To inspire the beginnings of bondage and sensory deprivation with my partner, I decided that a blindfold would be a great item to pair with my new Sportcuffs. When I found this Silk Sashay Blindfold, I knew it was perfect for two reasons: My boyfriend loves the color combination of red and black (which are two of his fraternity's colors...as well as the color of the Sportcuffs I ordered) and he's obsessed with anything Asian.

PACKAGING:
When my package arrived in the mail, I pulled out the blindfold. It comes very simply packaged, folded neatly in a small plastic, sandwich-type bag. This bag is very good for storing, but if you don't reuse the bag, just make sure it's separate from anything with clips, keyrings, D-rings, etc.

AESTHETICS/MAKE:
My first impression of the blindfold? It's beautiful! It comes in either black and gold or black and red. As already mentioned, mine was black and red. The outside of the blindfold features a black silk-type material with red metallic embroidery. The designs are of dragons and flowers, following a very Asian-themed design. The blindfold is about 8.5 inches across, 3.25 inches tall over the eyes, and a little over 2 inches tall at the highest point of the nose bridge. The back of the blindfold has a sort, plush material that is very comfortable on the eyes. All of the stitching is very well done and seems to be able to withstand relatively rough play.

The blindfold closes by two sashes that you tie behind your/your partner's head. Each sash is about 20 inches long and is made of the same black silk/red metallic dragon material as the front of the blindfold. Each of the sashes is just a strip of this fabric with finished edges, so the underside of the fabric is the negative (as in reversed), unfinished version of the front. These sashes are attached very securely to the rest of the blindfold, and I've taken them in hand and deliberately jerked them from the blindfold without hearing so much as a stitch stretch or pop.

USE:
This blindfold is great for beginners, and I'm glad I chose it for my boyfriend and my first experiences with sensory deprivation. It's very comfortable, and because it is adjustable, you don't have to feel harshly cut off from the outside. You can tie it as loosely or as tightly as you want. If you tie it tighter, however, it will definitely stay better. In heats of the moment, my boyfriend grabbed this from beside the bed, carelessly threw it over my eyes with a simply tie, and I found it (to my frustration) slipping off. When securely tied, however, the blindfold stays well, even with a lot of moving around. I tend to keep my eyes closed with a blindfold over them, but I did specifically open my eyes. One, opening your eyes is 100% possible, and Two, if you do open your eyes, it is still possible to see light underneath the blindfold. This can be a plus to some people, because you do have that comfort if you get nervous, but also a con to those who want to be completely blinded.

CARE/ MAINTENANCE:
The blindfold is made primarily of a silk material, e.g. avoid machine washing (a simply hand-wash with a mild detergent in warm but NOT hot water will do), and do not put in the dryer. Heat breaks down any material, but is especially bad for such a delicate material. Lay flat to dry. Again, for the reasoning of heat, I would avoid ironing at all. The silk does tend to hold the wrinkles from tying very well, but to help straighten those out, simply stretch out the sashes after washing and place something heavier on the stretched out ends while the blindfold dries. This will help straighten out a great deal of the wrinkles.