Hood

Latex hood by Rubber's Finest

Latex hood by Frl.Ehrhardt

Latex hood by Polymorphe

Latex bondage hood

Latex husky dog mask (locking steel collar seperate) from Rubber Dawg

A hood is a kind of headgear that covers most of the head and neck and sometimes the face. In latex fetishism, the terms "hood" and "mask" are frequently used interchangeably.

Latex hoods are used for various purposes:

• Sensory deprivation (if there are no eye holes, a hood acts as a blindfold, shutting out all light)
• Sensation around the head, face, and neck
• Identity concealment
• Identity change
• Gender change
• Bondage, with the addition of gags, feeder tubes and funnels, blindfolds, straps and D-rings
• Change of appearance

Often, a hood carries out more than one of the above functions.

Production

Hoods are most commonly manufactured by two means:

Glued latex hoods, also called tailored, are made from two or more pieces of latex sheeting glued along their edges. The more pieces in the pattern, the closer the fit, as the pieces are better able to follow the contours of the wearer's head. Skilled pattern drafters are able to make adjustments to patterns to fit a wide range of sizes. Because of the labour involved, tailored latex hoods tend to be more expensive than equivalent moulded hoods.

Moulded latex hoods are made by dipping casts into liquid latex. Reinforcing fabric tape may be attached to the cast before dipping so that the latex can bind properly to the tape. Once the latex has dried, zippers and other attachments can be sewn to the tape without fear of tearing the latex. Openings for the eyes, nostrils, and mouth can be cut into the hood after it is dried. Due to the work involved in making a cast, manufacturers will typically make a limited number of sizes available and customisation of sizes is not usually an option. Moulding has the advantages of producing a seamless final product, as well as being able to make thicker products through multiple dippings.

Manufacturer/Vendors

The following manufacturers also make their hoods available directly to the public:

• Blackstyle: Produces a number of glued and moulded hoods, including exclusive dog and cat moulded hoods. Some variety in sizes and colors.
• Demask: Produces a wide variety of glued and moulded hoods in numerous sizes and colour combinations. Many options also available.
• HW Design: Produces a variety of glued hoods with many decorative options that are unique to them. They also produce one hood/neck corset combination that integrates with their Corset Combination collection.
• Jazzy Fashion: Produces a line of tailored hoods available in a range of colour options.
• Latex Nemesis: Produces a line of glued latex hoods that are available in a wide variety of colour combinations and sizes.
• Rubber Eva Store: Produces a number of glued hoods a variety of sizes and colours.
• Rubbermagic: Produces a line of moulded and glued hoods in a variety of colour combinations and sizes.
• Rubber's Finest: Produces a line of heavyweight moulded latex hoods in a variety of sizes.
• RuBeaR: Produces a wide range of glued and moulded hoods, realface masks in a variety of sizes and colors. Also, inflatable, with tubes and many other options.
• Rubber Dawg: Hand produces latex pig, cat and dog mask of various breeds, including paws to go with your choice of canine.

Manufacturers

The following manufacturers make their hoods available through retailers:

• Denber Rubber: Produces a line of inexpensive moulded hoods and masks in a variety of colours.
• Polymorphe: Produces a number of moulded hoods and masks that are all produced on 3-D forms. All pieces are made with zippers.

Several other makers of latex gear make hoods. Of course, hoods are available in multiple materials (leather, lycra etc.).

Attached to other garments

A hood, normally an open face hood, may be attached to other garments, such as a catsuit or a straitjacket (making it a straitjacket hoodie). A catsuit with an attached hood will have either a front zip or a rear zip that continues through the hood. A catsuit with a full-face hood, gloves and feet, so that it covers the whole body, is a zentai.

See also

• Ball hood
• Gas mask
• Bondage hood
• Female mask
• Gas mask hood
• Isolation hood
• Mask
• Realistic mask
• Ponytail hood
• Blindfold
• Strap mask
• Straitjacket hoodie
• Head harness