Fire-play

Since I’ve been play with fire for a minute now I figured I’d write a little here on it. I’ve always had a fascination with fire from the sounds it makes and the way it seems to have a mind of it’s own, to it’s nurturing capabilities and it’s destructive tendencies. Over the years I slowly incorporated more and more fire into my more intimate encounters. Starting out with candles and hot wax and slowly moving along until I have the majority of it in my play arsenal.

I will say that this is a fairly long writing ( especially for me) but I have done my best to organize it in a logical format. If you’re just curious, feel free to skim. If you’re new, read it all…and read more elsewhere, and get a mentor first. This writing is not a “How to” for fire play but more-so a general overview of common safety considerations and typical types of fire play. This is not meant to be all-inclusive.

History

Throughout history humans have been using fire for a variety of means, the most prominent being survival. It has been said that the discovery of using fire is perhaps one of the most crucial steps in human evolution.

Most evidence points to humans using fire around 200,000 years ago, with some sites being dated to 500,000 years ago.

While the history of fire with humans is fairly well documented it’s history in kink unfortunately isn’t as easy to track down. The easiest to locate is the history of cupping (more of which is detailed below) which dates back to 460-370 BCE when Hippocrates used it for the treatment of internal diseases and structural issues. Later Roman surgeons practiced cupping for bloodletting and even Muhammad recommended the practice causing it to be largely picked up and expanded on by Muslim scientists.

The practice was later picked up by Ge Hong, a Taoist 281-341 CE where it made it’s way into Chinese medicine. This is actually still actively practiced in many Chinese hospitals even to this day!

Obviously the majority of what I wrote above is more medical and not necessarily kink I feel this fits in line as cupping is one of the more widely known aspects of fire play. Now being that we have at least the history of cupping out of the way we can move on to some other areas.

Fire and kink

Word of Caution

It’s worth noting that almost all forms of fire-play are, with good reason, considered a form of edge-play.

Edge play can be thought of as any type of play that may involve the consequences of potential short- or long-term harm or death. Which is to say that engaging in this type of play it is of the utmost importance that all are aware of the risks involved and safety is at the forefront of all participants minds.

I wanted to be sure to cover this as fire can often times be unpredictable, and one slight miscalculation or inattentive moment on the tops end could lead to lifelong consequences for the bottom.

Chemical Release

From a young age we are often taught to be cautious of fire. While it is a necessary part of everyday life (cooking, electricity production, etc) we are still taught what can happen should we get too closely acquainted with it. As such most people have an aversion to it being anywhere near them, and this happens to be where it intertwines with kink.

When the bottom experiences the sight, sound, and warmth of fire on their body the amygdala, an almond-shaped structure in the temporal lobe, gets to work doing what it does best. It alerts your nervous system, which sets your body into motion. Stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and endorphins are released. Through the excitation transfer process, your body and brain remain aroused even after the experience is over. The release of these chemicals put our body into a “fight or flight” stance, shifting our attention from our typical thoughts to survival.

This attention shift can often times provide a sense of escapism as well by taking away any abstract thoughts that may typically exist, much in the same way subs going through a good impact scene can experience.

Safety

As stated under “Words of Caution” fire-play can be a very dangerous activity. As such, it is imperative that all that are interested familiar themselves with the safety aspects of it.

Burns

A burn is an injury to the skin or other tissues that can be be the result of a wide range of causes. For our purposes here, they are caused by heat. Burns are typically classified into three categories depending on the extent of damage to the skin and surrounding tissues. Although some institutions claim the existence of a 4th degree and further, for this article I’m just going to stick with 1-3.

1st Degree

A first-degree (superficial) burn is an injury that affects only the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. These burns are typically harmless and are extremely easy to get. When you get a sunburn for instance it’s USUALLY this type of burn.

Some symptoms of a first degree burn are:

• redness
• dry skin
• skin that is painful to touch
• pain usually lasts 48 to 72 hours and then subsides
• peeling skin

These are usually very minor, in order to properly care for them use a burn cream/spray or some aloe vera to help with irritation and they will generally resolve themselves after a few days.

2nd Degree

With a 2nd degree burn there is a greater extent of damage to the tissue. With a second-degree burn both the epidermis (top layer) and the dermis are damaged. The primary distinguishing factor between this and a first degree burn is going to be the appearance of blisters. The symptoms of this type of burn are similar to those of a 1st degree burn, however, the pain will be much more intense.

