Techniques

Talking about blindfold techniques seems (and actually is) a bit banal. Still, I suppose you do learn something from years of experience and experimenting.

Some hints

• Don't just use anything - choose a blindfold that fits the occasion
• Strike a balance between blocking out light, looks and comfort (if comfort is called for, that is)
• Try all kinds to find what you like - you just might surprise yourself (and/or your partner)

Knotting scarf blindfolds

Normally, you should use a double knot to keep the blindfold from slipping. However, if you're using something like a nice cotton scarf that doesn't slip at all, you can get away with a simple single knot. The advantage of this is that such a small knot doesn't dig into the back of your head if you're lying on your back. If you have to use a double knot and want to avoid this, you might consider knotting the scarf on the side of your partner's head or in front, rather than at the back. Personally, I don't think that looks right.

A hint for scarf lovers: If you use a long or diagonally folded scarf, you get nice dangling ends that can be used for stroking etc.

A common problem is the difficulty of avoiding peeking down the sides of the nose (especially if the person being blindfolded is Greek, I suppose). Some tricks:

• A double blindfold: place a pad (e.g. a thickly folded scarf) over the eyes and tie it tightly in place. Alternatively fold a scarf around the pad before tying it over the eyes.
• With a single scarf this can be surprisingly effective: fold it into a relatively broad band (say 10 cm = 4 in.) and tie it so that it extends a bit below the end of the nose. Then fold the lower edge a bit in under itself.
• Use a long or diagonally folded scarf. This enables you to pass the ends back in front, tying a tight knot over the bridge of the nose. However, for some (including me) the knot in front is aesthetically not too pleasing.
• Even better: Start with a scarf long enough for two passes around the head. Its thickness should be even along its length (i.e. don't use a diagonally folded scarf). Place the middle of the scarf low on the back of the head, around the base of the skull. Pass the ends up and round in front, each one lying close to its side of the nose and covering one eye. Cross the ends over the nose, pass them round to the back and tie them above the place where you started. As long as the scarf is reasonably thick, this method is absolutely lightproof, and looks great, too! For an even more solid blindfold, use a really long scarf and start with covering both eyes with the middle, passing the ends down and back, than back to the front and up each side of the nose, then finally once again around to the back to knot them there. Now that's what I call a blindfold!

Unless you're unlucky enough to have a combined blindfold/ear fetish, I should advise in general placing the blindfold over the ears, rather than above them.

One final trick is the blindfold-gag combination. With a long enough scarf you can pass the ends back in front, into the mouth, and ideally back again to tie at the back of the neck. This makes for a very stable blindfold and bit gag. Note: Since the gag is inserted into the mouth not from the front, as is more common, but from the sides, the corners of the mouth tend to get pressed into the mouth, rather than back. This can be quite uncomfortable. The wearer should be able to fix this with some manouvering and grimacing, and you can help with your fingers.

A home-made gadget

For those who are real suckers for tight-fitting blindfolds but can't afford those expensive leather gadgets: Cut out a piece of sponge rubber (e.g. from an old mattress) of about 20 x 10 cm (8 x 4 in.). Cut a small triangular gap into on long side (for the nose). If placed over the eyes and tied tightly in place with a scarf or an elastic bandage, this makes one of the tightest blindfolds you can get.

Colours

Note that the difference in light blocking between different-coloured cloth is not to be underestimated. A white scarf may let quite a lot of light through, while an otherwise identical black one may block completely. If you want to use light-coloured cloth and still want blocking, you must compensate by using a larger scarf, padding or a double blindfold.

Wet blindfolds

Some people like to play with blindfolds in the shower or bath, swimming - or just out in the rain. Some special considerations apply to wet blindfolds.

Wet cloth swells and becomes more transparent. If you're using a scarf it must be extra thick and/or dark. Wet cloth is difficult to handle, so you should tie it in place before it gets wet. Due to the swelling you will almost certainly have to tighten it once it's soaked.

The logical blindfold for wet places is of course a pair of swim goggles stuffed with cotton. This can be quite effective.

Some blindfolds - Pros and cons

The following list of blindfold pros and cons reflects my own tastes rather than absolute values.

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