A timely article written by the creative and super talented Jill of all trades, Tink.
If you’ve been giving your hoop a hard workout with scrapes and misses tosses and flings and other forms of hoop destruction, it might be time for a bit of redecorating love. It’s fun to refresh your style with new tape.
Prepare the hoop
Option A: tape over the existing tape. Give your hoop a bath with a cloth dampened with some water and dish soap. Not too wet or the tape will loosen. Just damp enough to wipe off the grime. Allow to dry.
Option B: remove the old tape. Peel it off then use a solvent to remove the remaining adhesive (metallic tape is super sticky and difficult to remove; be prepared to use your patience and strength)
Choose your materials
Electrical Tape: this is the workhorse of hoop tape. It is flexible and forgiving. It is easy to pull up and reposition if you make a mistake. Comes in lots of colors and even some patterns. If this is your first time taping a hoop, electrical tape will be most successful.
Gaffer’s Tape: aka cloth tape, spike tape, grip tape. This uncoated cloth tape adds friction to your hoop, helping it to stay on your body. Comes in loads of colors, but it’s hard to find in Japan. Sports grip tape (for racquets and clubs) works, too.
Metallic Tape: Shiny and glittery! Not at all stretchy, very sticky and difficult to reposition once it is placed. If you use a metallic tape, put it on first to set the size of your spiral, then layer on electrical and gaffer’s tape to cover the metal edges.
Cloth: You can wrap your hoop in cloth or ribbon. A good technique is to spray short, narrow strips of fabric with adhesive then wrap them as you would tape. You can also create a looser fitting wrap by taping just the edges of the fabric into place on the hoop.
Taping techniques
Tight Wrap: tight coils that overlap. Perfect for completely covering a hoop.
Loose Wrap: shallow angled wraps. Great for adding accent colors over a tight wrap or building multi-color stripes.
Cross Wrap: wrapping once in a left spiral, then in a right spiral. Creates X patterns.
Design ideas
Monochrome Hoop: Tight wrap in a single color, then add matching gaffer’s tape in a loose wrap. Coordinate with your favorite hooping outfit!
Half & Half: Tight wrap half the hoop in one color, half in another color. Add contrasting or matching gaffer’s tape in a loose wrap or cross wrap. really handy when you are practicing isolations and other moves where it helps to monitor your grip.
Vertical Rainbow: Mark the hoop evenly into six sections. Tight wrap each section with a different rainbow color.
Classic Spirals: Loose wrap the metallic tape or base color. Follow this the edges of this spiral with additional colors. Top with gaffer’s tape following one of the spirals.
Super Shiny: Loose wrap two or more metallic tapes side by side. Cover the butting edges with gaffer’s tape and any gaps with electrical tape.
Plaid: Cross wrap many layers until the hoop is covered in overlapping plaid.
Furry Hoop: Use strips of fun fur and spray adhesive to cover the hoop.
Hidden Blessings: Before taping your hoop, use a gel pen or permanent marker to write inspiring quotes, prayers, wishes or other blessings onto your hoop. Seal them in with your beautiful tape.
Further Guidance
Natasha shows how to tape a hoop:
A good forum topic on taping at the Hooping Tribe.
Question of the day: If you designed a range of hoops for yourself, a circus or your favorite funky store what would they be called, what would the theme be and what colors would you use?
Action of the day: Tape art. Dive into your tape box, whip out the sticky tape or head to your local art/craft/100 yen shop/ hardware store. Grab some colors that you love and sprout an idea. Ideas for tapey fun; tape a hoop, tape up your windows, add decals to your electrical equipment, make a hammock (yes out of tape!!!), a new messenger bag perhaps, a wallet or even some tape fashion accessories.
Affirmation: I am a colorful and creative being
Inspiration: “Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” Rabindranath Tagore
Happy taping!!
xx