In order to care for this type of burn it’s best to rinse the skin under cool (not cold) water until the pain stops. And do NOT pop the blisters that form. If any blisters do happen to pop it is important to dress them appropriately. Depending on severity, this type of burn may require professional medical attention. If you’re unsure if it’s to that point or not, go see a doctor as this level can potentially cause scarring.

3rd Degree

A third degree burn will destroy two full layers of skin. This is among the most severe types of burns. It can be distinguished due to the discoloration of the skin. Unlike the reddening of the two mentioned above, this burn may appear black, yellow, or white.

Consequently, this type of burn will not hurt or cause discomfort due to the nerve endings being destroyed, however the area surrounding the burn will consist of second and first degree burns that will not go unnoticed. If you or anyone else ever gets this type of burn it is extremely important to seek professional medical care immediately!

Fuel Safety

When choosing to perform fire-play it is important to take note of the different types of fuels that are available to be used. The most typical fuel is, of course, going to be isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Personally in my kit I keep two different types. I keep 70% and 91% isopropyl alcohol. The reason for this is that the 91% typically tends to burn hotter than the 70% which makes it great for cupping or any activity where it will not be applied directly to the bottom.

The 70% on the other hand tends to burn cooler and for longer, which makes it perfect for applications such as fleshing or drumming.

You can also use various types of grain alcohol for fuel as well, however, due to the various different types and dilutions it’s impossible for me to tell you how each will react, experiment with caution!

Camping Fuel or “Coleman Fuel” is a type of fuel that is typically used in fire-flogging. This is a liquid petroleum fuel and to be completely honest I have not used it myself but due to it’s properties I would avoid allowing it to come into direct contact with the bottom in a manner similar to fleshing.

Many individuals into fire play use various types of flash products was well such as: cotton, string, paper. I myself tend to stick only with flash cotton. I cannot in good faith recommend flash string or paper. Both burn extremely hot and for a lot longer than what should be safely played with (feel free to ask about my flash paper scar 😉 )

There are also of course many other non-standard fuel sources for this type of play that more extreme individuals use. I have chosen to not list them here to keep from encouraging inexperienced players from utilizing them. Just be sure to remember that different fuels burn at different rates and temperatures, be sure to thoroughly know the fuel types you are dealing with.

Object Flammability

Let’s face it to a degree everything is flammable (or meltable), and with how unpredictable fire can be it’s up to us to be aware of all items that may be near our scene. Some things (such as concrete) are much less flammable than other things (such as hair).

Be aware of any and all items that are around your play area. Ensure that appropriate measures are taken to limit such risks. For example: When doing bodily fire-play I will wrap a damp cloth around her hair while also avoiding areas close to her hair. This gives us both a few added layers of protection.

On another note it’s important to think about clothing. Ensure your bottom is wearing natural fiber clothing. Things like cotton will burn, but clothing like polyester will melt, and melt to them. This is not a situation you want to be in. Actually a good saying that I heard is:

Natural will burn, synthetic will burn you

Also keep this in mind when setting up a scene. You don’t want a bowl of alcohol sitting right beside your bottom when setting up your scene, and you don’t want to have to reach over anything flammable in order to grab your safety supplies (more about those in a moment), or risk knocking over a fuel source in an emergency.

My advice is after you set up your scene and before you strike that match or flick that bic, take a look around for any potential hazards. If you’re not 10,000% sure, ask your bottom to look around as well, or a DM, or any spectators. There is no shame in confirming safety.

Skin!

Skin! Yes, skin can be a safety aspect in fire-play. It is important to be mindful of any additional items the bottom may have on them prior to starting a scene. Fire can be unpredictable even when all variables are accounted for, add some body spray or lotion in and you’re setting yourself up for disaster.

Many beauty products have various types of oils in them, and when they come near a fire they will heat up and potentially cause burns where otherwise the bottom would not be subjected to such. Be clean and hydrated (that’s also important), but have no sprays, oils, or lotions on your body when engaging in this type of play.

