Grip Aids for Pole Dancing: A Guide.

When you really think about the art of pole dancing it seems kind of silly. We took a shiny slippery metal pole and decided that trying to hanging off it by various body parts was exactly what we needed to do and then wondered why we struggle to stay on it. In summer your hands are damp and wet and in winter your legs are as dry as a desert. You may only get a week or two of the year when grip is optimal. If you're here then you already know that managing to stay on the pole is half the battle and are probably looking for help. So, what can we do? Lets dive in and look at the options....but first...

*All product recommendations are my own and I have no affiliation with any of the companies or products mentioned*

Are grip aids cheating?

Lets start off by jumping straight in and debunking this ridiculous myth. Grip aids do not, and cannot, replace strength and they also do not prevent you from building strength. Grip aids are used across the sports world, whether its Olympic Gymnasts, golfers, rock climbers or weight lifters. If grip is needed then grip aids are usually used, even at competition level.

Using any advantage you can get is not a bad thing. After all - it's just pole class - it is simply not that serious.

Banning or limiting grip aids can be both a safety and accessibility issue. Individuals with conditions like hyperhidrosis can find it absolutely impossible to progress without the help of grip aids or grip devices and are at an increased risk of injury due to falling. Having hyperhidrosis does not make a student weak and in fact I have observed that these students often are very strong because they've had to compensate for their sweaty hands all their life. They have to squeeze harder to do basic things like opening a door or a jar.

There are numerous other reasons why students may want to use grip products. Someone may wish to use a silicone pole and keep their clothes on for cultural or religious reasons, or simply because they just prefer to be dressed. Maybe, like myself, they tend to run cold and find a cold studio a horrible place to be without clothes. They may be insecure about their body and need to ease into wearing less.

Ultimately anything that keeps people safe, happy and enjoying pole is not a bad thing, so please don't hesitate to use anything that is helpful to you.

General Tips to Improve your Grip

Some students will naturally start to use less grip aids the stronger they get and so building strength is an important factor in improving our grip. However, some students will ALWAYS need some level of grip aid and that's also okay. Every single type of skin is different and can even change throughout the year so having a number of products in your arsenal can make a huge difference.

Before we jump into poles, clothing and potions it's important to remember to keep your pole and your hands clean. My first line of defence in studio is always to ensure those things have been done first. There are lots of different products that can be used to clean a pole but a clear alcohol generally does the job. I am really old school and still use vodka but there are other options such as methylated spirits or washing up liquid. Avoid anything that might have oils in it. The same goes for your hands. Many anti bacterial hand soaps have moisturising ingredients present.

A cold pole can also make us more likely to slip in some climates, when warm skin hits cold metal it can cause condensation and dampness and when you have cold skin AND a cold pole you don't stand a chance, particularly if you're dry skinned. Warming a pole either through dance/strength training, ensuring the room is warm or blowing a hairdryer on it can make a huge difference.

If you struggle with excessive sweatiness then you may have hyperhidrosis and it may be beneficial to speak to a doctor. There are treatments available, the most popular being Botox. Many pole dancers have undergone this procedure in order to improve grip.

Key Points:

- Wash your pole regularly

- Wash your hands regularly

- Give yourself time to build strength

- Warm your pole up

- Seek help for hyperhidrosis

What pole to choose?

In studio you may have little choice as to what pole you use but if you're a home poler there are many options open to you. Choosing a pole is incredibly personal and two people can have very different opinions about the same finish. If you can try different ones prior to buying I highly recommend it as it is an expensive investment.

Chrome: This is the most common and popular finish simply because it is often the cheapest. It's a pretty standard pole and is neither particularly slippery or grippy for most people. Do be aware that some individuals with nickel allergies can react to chrome poles, particularly as the coating degrades over time.

Silicone: These are the grippiest of the pole finishes and work whether you are dry skinned, oily or sweaty. They do, however, come with the downside of being more painful and an increase risk of burns. Most people use these fully dressed and I recommend lots of thick layers to protect you best. This is great if you want to train in a cold climate, are particularly slippery or just want to wear clothes for a myriad of reasons. They do have some other downsides in that it is very hard to do flow styles, slides, drops, and static spins are out of the question (unless you're trying to remove your finger prints after committing a crime). It's a very love it or hate it kind of pole.

Powder Coated: I have never actually tried one of these poles but I have used powder coated aerial hoops and my experience has been that they are great for dry skin, very grippy, but slippery for sweaty hands. Sometimes more so than Chrome. You will need bare skin on these poles and they can be more painful than chrome or stainless steel in my experience.

Brass: This finish is supposed to be more grippy for some skin types, mainly on the sweatier side, and apparently works best in warmer climates. I have used Brass poles in the past but found that it didn't really work for me - but then I live in the UK where it is cold most of the year.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is great for individuals with nickel allergies and in studios with a large number of students (the chrome coatings can wear quickly). In terms of grip...some people prefer stainless steel over chrome but others find it worse. Like most things it is very personal. As someone with dry skin I tended to prefer the Stainless Steel poles when possible.

