In this article, our latex-frenzied editor will share all her tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your latex garments, with tips on preparing to wear your latex as well as the correct application, cleaning and storage for latex.
Before we get started, let's look at some pros and cons of wearing latex, shall we?
PROS
Latex is form-fitting.
It hugs you in all the right places and accentuates your assets!
The smoothness.
Latex is commonly called a 'second skin'. Depending on what style of garment you're wearing, you should be able to move comfortably and almost forget that you're wearing anything at all!
It's unique.
With latex not being suitable for everyday wear unless you're seriously into it, you're always always going to be eyecatching when you choose to wear it out.
CONS
Application time.
Of course, this depends on whether or not your garment is chlorinated. See
below for more info.
It's an expensive fashion.
Latex lingerie are some of the cheaper products (at around $80 a pop for a basic design) because they use less material to make... more extravagant garments can reach into the 4-digits, however.
Strict care instructions.
Don't let your latex garments be rubbed against metal or exposed to UV lighting for too long otherwise it may stain and/or compromise the integrity of the item.
PREPARATION
The number one thing you're going to want to make sure not to do when you're planning your next latex outfit is to moisturize or apply any deodorant in the hour(s) before you get yourself dressed. Oil is a big no-no when it comes to wearing latex as it's compounds can make your latex garment fall apart before your very eyes... even if you're sure your moisturizer or deodorant is au-naturale, it's better to be safe than sorry – so it's best not to risk it.
Some people like to remove body hair and exfoliate before wearing latex, though, in belief it makes application more seamless. I, personally, don't find any difference if I do or not.
CHLORINATED VS. NOT CHLORINATED:
How you put your latex on largely depends on the type of garment and whether or not it is chlorinated.
IS MY GARMENT CHLORINATED?
You will be able to tell if your latex garment is chlorinated or not by how easy it is to put the garment on without a dressing aid. It is easier to tell if your garment is chlorinated if your garment covers a larger surface area – like a dress, or stockings. If you can simply slip on the garment without struggling a great deal, then your item is most likely chlorinated.
APPLICATION
The two most common application techniques for (non-chlorinated) latex garments include applying a coating of either talcum powder, or water or silicon based lubricant on the part of your body that will be wearing the latex. It is also important to note that if you choose lubricant as your preferred dressing aid, you must make sure the lube is water or silicon based. Never use any oil based products on your latex or your will run the risk of your garment falling apart in your hands.
Talcum powder and lube act as excellent buffers on your skin for smooth and easy application of your latex without it pinching or catching on your ski uncomfortably. That being said, you can probably imagine that both of these techniques can get a little bit messy during application – particularly with the talcum powder method. For this reason I am personally more partial to using lubricant for my dressing aid, as well as the fact that it generally washes off your hands/evaporates easily. There's nothing wrong with talcum powder, though!
All you have to do is apply a coat of your dressing aid to your skin (much easier to manage than coating the inside of your garment) and slip on the item!
For more skimpy items, or items that don't 'hug' the body as much or cover only minimal areas of skin, like most latex lingerie items - bras, knickers, garter belts – you can actually usually get away with not using any dressing aid at all... even if the item isn't chlorinated! I, personally, hardly ever choose to use a dressing aid when wearing my latex lingerie.
SHINE:
There are loads of deluxe latex polishes on the market, but if you choose the lubricant application route, you will quickly learn that lube is also an amazing, cheap latex polish when you're out of the fancy stuff.
Once you've managed to slide on your latex garment, simply give your item a few sprays of polish or squirts of lube – trying to cover the surface area, of course, then giving yourself a good shine using either your hands. Some, who are really into their latex (affectionately called rubberists) and getting it as shiny as possible, also tip that using circular hand movements or a microfibre towelette with your polish/lube will get you optimum shine.
TAKING LATEX OFF:
When you take off your latex garment, will notice that you feel super slimey from all the sweat that has built up under your latex layer. The amount of sweat will depend on the surface area that the latex is covering – so if you are wearing simply a latex bra, there will be less but if you're wearing a dress there will be a lot more. The amount of sweat is almost always also exacerbated by whether or not you've used lube as your dressing aid – contributing to a greater sticky/slimey feeling that will leave you wanting to run to the shower ASAP!
HOW TO CLEAN & STORE LATEX GARMENTS
Most latex wear stores will give you a little info slip about how to clean and store your items – below is simply the way I do it to keep my garments in the best condition I can.
CLEANING:
To clean my latex garments, I usually get a large bucket and fill it will lukewarm water, then place my items (amount of garments depending on size of items, colour co-ordinated) in the bucket with a few drop s of basic dish washing liquid. Swishing the water and getting the garments nice and soapy will washes the items of any excess sweat or talcum powder or lube left on them – I usually do this step twice just to be sure, then rinse in a bucket of clean water (lukewarm also) until completely rinsed.
Once rinsed, the items are remove from the water, and, because of the waterproof nature of latex, within 10 minutes the majority of your garment should have drip-dried. Again, this depends on the size/surface area of your latex garment, so if it is something larger like a dress or leggings, you will have to turn it inside out to dry naturally also. I usually use a standard towel to get rid of any excess water droplets both inside and out of the garment, then start on the caring and storage of the items.
CARE & STORAGE:
Once I have washed my latex garments and they have dried completely, I usually give them a thin shine with a more purpose-made product than lube (see below), but lube is fine too. By the time you want to wear your latex again, you polish or lube will have evaporated/been absorbed yet still be giving your latex that glean you love.
If you want your latex garments to keep their shine and last for as long as possible and will be hanging them up, it is super important to make sure that they are only hung on plastic or wooden coat-hangers (metals can stain and compromise the integrity of latex garments) and that they are stored in a dark place (UV lighting can also stain and compromise the integrity of your garments). It is often suggested to use dress/coat bags when hanging latex in closets as it gives total reassurance that your latex will be safe from harm.