Safety Tools

As I feel I’ve thoroughly covered above, safety is extremely important. When doing fire-play there are several items you are going to want near you in the event of an emergency:

• Phone – To call 911
• Transport (car, etc) – To transport someone to medical services
• Safety Shears – To cut clothing or anything that may be in your way
• First Aid Kit – To treat minor burns or irritation
• Bucket of water – To assist in extinguishing fires
• Fire Extinguisher – Preferably one that is rated for class B and K fires
• Fire Blanket – For use in extinguishing fires in sensitive areas (privates, head, etc)

While having these tools nearby will not prevent an emergency, they will ensure you’re equipped to deal with most that may appear.

I would also like to add that should an emergency occur, use the water on your bottom and their head. The fire extinguisher is for all other areas. (Don’t spray an extinguisher in your bottom’s face folks!)

Types of Fire-play

Cupping

The practice of fire-cupping is using fire to warm the air inside of a type of glass cups (hence it’s name) before placing them on the skin of the bottom. This is typically done by taking a cotton ball soaked in 91% isopropyl alcohol, lighting it on fire, and then placing it into the cup and quickly removing it. Once the flame is removed the cup is then immediately placed onto the skin. The fire heats up the air in the cup which, after cooling reduces in volume creating a negative pressure inside the cup. After the cup is placed onto the body, the negative pressure “sucks” the skin up.

This act will produce dark circular bruising as it causes the capillaries in the top layer of skin to burst. Typically prior to cupping I tend to apply a massage oil to the bottoms skin, this allows for a better seal between the cups and the skin as well as allows a smoother surface for moving the cups around while maintaining suction. Many people I have spoken with wonder where to get fire cups, as always I typically start with Amazon.

Do NOT attempt fire cupping:

• On the spine
• On bony parts of the body
• On individuals that take blood thinners
• On individuals that have issues with blood clotting

Wet Cupping

Another practice is called “wet cupping” this refers to drawing blood through the use of fire cupping. The practice typically involves making a small incision into the skin and then performing a fire cupping on that location. The result will be blood being drawn into the cup.

When performing wet cupping it is important to take extra measures for safety as any breaks in the skin invite the risk of infection, or blood born pathogen transmission.

Fleshing/Streaking

Fleshing, also referred to as streaking, is a very recognizable type of fire play. This involves placing a fuel source directly onto the bottom’s skin, lighting it and then quickly extinguishing it.

This is typically done with 70% isopropyl alcohol due to its lower burn temperature. Some people will use drumsticks wrapped in Kevlar, fleshing torches, or other implements to draw designs with the fuel on the bottom. When doing this it is important that just enough fuel to wet the skin is applied and not enough for it to run. I have read horror stories about fuel pooling and running down a bottom’s side (so they are now laying in the fuel along with it being on them) DO NOT be this person.

Once the fuel is lit it is quickly extinguished by wiping away with a clean hand. When done correctly the bottom should feel slight warmth and a tingly sensation but no pain. If the fuel is allowed to burn for too long (fractions of a second) it can quickly cause a first degree burn.

Bubbles

Fire bubbles are an interesting and one of my bottom and I’s favorite forms of fire play. This involves placing flammable bubbles onto the bottoms skin and setting them on fire. Due to the nature these can burn for much longer than fleshing and at times (depending on the amount of bubbles) can be allowed to simply completely burn out.

The method that I personally use is by filling a bowl half-way with water, then adding about a teaspoon or two of liquid castile soap, and then finally taking a bottle of butane and turning it upside-down and discharging it into the mixture. The result will be pretty little bubbles that are extremely flammable.

The nice part of this is that the bottom has a few extra layers of protection in the form of the soap and water, so once the butane burns off (which it does so fairly quickly) there is still water and soap left. I recommend doing this on yourself first to see how it feels and get a good measurement of the temperature.

Flash Cotton

Flash cotton, also called nitrocellulose, is a highly flammable substance that looks and feels just like cotton. This is typically used in stage magic as it creates a bright flash when ignited but does not produce ash or smoke.

This also makes it perfect for kink. Play with this typically involves placing it upon the bottoms skin in various patterns before igniting it. This create a bright flame that can travel around the body. The “woosh” it produces also serves very well in scenes. Flash cotton is also great as it does not burn as hot or as long as flash paper or flash string making it much safer to use, however, be sure to take proper precautions.

