5 easy ways to try BDSM with your partner if you've never done it before

Crystal Cox/Business Insider

• With more couples showing interest in buying whips and handcuffs, Insider has compiled a list of tips for people looking to try BDSM.
• AdultFriendFinder's sex expert Angel Rios said discussing with your partner beforehand about what you want to try and setting a safe word are crucial.
• Everyday items like belts, wooden spoons, and clothespins are all hand for trying BDSM without breaking the bank.

Lockdowns appeared to have a curious effect on sexual habits, according to new research: People were having less sex, but made it kinkier.

That's according to Kinsey Institute research fellow Justin Lehmiller, who found that 1 in 5 people were getting more experimental in the bedroom in March and April.

Indeed, online searches for whips and handcuffs in the US were up 83% in April 2020 compared to April 2019, suggesting a piqued interest in some kink at home.

Easily the best-known type of kinky sex is BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and sadism-masochism), a consensual sexual dynamic in which people play with power through different sexual acts like spanking, choking, and being tied-up.

But despite its pop status as a kink, playing a role in "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "The Duke of Burgandy," it can be tricky to know where to start if you haven't tried it before.

Insider spoke to Adult FriendFinder's sex expert Angel Rios to get 5 tips for beginners looking to change up their sex life and dabble in BDSM.