Should I Protect My Hands?

That is entirely up to you and your partner.

Using rubber or nitrile gloves for any sort of fingering play is safe sex, especially if you have any open sores or cuts, cracked skin or cuticles.

Because, as I’ve already mentioned, it’s easy for an infection to transmit directly through the blood stream, and we’d like to avoid that.

If you choose not to use gloves, then consider the condition of your hands and whether they might harm your partner’s butt. Remember: the skin of the rectum is very thin, we don’t want to cause tears, and we don’t want to irritate your partner’s anus.

Ditch The Dragon Nails

Have I mentioned that the anus and rectum have much thinner skin than the rest of the body?

I have.

I’ll do it again:

The anus and rectum have much thinner skin than the rest of the body.

They do.

And that is a BAD place to break the skin barrier, what with all the possibilities for infection. Soooo, let’s talk about those of us who love longer nails.

You’re right, the ladies of porn have long manicured nails, and don’t take the precautions I’m suggesting here. I think we all know by now that most porn is NOT realistic, nor is it very focused on safety education. Just take my word on this stuff.

Because nails are weapons. And can seriously damage the thin skin inside of you. We don’t want that.

So, if you’re planning on some fingering, your nails will ideally be cut to the quick, below the tip of your finger and filed WELL.

How well? Several different grit-levels of filing and buffing well. So well that if you run your nails along some nylons or hosiery, there will be no catching.

Heck, make sure your skin is also soft and smooth. Dry, rough and cracking (heaven forbid) winter hands can also irritate or tear at the delicate lining of your partner’s butt, so consider doing a buff and polish to the skin of your hands as well.

As I’ve mentioned before, if you have broken skin on your hands (splits due to dryness, cuts, hangnails), glove up to avoid infection.

Better yet, have your partner do a buff and polish hand massage for you. It’s relaxing, feels great and can be a sensual part of foreplay before butt play. By involving your partner, you both get the benefit of the hand massage and smoothing, so if play happens later, you’re ready to give and receive!

If you have longer nails, and you just cannot bear to cut them, try this trick: stuff a cotton ball (or part of one) in the tip of your glove fingers, to pad and allow you to keep your nails and still enjoy insertion play.

Let’s Discuss!

What do you usually do to prep your hands for butt play?