Titanium: I have never known anyone use these poles and know absolutely nothing about them! Certainly not a common or popular finish, but it could still be a good choice. If you have any personal experience with these hit me up!

Grip gloves/leggings/bodysuits

These days you can get almost any clothing in a grippy fabric; leotards, leggings, gloves, leg warmers, knee pads, even pole tops and shorts. Some people swear by them, some people hate them. Like most things you can only give it a try and see how you get on.

Positives:

You can use a standard pole, like chrome or stainless steel, whilst wearing clothing if you don't have access to a silicone pole. This means you can keep warmer in winter, keep covered if you prefer and potentially have more grip if you tend to be on the sweatier or drier side.

Cons:

The clothing has to be very well fitting and whilst the fabric itself will stick to the pole - you can still slip within it. A few years ago I read about an incident where a students hand slipped straight out of their glove whilst in an Ayesha. They landed on their head. You will need to be very careful to ensure that you are secure as you won't get the direct feedback you usually get from your skin. You also have be careful how you wash them as they can lose their stick pretty quickly. These products can be expensive and not have a very long lifespan.

Different Skin Types

Dry

The often repeated myth that you shouldn't moisturise on pole days doesn't apply here. Dry skin is often smooth and has no tackiness to it. This means you'll often slide straight off, particularly where leg or body grips are concerned. You need to add moisture and tackiness to your skin to rectify this. You still need to be careful as oil based moisturisers could make you go too far the other way to oily and can leave residue on the poles that may annoy other students, but a good water or alcohol based moisturiser applied in the morning or evening before class can make a huge difference.

You'll also struggle more with a cold pole or skin. Getting yourself and your pole as warm as possible will make a huge difference. You can do extra freestyle/strength training, purposefully do a bunch of slides or static spins to create friction and heat with your skin on the pole or even just pull out a hairdryer. The warmer you and your pole are the better your grip is going to be.

Other tips:

- Try not to shower on pole days

- Use a water or alcohol based moisturiser

- Stay well hydrated

- Spend more time warming up yourself and your pole

- Use grips designed for dry skin

Oily and Sweaty

Although technically different problems and root causes....the solutions for both oily and sweaty skin are pretty much the same. You have too much moisture. You may find that showering before class is actually helpful and that if sweat is the issue trying to keep yourself as cool as possible both prior to and during class can be helpful. Pick the pole near the fan or by a window and ensure you rest adequately between goes. You may need to layer different grip aids (start with dry and add tacky) and may find that washing your hands with something like washing up liquid makes a big difference.

Other tips:

- Shower before class

- No moisturisers on pole day

- Use a towel to wipe yourself down

- Wash your hands and pole regularly

- Layer up your grips. Start with a dry grip and add a tacky one on top.

- Try to keep cool

Grip Aids

When I first started pole the only grip aids that really existed were liquid chalks. These days there are an insane number of different pole specific grips for all kinds of skin! Which is wonderful but it can be confusing to know what to buy or what will work for you. It is a little bit of trial and error so it can be helpful to try products your fellow students already have to see if they work for you too, or order a few different products to try.

Below are a mixture of popular products and what they are good for. Some I have tried, some I have not but have seen them around a lot. Please note that some studios ban certain products due to them damaging or coating poles. Ensure you have checked with your studio as to what grip aids they allow prior to purchase and be respectful and clean your poles thoroughly after class.

If you have a product you love that isn't included please feel free to comment or contact me to have it added!

Dry Hands

Quite often dry hands aren't a huge issue but if they are for you there are a few things to bear in mind. Liquid Chalks do not tend to work well for dry hands as they create a layer that is even smoother and powdery. Some drying products like Dry Hands do work on dry skin but you may need something with a little tackiness to it. Most people should avoid putting moisturising products on their hands as it can go the other way but I have known rare individuals who do get on well with them (I've named some in the dry legs/body section). I would also avoid tacky products if doing static skills.

Dry Legs/Body

You need to add some moisture or tackiness, or both, back to your skin. It depends on the tricks you're doing but the heavier duty grips should only be used when you're really struggling because they can cause more pain. You can also try using water/alcohol based moisturisers in place of pole specific products. I have also heard of students using hairspray or shaving gels to create more grip and it apparently works well!

Try to avoid getting the moisturising products on your hands unless you know they work for you. You can apply them with the back of your hands/knuckles.

Moist Hands, Legs and Body

You need to dry yourself out, whether your problem is oil or sweat! Layering up a drying product and then a tacky product is exactly what you need but don't be surprised if you have to reapply regularly. These products tend to work anywhere on the body but still be wary of the strong tacky/sticky grips on certain parts of the body. Use them sparingly until you figure out what works for you. Some individuals do just fine with a drying product only.