Illuminations: Intro to nipple play

They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Nipples are as unique as the person in which they are attached. Is there a right and a wrong way to enjoy a nipple? Not at all. Nipple play is limited only by the imagination of the person devising the game plan.

One of the most popular appliances used in BDSM play today is the clamp. There are a variety of clamps out there adapted especially for the tormenting of nipples. The most popularly available style of clamp is the modified alligator clip. This clip, when bought in adult toy stores, is usually sold in pairs and are joined together by a chain. Alligator clips generally have sharp little teeth on the inside of them to facilitate their ‘gripping’ ability, however, clamps sold for the purpose of attaching to the human body mercifully come with a rubber covering of the sharp little projections on the inside. Some of these clamps come equipped with screws affixed to the jaw so that the ‘bite’ provided by closing can be adjusted.

Another popular clamp is the tweezer clamp. These look somewhat like a pair of tweezers, with rubber tips on the gripping end. There is a metal ring around the tongs that slides up, allowing you to increase the pressure of the pinch applied to the flesh it grips.

The Japanese Clover clamp is a unique and very popular clamp. The original purpose of these clamps were to hold fabrics together for sewing, therefore they can be bought relatively inexpensively in quilting, fabric and sewing shops. The beauty of this clamp is that when pressure is applied to it, instead of slipping off, the clamps ratchet tighter and hold their grip. Clover clamps you find in adult toy shops, are sold in pairs with chains connecting them. The pressure provided by this clamp can be extremely intense, and can easily be increased by adding weight.

The Bondage.com Store carries a small selection of nipple clamps. Check it out. However, You don't have to go to your favorite adult toy store to devise a delicious clamp for nipples. Do you have pencils and rubber bands? Use two pencils on either side of the nipple with the rubber bands used to tighten on each end. Voila, you have a very inexpensive, and extremely effective nipple clamp. Your local office supply sells a binder clips in three sizes. These can be very harsh clips for the nipples, so be careful. And don't forget clothespins. Clothespins creatively applied to the nipple and breast can make pretty designs and are effective in attention getting play.

Want to sensitize the nipple just a little before you apply the clamp? Ever thought of snake bite kits? Some kits come with little suction cups, that when applied to the nipple provide a low level of mild suction, causing the nipple to harden and rise to the occasion. Other kits come with syringes which when applied to the nipple provides intense suction that can bruise if left in place for very long. And don’t forget the ice. If you want that nipple to stand up nice and proud for its clamping, ice is a sure fire quick fix. It will make your subbie shiver in delicious tormented delight.

On using clamps safely, remember that you are constricting the blood flow to the nipples when they are in place. There is no general consensus on the amount of time it is safe to leave the clamps in place. My suggestion is to watch the skin, feel it often, ask your subbie how they feel. Signs that will indicate its time to remove them is coolness, color turning pale and blue, or a complaint of numbness. Release of the clamp often brings more pain than the placement of them due to the sudden return of circulation. You can reduce this pain by gently holding the nipple in your fingers as you release the clamp or simply apply your palm over the nipple to slow the return of circulation. If, however, the sudden pain is the goal, you can increase this too by grasping and gently rolling the nipple in your fingers. This facilit