Vampire gloves are gloves, usually leather, whose palms and fingers are studded with small sharp metal points. The wearer, typically the Top, can use them to stroke, scratch, slap or spank the receiver, so they sit between sensation play and impact play.
Dragged lightly across the skin, the points wake up the nerve endings; used with force, they add a biting sharpness to every blow and may draw blood. The gloves also lend themselves to fear play, since the receiver cannot be sure whether the next touch will be gentle or harsh. For the person receiving, the attraction is the blend of touch and pain and a strong sense of vulnerability; for the wearer, it is the control and the range of sensations available from a single tool. They are made commercially and are also often home-made.
Safety & Consent
Because the gloves can easily break the skin, limits should be discussed before play starts. Keep them away from the eyes and from open wounds. Any scene where they draw blood is blood play and calls for a clean setting and knowledge of the STI status of everyone involved.
Leather is porous and cannot be fully sterilised, so a pair that has drawn blood is normally kept for one person only (fluid-bound) and not used on anyone else. The gloves should still be cleaned carefully after each use. As with other intense play, aftercare is recommended.
