When people think of ‘Bringing a spark’ in to the bedroom, they’re usually talking about addressing a lack of passion or exploration. This article can definitely help with that, but when I use the term I’m instead being rather literal. Completely literal in fact. This article is going to be about how to electrocute each other for fun.

But, Wait, Isn’t Electricity Dangerous?

The short answer is yes. It can be. 100%. But it’s all about getting the right equipment for the job.

If we use another kink analogy a regular household candle would be much too intense for the untrained to use for wax play and would probably be incredibly dangerous. But there are many candles made specifically for this purpose which aren’t only completely safe but also cater much more to the activity at hand.

These kink-specific items are much tamer than the extremes that our fantasies might drive us to recreate and allow us a safe way to experience the thrill of a potentially dangerous scenario.

Why Would Anyone Want To Electrocute Themselves?

Did you ever rub your skin against a piece of clothing as a kid and then try your best to give your friend (and yourself in the process) an electric shock? Have you ever experienced a static jolt in general? How did it feel? Painful? Shocking? Exciting, perhaps?

We tend to think of electricity as an external force of nature but our body is actually naturally pulsing with electricity and firing off different currents to exchange information between different nerve endings. Electricity helps us function. It helps us feel.

Erotic Electrostimulation (EES or e-stim for short) harnesses this in multiple ways to provide an exciting experience.

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The first (and most obvious) way that EES appeals to kinksters is through the element of sensation. Electrostimulation has the potential to provide a variety of different sensations which can tantalize, tease, and torture the recipient. At its gentlest levels electrostimulation can feel like a slight tingle—similar to pins and needles or the prickling of skin on a cold winter’s morning. At its harshest it can feel like an intense stabbing or burning pain.

Playing with the senses

This immense array of sensations to explore would leave most people giddy, but electrostimulation doesn't stop there. Our body is designed to respond to electricity with muscle actions. You get a shock and you jolt, involuntarily. Electrostimulation does the exact same thing to the body—causing involuntary muscle contractions and twinges.

If this happens on the surface of the skin it can make your hair stand on end, or perhaps even feel ticklish. (My partner is banned from shocking the back of my legs because I’m a kick risk). Even more exciting is what happens when an electrostimulation product is inserted.

Internally such products can actually trigger the muscle contractions that are associated with orgasm—allowing you to reach or experience climax in a very unique manner. In addition to feeling amazing this actually has health benefits too. By helping users identify these clenching muscles with a bit of distance, electrostimulation can teach you how to manually clench these muscles, which can help with things like erectile dysfunction or kegel exercises. Isn’t technology wonderful?

And, lastly, electrostimulation taps into that primal desire to experience something dangerous or to feel pain. This triggers the body into releasing chemicals such as adrenaline, which gives a tangible rush and a psychological high. Mind-set is everything in a BDSM scenario and it’s hard not to treat electricity with a healthy degree of success.

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So What Are My Options?

Reading about the many benefits of electrostimulation might get you energized to try your own experimentation, but it’s important to do your research when it comes to what is available. Not all electrosex toys are created equally and here are your main options:

• An All-In-One Electrosex Kit These are basically like kinky TENS Machines where you get to pick your play. An Electrosex Kit includes an electrostimulator (the power unit) and a set of prongs which can then be plugged in to various devices. These range from standard external electrodes—which can be connected to the skin to provide a jolt—to dildos, paddles, butt plugs, and even male masturbators! Conductive gel or lubricant is often used to enhance the experience provided by these devices (and it is my personal opinion that you haven’t lived until you’ve tried an electrically charged pinwheel). The most daring users can even buy an attachment which allows their entire body to provide electric shocks, allowing every touch and caress between two people to be charged with electricity. With these kits the possibilities are near endless, but attachments tend to be a separate purchase, which can make things pricey.
• Violet Wands A classic in electrostimulation device, violet wands are devices which come with various glass attachments to deliver shocks to the body. The glass attachments for a violet wand look like the plasma balls that you can find in science museums, which adds a visual experience to play which is truly captivating. The sensations from a violet wand can be controlled with more ease as well, due to it being an external wand which you control by hovering teasingly over the body. A power dial easily controls the intensity, allowing even more customisation. Sadly violet wands aren’t for internal use, and the tempered glass attachments can be delicate and pricey, but if you’re looking for an electro sex toy with a lot of aesthetic appeal then you can’t beat a violet wand.
• Electro Sex Toys Nowadays you’ll find various wands and dildos which come with electricity built in to them. These toys tend to play it very safe by being incredibly tame, but can still deliver enough kick to startle a newbie. Because these are sex toys with an added spark these are perhaps the least intimidating of all the e-stim toys on the market but because of this they lack variety (as the shape is predetermined with no chance for attachments). But the flip side of this is that many of these toys come with vibration too, combining the best of both worlds.

Is There Anything Else to Know?

We could fill multiple articles (and at least one very engaging podcast) with information about electrosex but the last thing I want to say is: Safety first!

Always read the instructions for the product that you’ve purchased and stick to water-based lubricant and specifically made electro conductive gel.

Never get the attachments wet or (if you do) dry them thoroughly before use again.

Don’t use electrosex toys with body jewellery in and look into whether or not your contraceptive method clashes with electricity (especially with IUDs).

Stay hydrated and never make a connection anywhere above the waist. Don’t use electrosex toys on broken or damaged skin and discontinue use if irritation does occur. And, of course, never ever use EES devices if you’re pregnant, have a heart problem, suffer from epilepsy, or have a pacemaker.

If in doubt do your research. Read reviews and decide what’s right for you. You might just find that you shock yourself with how much EES turns you on.

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