By Myisha Battle

Want to have a spooky, sexy Halloween this year? To make sure there are more sexy treats than tricks, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place to stay safe, have fun and make the most of this holiday’s scary vibes. You can make this Halloween the best one yet by taking precautions before you go out and while you’re in party mode. Or you can enjoy a sexy, scary night in.

Here are some ways to avoid being the bad kind of spooky this Halloween.

Pack condoms or other barrier methods.

When you’re getting ready to go out, you may be so excited about packing your fake blood tablets and touch-up makeup to keep your ghoulish costume on point that you forget to take condoms and dental dams. Remember that having the best possible Halloween sex means being prepared to protect yourself and potential partners from STIs and unwanted pregnancy. You can even grab barrier methods to bring to the parties you attend as adult party favors and be the coolest ghoul of the night!

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Grab your own drinks, etc.

Plan on attending a costume party where the theme is “anything goes”? That’s cool, just be aware that some people might take that theme too far. Bringing your own bevvies to the party or making sure that you’re the one filling up your cup may help make your night a whole lot less creepy. And about those party favors: if you do use cannabis or tobacco, it’s also a good idea to pack your own smoking products as well. Remember what your parents told you about taking treats from mysterious strangers!

Role play is cool, just make sure you know the rules.

You’re a sexy vampire and they’re an undead farmer. Oh, the sexy scenes you could enjoy! But before you get too carried away by your characters, take a few minutes (as your real life selves) to talk through what each of you is willing to do. A consent conversation can go a long way towards helping you both enjoy the moment. You may also want to create a safe word to use to pause your spooky scene and regroup. Might I suggest “graveyard”?

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Stay in and geek out.

Not into the whole Halloween party vibe? You can plan a fun, spooktacular time at home, by yourself or with friends. Catch up on the newest slasher films, revisit classic horror movies, or get lost in the costumed worlds of high fantasy shows. You could even stay in and learn about sex. Take a class about taboo subjects like kink, role play and anal.

Whether you’re going out or staying in this Halloween, you can plan on making it a fright night to remember without being overly creeped out. Taking some time to prepare for safer sex, keeping an eye out for shady behavior and making sure that consent is the prelude to your sexual escapades will keep your night spooky in only the best of ways. And if parties aren’t your thing, you can still get your introverted fix on scary and sexy content.

Be safe and have a boo-tiful Halloween!