How To Use Nipple Clamps: A Beginners Guide

Are you partial to a nipple-gasm or a bit of nipple play during sex? Our nipples, like our genitals, are super sensitive and packed with nerve endings that react to touch yet they're all too often ignored. They usually get some attention during foreplay but are all but abandoned during penetrative sex. Did you know that studies have shown that it is possible to actually experience an orgasm from nipple stimulation alone? Need I say more…?

If you already know that you enjoy some nipple play such as sucking, biting, or tugging, then nipple clamps might be the next thing to add to your sexy repertoire. They’re often overlooked when it comes to sex toys, but they can be a great addition to your bedside table. And if you’re interested in exploring BDSM they can be a great place to start. Here is my introduction to nipple clamps for beginners.

What are nipple clamps?

Nipple clamps are small pins/clamps that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and intensities. They attach to the nipple and provide some painful pleasure by applying pressure to the sensitive nipples and thus cutting off blood flow. The decreased blood supply makes the nerve endings more sensitive to touch but once the clamps are released the blood flows quickly back to the nipples and everything goes back to normal.

Nipple clamps are a common fixture within the BDSM scene and are loved by many people who are interested in experiencing pain and pleasure. If you already like some pressure applied to the nipples during sexual encounters then nipple clamps may be a good next step for you.

Do they hurt?

They can hurt a bit but it all depends on how sensitive your nipples are and how long you keep the clamps on for. The pain is temporary and should stop when the nipple clamps are removed.

There are different types of clamps

Beginners are often recommended to use alligator clamps, they are easy to use, simple to put on and take off, and are a great intro to the world of nipple clamps. Another good option for beginners are the tweezer-style clamps which usually provide less pain and pressure.

If clamps seem a little too daunting, you could try a pair of suckers for a smoother, less painful experience. Suckers, just like the name suggests, gently increase the blood flow to the nipples by using a gentle sucking motion.

You can even make your own clamps

If you're not ready to commit to buying some clamps yet, you can try the sensation out with a few household objects such as clothes pegs or binder clips. This isn't really a long term solution but it allows you to see if you enjoy the feeling of clamps before committing to the purchase.

All genders can use them

Nipple clamps can be used and enjoyed by everyone with nipples, regardless of gender, size of nipples or amount of breast tissue.

They’re good for hands free stimulation

Using nipple clamps means that the nipples are stimulated whilst leaving your and your partner’s hands free to attend to other areas!

Start soft…

The intensity of nipple clamps varies from person to person, so it’s a good idea to play at the low end of the tension scale at first, even at the risk of having clamps fall off when your arousal state isn’t as high. Then see what you like as you progressively increase the tension.

…and don’t wear them for too long

Don’t jump straight into wearing the clamps for too long, and certainly at the start don’t wear them for more than 10 minutes. I’d suggest starting with two minutes, and then see how you feel. Next time you can try 5 minutes, and so on. As with any type of pain play, it’s important to play safe. And remember that a lot of the sensation occurs when the clamps are removed and blood rushes back to the nipples.

Up the intensity

You or your partner can pull, tug or twist them to up the intensity and create even more pleasure. If you have clamps that are attached to each other with a chain and you're using them whilst masturbating you can put the chain in your mouth and increase the stimulation by moving your head up and down.

Experiment with the removal

Upon removal, blood rushes back to the area and the nipples become even more sensitive to touch. For a lot of people this means that just as they're about to orgasm can make the orgasm even more intense. You can try taking them off just before climax, try to time it with your climax, or just after. Test it and see what feels best for you.

Aftercare

It’s always good practice to engage in aftercare after a sexual experience, whether it's solo or with a partner. But this is even truer when trying something new. Check in with yourself or your partner about how you're feeling emotionally, mentally and physically after using nipple clamps.

If you want to see how the experts do it, check out my explicit short movies Dirty Doctor and An Appointment with My Master on XConfessions. Or go to Lust Cinema to watch my BDSM adult mini series Safe Word - you can even watch the first episode for free here!