opinion

From Soft Bondage to Extreme BDSM, Blindfolds Are a Must for Enhanced Play

From Soft Bondage to Extreme BDSM, Blindfolds Are a Must for Enhanced Play

What’s one of the easiest ways to turn a sexy encounter into a toe-curling scene to remember? Sensory deprivation. The premise is simple: suppress one or more of someone’s senses and the others become enhanced. By manipulating touch, taste, smell, hearing, or sight you can magnify the senses left intact. Taking away your partner’s ability to see what’s coming next can net you biggest bang for your sensory deprivation buck.

Whether you’re into hardcore BDSM scenes or simply want to spice things up, blindfolds should be in your kinky tool kit. There are so many varieties and styles to choose from; they run the gamut from simple and utilitarian to all-in-one sensory deprivation tools. When assisting customers, don’t overlook the role eye cover can play in their sexy adventures. Be prepared to illustrate the variety functions and styles blindfolds come in. They are so versatile, they can be incorporated into almost any scenario.

Since most of us are so dependent on sight, it’s the most natural and impactful place to start.

Why Sensory Deprivation With Blindfolds?

Eye cover is simple but so incredibly sensual. It can instantly amp up the eroticism during a tryst for a number of reasons. Sensory deprivation allows you to disengage from typical sources of stress and anxiety. It’s a form of relaxation; similar to spas with sensory deprivation tanks, blindfolds in the bedroom block out outside stimuli and enable you to let go. It puts you in touch with your innermost thoughts and reactions. This is a side of yourself you may not experience often because you’re normally too distracted dealing with the outside world — in a sense, wearing a blindfold during play can put you in a sexy meditative state.

Sensory deprivation is also well suited for those exploring dominant/submissive power play. A blindfolded person must be dependent on their partner to navigate their surroundings. This also sets the stage for one partner to give direction that the blindfolded person must follow. Additionally, being blindfolded can put you in the very vulnerable state of having to trust your partner. This emotional dependency fosters intimacy and can make couples feel more connected. For those into BDSM, getting into this kind of headspace is an ideal pathway to psychological play.

Exploring Blindfolds

For those new to sensory deprivation it’s best to start off slowly. Only manipulate one sense to begin with. Since most of us are so dependent on sight, it’s the most natural and impactful place to start. There’s quite a variety available when it comes to simple blindfolds, mainly due to comfort factors. The Onyx Leather Blindfold is the most basic style of eye cover; the shape leaves ample room so the nose isn’t covered, and the Velcro closure makes it easy to put on and remove. The leather cover has a sexy aesthetic, plus it’s durable and doesn’t enable peeking.

Some blindfolds may irritate those that wear eye makeup, false eyelashes, or contact lenses. In these cases, something like the Frisky Deluxe Black Out Blindfold is perfect. It’s made of soft neoprene and doesn’t hug the eyelids tightly; it covers a wide area and has a nose cover that also helps keep it from slipping off.

Getting the Most Out of Blindfolds

Once you have a blindfold on, what do you do? Use sensation play to complement and enhance the sensory deprivation experience. Sensation play involves rubbing your partner’s skin with your hands or toys. It is most effective when you use opposing types of touch like hot and cold, soft and rough, or firm and gentle. Experiment with warm hands followed by ice cubes or the tips of your fingernails followed by feathers. You can even rub a Spiked 5 Row Pinwheel across sensitive areas.

Of course, you can also experiment with removing or distorting other senses, too. Add a pair of earplugs or headphones to alter the sense of hearing. Bondage restraints can restrict touch. Including these things will further intensify every caress, spank, or kiss, and those ready for advanced play can kick up their blindfold game and use more full coverage headgear.

Advanced Eye and Head Cover

The Strict Leather Upper Face Mask is considered intermediate-level gear. In addition to being an eye cover, it completely wraps around the nose as well, which makes this piece of equipment perfect for those willing to take things a little further but may be concerned with claustrophobia issues.

For those craving the feeling of serious restriction, the Blindfold Harness and Ball Gag set puts the wearer’s head in total bondage. Leather straps cross behind the head and under the chin, and they also hold a blindfold and ball gag securely in place.