I personally make mine, and sell it! You can order it on my store at Heathen Creations. When you order flash cotton, whether from me or another company, it will arrive in the mail in a plastic bag and will be wet. You will have to allow it to fully dry before playing with it. Damp or wet flash cotton will not burn correctly and could cause injury to your bottom.

Another important note when playing with it is to make sure it’s spread out and not “clumped” together. You should be able to see your bottom’s skin through the cotton very easily.

When adjoining multiple pieces, place them next to each other but not overlapping. The thicker the cotton is, the hotter and longer it’s going to burn.

Hair Mousse

This one is fairly shocking to those that are new to fire play, but yes…hair mousse. The one that is usually referenced is the White Rain Volumizing Mousse but I would say my favorite is the Herbal Essences Volumizing Mousse. Most hair products actually use butane as the aerosol component due to it’s low boiling temperature (meaning it quickly evaporates). The cheaper ones typically have more butane in them, you would just have to experiment to find one that works well for your uses. I have found that even some “dry shampoos” tend to work well also!

But the mousse is nice because it creates this travelling warm/cold sensation. When it’s applied to the bottom it will be slightly cooler than the ambient temperature and when lit on fire it will travel the length of the applied stream, sometimes even reversing direction and traveling back. This will cause a running warmth and when the butane is burnt out it will go back to being cool due to the temperature of the mousse itself.

You can usually light this a few times for each application before it fully runs out. Again it is import to take all the safety precautions as you can, and do NOT light it in, or near, someone’s hair.

Drumming/Bouncing

Fire drumming is a practice where fire wands (or drumsticks) are set on fire and drummed against parts of your body, most of the time to music. People who have experienced this form of fire play describe it as intense and yet somehow relaxing, like a massage but with the thrill of little flicks of heat from the fire.
Yeah, I stole this one since I didn’t feel like writing it. Here’s the source.

Fire Flogging

Fire flogging is one that I view as one of those that should only be practiced by an experienced individual. In the manner of full disclosure I, myself, have not participated in fire flogging so take that for what you will. Fire flogging is a type of fire play that includes a flogger with falls that are usually specially made (with Kevlar). This is then dipped into a fuel source (those that I have spoken to about it swear by camping fuel). The flogger is then used upon the bottom. This type of play can be a little more dangerous and as such there are additional safety considerations to be made.

Always have a third person to act as a watcher. Their job is specifically to watch for stray flames, or pieces of a flogger that may break off and…I don’t know…fall into someone’s boot. cough cough. Another one is that this type of activity should only be done outside, not inside your local dungeon. And finally a fire hood or wet towel should be wrapped around the bottom’s head (hair is extremely flammable, see above).

When done correctly the bottom will typically feel the impact of the flogger along with quick flashes of heat. Which can add to the excitement…plus the wooshing of the flogger is amazing.

Other types of fire play

There are even more types of fire play such as fire gloves, incorporating the violet wand and more, BUT do you see how long of a writing this is?! I’m getting tired of writing, so I may update this later with other types or do a separate writing. For now be glad I did as much as what I did.

After play

After play is always an important concept and should be performed after each scene you do regardless of play. While fire play is similar as other types of play being that each individual is going to have their own needs and wants regarding aftercare there are also a few other areas that have to be considered.

It’s important to remember that fire, heat, and other items that may be used during fire play can dry out and irritate the skin. Due to this it’s important to have some type of moisturizer available to apply to your bottom to minimize any damage. I personally keep a small bottle of Sliquid Satin in my kit. This does wonders and doesn’t have any additives and doesn’t leave any kind of “sticky” feeling after it’s rubbed in.

Another important aspect (which is important in other plays as well) is hydration. Be sure you bottom has a bottle of water, Gatorade or other hydrating agent (like my wording there? lol) available immediately after play. Also make sure they drink it, I’m looking at you brats!

Other Resources

Feel free to enjoy these additional resources on fireplay I managed to find. I do not know any of the authors personally, but I like their material.

• Submissive’s Guide – Up in Flames: The Basics of Fireplay
• Flames of Passion: Handbook of Erotic Fire Play
• BDSM 101: Fireplay (Youtube)
• Erotic Cupping: The Kinky Art of Fire and Glass

Final Notes

I don’t pretend to know everything or all details. If someone experienced here has some things they would like to add I ask that you please comment it below and I’ll be happy to add it and attribute source.