What can you say about gags? That would depend which side of the gag you’re on. If you’re on the giving end, you’d probably say they’re great! If you’re on the receiving end, you probably couldn’t say much that we could understand.

There are many types of gags, and I must admit I like most of them… unless they’re not done well. Take the ballgag, for example.  It’s not a favorite for quite a few models, and they show this by pushing it in front of their mouths. I’m invariably surprised when I see photos like this. Was the photographer not paying attention? Or did he just not care? And why on earth did he post or print this photo?

Tape gags are a little more difficult to mess up, but that’s not to say it can’t be done. Tape that doesn’t stick to the model’s skin is probably the most frequent faux pas, although tape that’s obviously not actually sticking to the woman’s face is always disappointing.

Then there’s the timid tape-gagger, who doesn’t use enough, which ends up looking silly.

Although I’m sure it’s been done, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gag with too much tape.

Cleave gags are probably the gag most frequently done badly, particularly in TV and mainstream movies. One of the most amazing cinematic inventions is the magic detective gag: a single piece of cloth over the heroine’s mouth that can keep her silent when it’s on, loses its power when removed, but will be effective again when pulled up. It’s amazing.

But even some bondage producers use a cloth that is too thin (or what we call the "shoestring cleave gag").

There is also a question of the effectiveness of gags. Even though, realistically, most gags are cosmetic, that fact does not seem to affect their popularity or visceral impact on the bondage enthusiast. Their symbolic and visual importance far outweighs their actual effectiveness value for keeping a woman quiet.

This is not to say a good, effective gag cannot be accomplished. Following the lead of a well-known producer, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to gag a lady…

How to Effectively Gag A Lady First of all, stuffing is absolutely essential. Probably the most frequent error in stuffing is not enough is being used… so don’t be stingy with it. For stuffing to be effective, it must be able to stop the sound from escaping. Consequently, the amount of cloth (or other material) should be at least as large as your fist, and possibly larger, as material has a tendency to decrease in volume once it’s soaked with saliva.

The general rule should be to just keep on stuffing… However, as a word of caution, know when to stop.

If your lady starts making sounds like the cloth is blocking her breathing, you may wish to take it back half a step (but no more).

In lieu of cloth stuffing, you may consider a ball of some sort… either a ball-gag, or a ball big enough to fill her mouth. Your lady may protest, but don’t listen. A model or girlfriend’s claims of TMJ, small mouth size, etc., are generally just a ruse to elicit sympathy and prevent you from doing a truly outstanding job.

As one producer has told me on frequent occasions, his model with the smallest mouth could fit the largest ball-gag in her mouth. And remember that many people find that facial distortion and chinless look it creates to be very attractive. (By the way, if you’re going to photograph this magic moment, DO NOT zoom the camera out and then walk in close to your lady, or you’ll get photos that look like this.)

Multi-layer gags are generally preferable, not only for aesthetic reasons, but because they are also less likely to come loose. A good, sticky duct-tape layer should come next. While some like the look of tape that encircles the face and hair, I personally like long hair, and so I try not to endanger it if this can be avoided.

The next recommended layer should be two-sided tape, followed by a cloth covering. The cloth insures further silencing, but may slip down without if not secured. It is also advised that you use more duct-tape over the cloth (probably in an "X" shape) to make certain it stays in place.

For the very thorough, you may wish to apply a hood of some sort at this time, but I prefer the look of a woman’s eyes, and hoods generally don’t jingle my change… but to each his own.

With or without a hood covering, you may want to add just one more layer. Another cloth usually looks very nice, although other alternatives, in addition to this, would be medical wrap, rubber strips, leather straps, chains with locks, electrical tape, or an adequately secured strip of flexible acoustic paneling. The lattermost may be a bit bulky, but is definitely worth the effort.

Once you’ve finished this, ask your lady to say a few syllables. If you can’t understand her safe word, then you’ve accomplished your mission. If this doesn’t work, you may wish to consider another layer or two.

Special thanks to Jenni Lee