What I learned about knife play… the hard way

My ex girlfriend got me into knife play, not for cutting (I don’t date cutters), but for sensation play and fear play.

However, after we broke up, and I started doing knife play on other women, I noticed there were complaints from a couple of “scars” from some, and even angry phone calls. This even happened after I stopped using knives, and I used other implements that were not designed to cut, but were still sharp enough to leave little trails nonetheless.

A man admits when he’s wrong, and I was wrong in underestimating the power of my edges. Here’s what I learned from that though.

1. DON’T BE STUPID! Knives are inherently dangerous, and have the potential to kill people. Never ever do knife play while you’re drunk, high, have unsure footing, or under any other conditions that could cause you to lose your balance and actually puncture the skin and damage someone.

2. Many vendors make prop knives, made out of actual metal, which look sharp and shiny, but don’t actually have a blade. These show-knives, or prop knives are very unlikely to cut the skin, and your sub doesn’t have to know that. :)

3. Always negotiate ahead of time. Ask the sub if they want knife play. Some may be absolutely against it, and absolutely against all sharp objects because of past history.

4. With anything sharp there is a chance the skin can be broken and the parties involved can either accept that, or not do it.

5. After any scene where you use sharp objects, when you are performing after care, apply Aloe or Neosporin to the affected areas. Even if there are no scars, cuts, or marks, remember, you could have created tiny cuts or weakened the skin, and marks will not begin to appear until the next day. This can also add a sensuous nature to the aftercare as you massage the cream into the skin.

6. Arnica cream does not help with cuts, and shouldn't be used on broken skin. It helps decrease bruises if applied during aftercare, but not cuts.

7. Advise your submissive to take extra Vitamin E over the next week. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that stops the production of ROS formed when fat undergoes oxidation. Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils are among the best sources, and significant amounts are available in green leafy vegetables and fortified cereals.

8. Fair skinned people mark faster but don't scar as bad. Darker skin tones have more prominent scarring. The thinner skinned areas are more likely to scar or mark more than say the back. Thin people, people with dry skin, and people who have not played in a while are also prone to scarring easily.

9. Always clean all your sharp objects between play sessions. Cidex, HPPA, Cavacide, and Madacide are all good sterilizing agents for sharp objects, but some have strong fumes and may cause complications if you’re asthmatic. One thorough approach is:

a. First, rinse everything in water, then dry it off with a paper towel.

b. Then take a paper towel and soak it in rubbing alcohol, and wipe down the contact points.

c. Then hold the toys over a lighter, which burns off any excess alcohol and (in theory) anything else left.

d. Then wipe them off with a paper towel soaked in R.A. to take off any soot, then lay them out to dry.

This approach may seem like more trouble than it’s worth, but it is a thorough way of protecting most knives from germs, and rust.