Another form of S&M is play involving hot wax. The wax, usually dripping from a burning candle (if the candle is actually held against the box, see fire play) or a melting pot on various parts of the subjects body.
One of the most important things to understand is that not all parts of the human body can withstand the same temperature. Basically, the thicker the skin, the more heat it can withstand. Thicker skin also usually means less sensitivity. In other words, the less sensitive the skin is, the more likely it is going to deal well with the heat from dripping wax.
Another thing to consider is that molten wax can easily enter orifices. There is little you can do to avoid this when dripping wax, however a good selection of position can reduce the risk.
Also, consider that dripping from higher does lower the temperature of the wax by the time it reaches the victim’s skin but the difference is usually very little.
Always allow wax to cool down before dripping more. Never allow pools of molten wax to form or a stream of wax run down the subject’s skin.
Waxing usually takes little to no preparation although if the skin being dripped on has hair, clean up can take some work. Oiling skin and hair before dripping wax can help. So does melting the wax with a hair dryer if it gets in your hair and refuses to come out.
Another problem can come from clothing worn. Vinyl, Nylon and most artificial leather products easily burn and melt under the heat from dripping wax and can form a very solid bond with skin. Remove any clothing that can’t resist a temperature at least 30F (15C) higher than the wax used.
The burn temperature is the main reason for selecting special types of wax. Most people select wax at around 125F (51C). If you’re playing on softer skin, are inexperienced, try cooler burning wax. The soles of feet are known to sustain much higher temperatures.
| Wax Type | Common Forms | Burning Temperature | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Paraffin | bulk wax | 115-125 F (46-52 C) | Soft Paraffin wax can be made in many different ways resulting in a large range of temperatures. However, all temperatures are rather low and usually well tolerated |
| Hard Paraffin | paraffin pillar candles | 125-145 F (52-63 C) | Hard Paraffin is usually used in paraffin pillar candles |
| Taper-type | Hard candles (crumble when broken) | 140+ F (60+ C) | |
| Beeswax | wax sheets, beewax candles | 148 F (65 C) | Beeswax (natural colored or bleached) is smokeless and burns very slowly and is usually well tolerated. |
| Microcrystaline | Candles with high burn times | 165-250 F (74-121 C) | This type of was is in no way usable for dripping. It is too hot and often causes skin irritation. Sometimes called Microcrystaline Paraffin. |
Wax comes in different colors. The colors used in most candles are a powder and can cause skin irritation in rare cases. Benadryl can be used to help against the itching. The colorants sometimes raise the melting temperature of max. As a general rule of thumb, the darker the color of coloring agent, the higher the melting point.
Scented candles are not recommended for wax play since most candles are scented using oils. These oils can cause skin reactions and usually burn much hotter than the wax.
Burns form wax are treated the same way as any other burns. However, the wax often sticks to the skin and can cause additional problems. If you suspect you have burns under wax, be very careful removing it to make sure you do not create additional damage. Do not rub. Also, if the burns are worse, consider not removing the wax. All hospitals have ways to gently remove the wax (although you might have some explaining to do on how it got there)