Aftercare is the term used to describe any sort of care that is administered after a scene is over. What kind of aftercare is needed is different for different people. In this article, I'm going to provide advice about how you should go about providing aftercare. You may not agree with all of it, but I hope it helps you either way.

1. Make sure to have food and drinks available
Scenes are typically long, so by the end you're probably going to be very hungry and thirsty, even if you make sure to stay hydrated. So make sure there are cold drinks in the fridge (preferably water) and something to eat that is easy to prepare. You'll probably be exhausted once the scene is over, so you want things like cut up fruit or sandwiches that can easily be thrown together on hand.

2. Don't plan on driving right afterwards
Especially if it is your first scene, do not plan on driving afterward especially if you will be on the receiving end of the play. If you can't play in your own home, make sure you will be able to stay for at least an hour after the scene is over, maybe longer depending on how the play affects you.

3. If you need something, ask
Your partner is not a mind reader, so don't expect them to be able to know what you need without asking for it. If you need them to cuddle you, tell them, or if you want to be left alone, let them know. It's not fair to expect them to give you aftercare if they don't know what you need.

4. Keep a blanket nearby
Many people get cold as they start to come down from a scene, so keep a blanket close by that you can wrap around you if you start feeling cold. A blanket will also be useful if you are someone who needs cuddling after a scene. Your dom/top can wrap the blanket around both of you and it will make the cuddling feel even better (at least it does for me).

5. Doms need aftercare too
Just because they are in control during the scene doesn't mean they don't need aftercare too. It may be different than what you need, but it's still aftercare. Once you come down from the scene and are capable of doing so, ask them if they need something from you.

6. Every scene is different, so aftercare will be different too
Just because after one scene you were immediately able to jump up and go about your business, that doesn't mean that will always be the case. Different activities trigger different reactions, so one day you might be fine with just a kiss on the forehead and a hug, and another time you might need to be held for a half an hour.

I hope after reading this article you feel more informed about the concept of aftercare. Even if you decide these tips don't work for you, I hope you learned something new.