I found out I liked tickling almost by accident, a few years back. I was fooling around with a boyfriend, and he started poking me playfully. The prodding turned to tickling, and I soon found myself giggling and squirming.
I’m not sure if he realised it, but I found it a huge turn-on, especially when he pinned my arms above my head and continued, despite my less-than-enthusiastic protests.
Since then, I’ve explored tickling, or knismolagnia as the kink is formally known, and have tried a few different props in my quest for fun.
I’ve recently discovered how to use a feather tickler, and I’m tickled to share the fun with you.
Feather ticklers are soft and sensual tools, perfect for light sensation play. They are designed to tease, heighten arousal, and provide pleasure.
How to choose the best feather tickler
Choose a feather tickler to enhance the play or scenario you have in mind.
Smaller ticklers are good for use on specific areas, as it’s easier to focus the strokes and caresses. Small ticklers are also easier to transport, so you can pack your toy and carry it with you.
Longer feather ticklers are good for stroking larger surface areas, and you can drag the feather up and down skin more easily.
Safety tips for feather play
As they are soft and yielding, feather ticklers can be used without too much worry. That said, as with any kinky act, you still need to ensure play is SSC (safe, sane, and consensual).
The first step is to have an open discussion with your partner about your tickle play ideas. Consent is key, so make sure you are both comfortable with what you’re getting into.
Discuss what you would like to get out of the fun, talk about your boundaries, and set a safe word or signal. If you have any medical issues or allergies, it’s important to tell your partner upfront – nobody wants a trip to the emergency department as aftercare.
Despite their innocuous status, you still need to take care when using a feather tickler to tease your partner.
It’s wise to keep feathers away from the face or any overly sensitive areas to avoid irritation. It’s important to check in with your lover when you’re mid-play as well as before. If the feather tickler starts to become too uncomfortable, take a break.
How to use a feather tickler
I enjoy it when my lover gently caresses me with a feather tickler, lightly dragging the feather over my erogenous zones. He strokes my neck delicately, tickling the nape, and then moves the feather around to the front, which never fails to drive me insane.
The feather is used to tantalize my tits, with swirls around my nipples and delicate sweeps along my inner thighs.
Teasing touches are fun too. My guy likes to alternate between light touches and more full-on strokes. He pauses between each, moving back slightly to make me gasp in anticipation of what’s coming next.
When the feather moves very slowly, I’m drawn towards its movement like a moth to a flame. The unhurried caress is addictive, and I find myself begging for more.
Creative scenarios for feather play
There’s more than one way to use a feather tickler for play, and I’ve tried a few.
Feather ticklers can be used for foreplay as well as the main event. Use one to arouse your partner by stroking their sensitive spots. You can whisper in their ear as you do this and tell them you’re not going to stop until they beg for mercy.
One of my fave ways to play is to combine feather play with sensory deprivation.
Read: BDSM sensory deprivation for beginners: how to guide
When my lover gently lowers me to the bed and strips me, I feel my pulse begin to race. As I lie there naked and exposed, he pulls one of our bondage masks and hoods over my head and leaves me waiting for him to begin toying with me, dragging the feather over my bare skin.
A feather tickler can also be used alongside temperature play for an interesting play scenario. We’ve dabbled with combining tickling to tease the skin with ice to provide a thrilling chill.
Read: How to explore temperature play? Tips and ideas to try
I’m also a fan of a sexy massage oils, especially when warmed. The massage relaxes me, and the feather tickle adds an unexpected twist.
I also love to be tied and teased. When wrist & ankle restraints are used to keep my limbs securely fastened, I feel helpless, and the tickling adds to my powerlessness.
My lover used hog tie restraints on me a few weeks back, and that proved to be exquisite torture. With the feather caressing my limbs, I could do nothing more than whimper, moan, laugh, and beg.
I found it particularly intrusive when my guy started to use the feather tickler to torture the soles of my feet and my innocent tootsies. He revelled in the sadism of my discomfort and enjoyed the power he had over me, and I adored submitting.
Read: How to use sex restraints: list, how-to, scenarios
If you’re feeling brave, you can also add impact play toys or vibrators into the mix.
Tickling combined with floggers or spanking paddles is a heady combination. Tickling can provoke strong emotions – I giggle and squirm, but impact also incites powerful feelings.
Tickle, Tease, and Torment
Use a soft feather tickler to caress, tease, and torment.
You can heighten excitement during foreplay and use the feather tickler to enhance kink sessions. Combine the tickler with impact, temperature play, or sensory deprivation for a session to remember.
Read: 7 BDSM ideas and scenarios to explore
Feather ticklers at the ready for sensation sensory play.