What it is
The points are usually short metal tines pushed through the glove material, and their sharpness differs widely between gloves. Some are blunt and tickly, others can easily break the skin. People enjoy the mix of intimate hand contact with a surprising bite, and the menacing look of the gloves adds to many scenes.
Vampire gloves are leather or fabric gloves with many tiny metal spikes or tines set into the palms and fingertips. Stroked lightly over the skin, they create a prickling sensation, and pressed harder they can sting or scratch. They let the top use their hands naturally while adding an edge, which is why skin integrity and hygiene need close attention.
What it involves
- The top wears the gloves and strokes, presses or grips the bottom's skin.
- Light strokes produce a tingling or prickling feeling over a wide area at once.
- Firmer pressure or dragging creates sharper sensations and can leave scratch lines.
- The gloves are often alternated with soft touch, such as a bare hand or fur.
How to start
Test the gloves on your own forearm first to learn how much pressure the points need to sting.
Begin with light, flat strokes rather than gripping or dragging.
Start on fleshy, less sensitive areas such as the back, shoulders and thighs.
Look at the skin after each pass and stop where you see more than light redness.
Going further
- Vary pressure, speed and direction to build a range of sensations within one scene.
- Add a blindfold so the bottom cannot predict where the next touch lands.
- Combine the gloves with contrasting sensations such as ice, warm oil or a soft mitt.
- Explore light scratching that leaves temporary marks, only after agreeing on it explicitly.
Safety
- Keep pressure light enough that the points do not pierce or tear the skin unless that has been carefully negotiated.
- Avoid the face, eyes, genitals and any area with cuts, rashes, moles or recent tattoos.
- Inspect the tines before each use and retire gloves with bent, loose or burred points.
- If the skin breaks, stop, clean the area and treat the gloves as a blood contact item.
- Keep each pair for one partner, since gloves with fabric or leather around metal points are very hard to disinfect fully.
Consent
- Discuss how intense the sensation should be and whether scratches or marks are acceptable.
- Agree on which body areas are included and which are completely off limits.
- Ask about fear of sharp objects and about skin conditions or blood thinners that make the skin fragile.
- Set a safeword and check in often, especially when the bottom is blindfolded.
Warnings
- Broken skin carries a risk of infection and of blood contact between partners.
- Points vary so much between gloves that a new pair should always be tested before use on a partner.
- Seek medical care if a scratch becomes red, swollen, warm or painful in the days after play.
- Do not use the gloves when either partner is intoxicated, as control over pressure becomes unreliable.
Good to know
- Wipe the points with a suitable disinfectant after each use and let the gloves air dry completely.
- Leather gloves need occasional conditioning, which should be kept away from the metal points.
- Store the gloves palm to palm in a pouch or box so the points stay protected.
- A Wartenberg wheel or a pinwheel offers a similar prickling sensation with more precise control.