Rope Shedding

Shibari is fun, sexy, and beautiful to see. However, if there is one aspect of Shibari that is absolutely undesirable, it’s rope shedding. Rope shedding is the result of using natural fibers for bondage. As any professional top will tell you, natural fibers are far superior to their synthetic alternatives in terms of performance, comfort, and visual beauty.

So, is rope shedding an unavoidable collateral damage of bondage? Not necessarily. Treating natural ropes is a good way to reduce shedding. Rope treatment is a process by which ropes acquire new properties, making them easier to handle and more comfortable for the user. There are many tutorials and manuals available that thoroughly explain how to treat your ropes.

Frequent use of the same ropes also reduces rope shedding. A new rope will always leave more waste on the floor (and on the bottom’s skin) than one that has been used frequently. So, using brand new ropes for a scene might not always be the best option.

It is very important to take into consideration if the bottom you’re going to work with is allergic to shedding. For some people, rope shedding produces a strong nasal reaction. You don’t want your bottom to spend the scene sneezing. In this case, a synthetic substitute or cotton rope might be the best alternatives.

If you’re going to do your scene in a festival or an exhibition, make sure to clean the floor before the scene is shown to the public. You don’t want the audience to pay attention to the floor instead of admiring your creation.

All art has its own particular disadvantages. Painting is messy, sculpting is noisy, writing causes back pain. As for Shibari, rope shedding is and will be its permanent companion. Don’t let it overwhelm you and ruin your scenes. It’s not the final word.