The ultimate in sensory deprivation is the Strict Leather Sensory Deprivation Hood. This type of gear is usually reserved for BDSM enthusiasts. Many wearers say upon putting on this type of full coverage hood, everything changes for them psychologically. They go into a very submissive headspace and some even start to flow into subspace. This particular piece is made from soft, leather; the padded ear pockets and padded reinforcements around the mouth and eyes make the wearer feel even more disoriented. It also has leather straps with three locking mechanisms that can fit a padlock. This is the ultimate in sensory deprivation hoods.

When you’re helping customers find new toys, remind them that blindfolds can enhance any type of sexy scene. They are also perfectly suited for curious novices and experienced kinksters alike, making them an ideal upsell. Eye cover also pairs well with so many other toys and accessories. A blindfold purchased with a dildo can be the basis for a kinky adventure just as a sensory deprivation hood can make a dungeon scene larger than life. Blindfolds are versatile play tools that can be used in any way your imagination takes you.

Rebecca Weinberg is the general manager of XR Brands, which specializes in fetish and BDSM with full-spectrum product development and design to create a series of fully merchandised collections dedicated to the lifestyle.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Gender Play Gets Creative With Fantasy Toys

Sex toy manufacturers are increasingly recognizing the value of fantasy products, expanding their lines to include ever more diverse designs. What was once considered a niche market has proven to have broad appeal, demonstrating that people are eager to explore desires that extend beyond conventional human experiences.

Rin Musick ·
opinion

How Sex Toy Retailers Can Better Support Marginalized Communities

As someone who has been in the industry since 2003, I’ve seen countless trends, products and marketing strategies come and go. Yet one thing has remained consistent: a significant gap in how sex toy retailers serve marginalized communities.

Kimberly Scott Faubel ·
opinion

Tips for Boosting Ecommerce Success During Masturbation May

Masturbation May is not just a month for self-exploration. It’s also a prime opportunity for ecommerce brands in the adult retail space to tap into a highly engaged audience actively searching for resources and products to celebrate their sexual wellness.

Matthew Spindler ·
trends

Adult Retailers Share Theft Prevention Strategies

Shoplifting has always posed a persistent challenge for retailers, and its effects reach far beyond simple loss of inventory. Theft can disrupt operations and saddle retailers with the cost of increased insurance premiums and heightened security measures. Robust security protocols can also negatively impact customers’ shopping experience.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

WIA Profile: Stefanie Neumann

It takes an ever-smiling face and a constantly creative mind to keep a retail outfit up and running. Luckily for TAF Distribution, regional manager Stefanie Neumann has endless good vibes and smart decisions to boost business and staff relations at the company’s retail chain.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Dr. Tush's Brings Anal Care to the Forefront

Few personal health products have inspired descriptions quite so bold as “If Neosporin and Aquaphor had a baby, and that baby became a crime-fighting superhero for your skin.” Then again, even fewer can live up to their own hype.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Tips for Promoting Inclusivity, Accessibility in Adult Retail

Walking into an adult store or browsing a retail website should feel like an invitation — an open, shame-free space to explore pleasure and identity. But for many of us, that’s not the reality. As a queer, nonbinary and physically disabled person, I’ve spent years navigating physical and digital spaces that weren’t built with people like me in mind.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

Tips for Reinvigorating Marketing Strategy by Tapping Into Online Feedback

For the past 50 years or so, the pleasure industry has worked tirelessly to increase public acceptance of sex toys. We’ve done an incredible job, and that progress has only accelerated since I first started out working the sales floor at Babeland nearly 20 years ago.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

The 'Wall of Shame' in Adult Retail: Deterrent or Dilemma?

Retail theft affects all kinds of businesses, but adult retailers face unique challenges when it comes to loss prevention. One of the more controversial strategies some retailers have adopted is the “wall of shame,” a public display of shoplifters caught in the act.

Rin Musick ·
opinion

Mitigating Retail Shrink Through Intelligent Video Solutions

Retail shrink isn’t just a cost of doing business — it’s an existential threat. Theft, fraud, operational inefficiencies and employee mismanagement chip away at profits in ways that many business owners don’t even realize.

Sean Quinn ·
Show More