On this page we present the complete unabridged hanky code (as we know it). For those of you who don't know about it, the hanky code works as follows. What you do is have a certain colour handkerchief partially hanging out of your back pocket, tied around your head or to your jacket. The Left/right code we mentioned on the earlier page is combimed with this so that if it is worn on the left the person is a dom (or top), worn on the right means sub (or bottom). Having a hanky hanging out of both of your back pockets means: "looking for someone, don't matter what role I have to play." The different colours (and materials) have different specific meanings to indicate the wearers additional preferences.
The hanky code is mainly used by the gay community, however, some heterosexuals do use a few of them, for instance the black or gray colours to indicate whether they're seeking heavy play or soft play.
| The Hanky Code | |
| Colour/Material | Means |
| black | heavy s&m |
| leather | leather fetish |
| gray | bondage |
| charcoal | latex |
| navy/dark blue | intimate sex included |
| medium blue | into "police" games |
| robin egg blue | 69 or "french" (oral sex both) |
| light blue | oral sex by bottom only |
| teal blue | genital torture |
| kelly green | into "hooker" game |
| khaki/olive | into "military" games |
| hunter green | daddy |
| lime green | sex with food |
| lemon | enema |
| cream | licking |
| pale yellow | spitting |
| doily/yellow | watersports (urine games) |
| beige | rimming (licking anus) |
| gold | into threesomes |
| mustard | big penis (has or wants one) |
| apricot | wants overweight partner |
| coral | foot worship |
| orange | anything, anytime |
| rust | into "cowboy" games or pony girl |
| fuchsia | spanking |
| red | anal fisting |
| light pink | dildo |
| dark pink | breast/nipple torture |
| burgundy | razors/knifing/scarification |
| red polka dots | menstruating |
| mauve | navel fetish |
| magenta | armpit fetish |
| purple | piercing |
| lavender | drag |
| brown | scat (feces games) |
| brown lace | not circumcised |
| brown satin | circumcised |
| grey flannel | "square" (suits, dresses, black tie) |
| white | whipping, flogging |
| red/white stripes | shaving |
| black/white stripes | likes partner of black race |
| brown/white stripes | likes partner of latino race |
| yellow/white stripes | likes partner of oriental race |
| white lace | likes partner of white race |
| paisley | into boxer shorts |
| fur | animals included |
| silver lame | romantic |
| gold lame | like body builder types |
| leopard | tattoos |
| tan | smoking (cigars) a must |
| kleenex | into smelly games |
| handy wipe | into oil and grease |
| chamois | motorcycles |
| cocktail napkin | bar type |
| Other Indications | |
| Colour/Material | Means |
| teddy bear on leather jacket kewpie doll mosquito net keys rope electric plug toothbrush sweat band plastic fork celery metal (cock)ring on leather jacket | likes cuddling afraid, uncertain, novice outdoor sex your place or mine into japanese bondage into electrical play can't play at my place wrestling, no rules dinner included brunch included seeking exciting sex |
So there you have the Unabridged Hanky Code. Remeber, it's unabridged because we haven't taken anything out...but that doesn't mean it's complete! If you know of some other ways that handkerchiefs (or other specific materials or items) are used as signals please do be sure to write to us about it.
See the menu for more information on BDSM symbols, lingo, codes...
Based on materials from the POWERotics Foundation
© 1996-2000; republished here with their permission;
see the Contributors page for contact links.