CalExotics Scandal - Brocade blindfold, red and black

The padding is doubled and the edging is lace, over a red and black brocade. It is the only accessory in the range for which the manufacturer describes material, finish and padding alike. The tie adjusts to hold without pressing, and the fabric is stated to be soft enough for extended wear. The CalExotics Scandal Blindfold is polyester, at 92 grams.

Why choose this model?

• Double padding: the thickness blocks light beside the nose, where most blindfolds let a sliver through.
• Adjustable tie: the hold is set without tightening, which avoids pressure on the temples after a few minutes.
• Red and black brocade: the finish is described by the manufacturer, which stays rare on this kind of accessory.
• 92 grams: the weight is negligible on the neck, lying down included.
• Speech stays free: unlike a gag, a blindfold never prevents anyone from saying stop.

How to use it

1. Set the tie before fitting the blindfold, on the head rather than the face, so nothing needs adjusting afterwards.
2. Check that a finger passes between the tie and the skull: looser and it slips, tighter and it presses.
3. Announce what you are about to do, or agree to announce nothing: both work, improvising does not.
4. Remove it at the first headache, dizziness or disorientation, without waiting for the session to end.
5. Give sight back gradually, by dimming the light rather than pulling the blindfold off at once.

Two accessories complete this play of the senses without overlapping: the double-sided paddle adds touch, soft on one face and firm on the other, and the silicone gag takes speech away. See also starting BDSM safely and choosing an accessory for two.

Care and precautions

Brocade and lace tolerate neither immersion nor brushing: wipe with a barely damp cloth and let it dry flat, away from any heat source. Check the tie and the stitching before every use. A blindfold carries none of a gag's risks, but it disorients: guide any movement, clear the floor, and never let anyone stand up alone. Take it off before sleep, since the fit shifts overnight.

Frequently asked questions

What do the 127 centimetres measure?

The manufacturer states a total length. That figure can only cover the blindfold together with its tie.

Does it block light completely?

The double padding helps, but no fabric blindfold is fully opaque on every face shape.

Is it suitable for extended wear?

The manufacturer says so, thanks to the soft fabric. Still watch for pressure on the temples.

Is the tie adjustable?

Yes, which suits it to most head sizes without tightening.

How is it cleaned?

With a barely damp cloth, no immersion, then dried flat.

SoPigalle tip: fit the blindfold in full light, then switch off. The effect comes from the contrast, not from darkness itself, and it falls flat if the room was already dim before the blindfold arrived.