Domination & submission _ the BDSM relationship handbook ( PDFDrive )

emergency signal that can be communicated to the Top, whether or not the
wrists or hands are restrained.
Masks & Hoods
BDSM masks and hoods come in all shapes, sizes, materials and functional
forms. Generally speaking, a mask is designed to give the wearer anonymity,
while a hood is designed to limit or prevent the wearer from seeing. Both,
however, can be used to perform a variety of other nifty functions as well, and
there is a lot of interchangeability in the terms among users and retailers. To
reduce confusion and for the sake of simplicity, we’ll refer henceforth to them
all simply as hoods.
Hoods, unlike blindfolds, are typically fitted over the entire head. They are
commonly constructed from cotton, silk, spandex, leather, rubber, PVC, nylon or
other synthetic fabrics. There is such a wide spectrum of products that fit into
this category it’s difficult to make any generalizations which would apply across
the board. Some hoods come with straps, flaps, and holes; others may not.
Some are designed to keep people from seeing out; others are designed to keep
people from seeing in. Most hoods function to limit a person’s vision; others
may be uniquely constructed to limit a person’s ability to speak, hear, breathe, or
all of the above. Hoods may be simple or devious, sensual or cruel, loose-fitting
or elastic, and they may be secured in place by laces, zippers, snaps, buttons,
straps, or Velcro. In fact, since many of the hoods used in BDSM play are
custom-made for their owners, it would not be much of an exaggeration to say
that there are practically as many different kinds of BDSM hoods out there as
there are people who enjoy using them.
When shopping for hoods, you should expect the price that you pay to be a direct
reflection of the materials, features, and quality of workmanship of the product.
A simple cotton hood will average $5 to $20. A nylon or spandex hood will be a
bit pricier, at $15 to $40. Rubber, PVC or latex hoods generally range from $20
to $70. Leather hoods can start at $25 or cost as much as $200, depending on
the quality, complexity, and unique features included in the design. If you are
unable to locate the type of hood you’re looking for, you should have no trouble
at all finding skilled kink apparel crafters online who’ll be glad to customize a
hood to your tastes and specifications.
The safety concerns related to hoods are virtually identical to those for blindfolds