What is Spanksgiving, you ask? Well, Spanksgiving is that extra special celebration after Thanksgiving that’s to put it simply, a day to give spanks to… Booties! Pain causes the release of endorphins, which create almost the same feeling as an opiate; endorphins both block pain and produce a euphoric feeling. So, whether you spank for pleasure or spank for pain… Ambiance would like to wish you, seasons greetings and sweet beatings! How can I make sure my beatings are extra sweet, you ask? There are multiple ways and several different tools you can use. We’ve made a list with the help of the wonderful folks at Kinkly to help you learn about all of them because, when it comes to spanking soft or hard, there are different strokes for different folks!
Tickler
What It Is
Ticklers have earned their place in many toy bags. Primarily used for the unique feelings they can provide, ticklers are sensation-inducing items, and are usually attached to the top of long rods so they can be used from a distance. Sensation-inducing items include soft suede strands, feathers, metal beads, rubber strands, and more.
How It Feels
Ticklers can run the gamut from “naughty” to “nice”. When used for their initial purpose, ticklers feel soft and gentle on the skin – and usually lead to tickling and laughing. (Which might be sadistic in itself if you hate being tickled!) When used a bit more roughly, ticklers can leave a stinging sensation and leave marks on the skin.
How to Use It
To use a tickler for tickling, use a light hand and run the tickler softly across your partner’s skin. Try to choose areas that are more sensitive for better results.While ticklers are primarily used for tickling, these small, portable items can be used for impact play as well. Instead of using the tickler in a dragging motion, use it in more of a spanking fashion. However, be gentle with these toys for impact! While a feather doesn’t do much damage for a spanking, the plastic rod that it’s attached to will. Remember to mind the topper of the tickler. The rubber tip at the top of many ticklers can add unintended pain when they contact your partner’s skin.
Paddle
What It Is
A paddle makes flat contact with the skin. These are very easy to wield and are available in multiple types of designs and materials (for different sensations). They’re great for beginners, so paddles tend to be where most people start their impact play journeys.
How It Feels
Paddles vary widely in intensity depending on their material and construction. Rigid paddles will likely hurt less than many flexible paddles. Paddles made from faux fur are going to feel almost like a massage, while a paddle made from silicone, wood, or hard leather will provide an intense stinging sensation. A large paddle will likely feel like it hurts less than a paddle that only strikes a concentrated area.
How to Use It
Paddles are, by far, the simplest of all of the impact toys. It’s easy – just hit your consenting partner with the flat side of a paddle! Just be sure to stick with the meatiest parts of the butt and thigh area to keep things nice and safe.
Flogger
What It Is
One step past the paddles, you’ll find the floggers. Once many beginners have tried out paddles, they’re clamoring to enjoy the unique design of a flogger. Floggers consist of multiple strands of a long, string-like material attached to a handle. When swung, the tips of these strands should hit the designated target. While harder to use than paddles, learning the basics of soft flogging is still well-within 15 minutes of practice.
How It Feels
Floggers can feel like the best massage you’ve ever received – or the meanest spanking you can imagine. It all depends on the way the flogger is made and how it is used. Heavier floggers are likely to create a massaging sensation, while lighter ones are likely to be a bit more painful. Soft materials such as suede or faux fur will offer a gentler feeling, while harsher materials like unsoftened leather or rubber will deliver a sharper strike with a lot more bite.
How to Use It
Floggers can take a bit of practice to use correctly. Unfortunately, it’s also a bit hard to explain how to wield a flogger without a demonstration. There are number of educational videos on YouTube. The basics, however, include using various wrist motions to allow the tips of the flogger’s tails to touch an intended point on the receiver’s body. This can include rolling the wrist, a gentle back and forth motion, and many other motions. It’s imperative that you practice these movements on inanimate objects before you move onto using them on a partner. While it may look easy at first, aiming a flogger can be difficult – and misplaced aim can easily be dangerous to your bottom during a scene. It’s recommended that you start off with a gentle flogger – such as one made from faux fur – as you perfect your flogging technique.
Slapper
What It Is
Slap, slap, slap! What if you enjoy the sound of a good spanking – but not so much the pain that tends to come with it? That’s what a slapper is for! Made from multiple pieces of material, when the slapper is spanked against the skin, the two pieces of material come together for a loud “slap” noise. It sounds a whole lot more painful than it is – which is why it can be fun to play with.
How It Feels
While a hard hit from a slapper can definitely feel painful, the sensation will pale in comparison to a regular paddle made from the same material. Since a slapper can produce that pleasant “slapping” noise without much force behind the strike, slappers can be used relatively lightly while still offering the fun noise of a heavy spanking session.
How to Use It
Slappers are just as simple to use as a paddle. Holding the handle, spank the slapper onto the skin where you’d like to spank. That’s it! Experiment with the angle and the intensity to find the exact strike that will make the most noise.
Crop
What It Is
Crops are known for their versatile use. Also used in equine sports as an encouragement tool, crops are long, flexible (usually plastic) rods with a unique tip at the end of the rod. The flexibility and the material of this tip will drastically affect the sensation of the crop. Crops can be used gently or not-so-gently. It’s up to you and your partner!
How It Feels
The tip of a Crop has a much more centralized sensation. Depending on how much force is put behind the strike, it can feel particularly painful – or it can feel closer to a gentle tap. The amount of force behind the strike makes a huge difference. Using the rod of the crop, however, feels pretty stingy and painful.
How to Use It
To produce the two different sensations, you’ll need to strike the skin with the corresponding area of the crop. To offer a softer (but still noticeable) tap, use the very tip of the crop. You may need to practice to learn the exact flexibility and length of the tool you are using. A sharp hit with only the very tip of the riding crop tip will offer a very painful sensation while a softer strike with the full tip of the crop offers a less-intense feeling – closer to a prodding sensation. Alternatively, you can use the flexible rod of the crop much like you’d use a cane. Be aware that many crops can feel extremely intense when used in this manner – and they aren’t designed for it either. As such, keep the intensity light when using a crop like this to avoid breaking it in half.
Whip
What It Is
Not for the beginner, whips are long, hard-to-control strands of material. When used correctly, they can barely graze the skin in a small area – and leave their mark.
How It Feels
When used as intended, whips are going to hurt – a lot. They’re designed to leave a trail of intense, painful sensation – along with the marks that come with it. However, when held by a trained player, whips can be used just for show (without ever making contact with the skin) or just barely making soft contact with the skin. Whips are not usually the tool of choice for those who don’t enjoy pain.
How to Use It
Whips should not be used on human skin without training – preferably training in person. However, whips can make a fantastic visual – and a perfect prop to that dominatrix outfit you’ve been planning… So, there you have it. All of the information you need to know and what to use, for what just might be the naughtiest time of the year!
