloth, to remove any residue of talk or human sweat. This helps prevent the rubber ageing and perishing. Once it is dry, return it to its normal way round and when not in use, store it wrapped up in a dark place (ie a binbag at the bottom of your wardrobe)

When wearing latex hoods, be aware that it does not breath, unlike the spandex hood and therefore will cause you to get hot and sweat. This in turns means you will de hydrate if you wear it for long periods of time. If you do want to wear one for an extended period of time, make sure you drink plenty of fluids so as to stave off any dehydration.

Toys in hoods

Some hoods you will see will have toys built into/onto them. For example, I like the ones with the inflatable gag. These can be great but bear in mind, if you are starting out, that this will add to the sense of restriction and also you, or your submissive may not want to have the extra sensation of sucking a "penis" whilst in extreme bondage, because at the end of the day, that is what these hoods provide, extreme bondage to the max.

Thin latex hoods

Thin latex hoods are usually quite thin material, usually up to .5mm thick and single skinned (ie none inflatable) These are ideal beginners hoods and come in a variety of colours (colours are usually only available with thin hoods, its to do with the way its manufactured) including purple, red, transparent, blue and the old favourite, black.

These hoods are lightweight and can easily be worn for a reasonable period of time without an issue. If you are new to rubber my recommendation would be something like this:

Thick latex hoods

Also sometimes referred to as bondage helmets, these are where the term "extreme rubber" starts to creap in. These hoods can be as thick as .75 mm and double skinned, so it makes movement of almost any type difficult if not impossible. These are not designed with the beginner in mind, more for the hardcore rubber lovers that crave confinment and deprivation

These are not to be used by inexperienced people, these are for the hardcore. Didn't I just say that once! Thats because its important.

Parting thoughts

Most people, when put in a hood or become deprived of their senses become exceptionally submissive. This can help get your partner into an enhanced state from the beginning. I have seen playmates get sexually excited just being told they are going to wear a hood. It can be a great experience, if done carefully. With hoods it is especially imperitive that you watch for signs of distress etc but its just about the most fun I think you can have. It causes three things to happen:

The submissive becomes exceptionally submissive. This is a major, enjoyable, sexual headfuck. You dont know whats going to happen at all, except it is sexual, sexy and your gonna fly to fluffy cloud land real soon now :)

The rest of the body becomes a thousand times more sensitive trying to make up for the temporary loss of the eyes, ears and nose. It means that nipple torture you love to administer so much (or balls for the lady ;) ) become more sensitive. Do I need to say any more?

The anticipation causes the person to become sexually aroused, visably so. So exploit it, in a nice way to make your partner have the best sex yet!