If you don't own a sex toy yet, now is the time to buy yourself one. Beyond bringing your orgasm to new heights, the right sex toy can also help you add intimacy in the bedroom by learning about what you –and your partner –truly want in bed. But..dipping your toe into the thousands of 17-inch dildos can be a daunting experience. You're not quite sure where to start, and it's not like you could take your newly-purchased toy out for a spin and return it if it doesn't do the trick. Well, you have come to the right place. Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to the world of sex toys.
Before you head to the adult novelty shop or cart out something from an online store, think about how you pleasure yourself and what stimulation feels the best. Do you get off from clitoral, vaginal, G-spot, or anal stimulation? Only when you’ve identified your preference(s), should you begin looking at toy categories that target these specific areas. Otherwise, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of available options.
Also, never buy a sex toy without going through reviews – reading about others' (authentic) experience with the product can help influence your choice. Maybe the toy takes a long time to charge? Or – perhaps it runs out of battery within 5 minutes? You want to know about all its shortcomings before shelling out money.
Here's the thing: as with any other purchase, a higher price-tag doesn't necessarily mean better quality. If you're looking for a high-performing and safe sex toy, it's not so much about how much it costs, but rather what it's made of. Certain materials are more body-friendly than others; glass, silicone, and some metals are considered higher quality.
Granted, if you’re not planning on using the toys internally, where penetration is involved, you’d do fine with lower grade plastic toys. Such pocket-friendly gadgets can be an excellent way for you to figure out what stimulation works well for you, then you can upgrade later on if you wish. But if you want to get started with high-grade products, there are plenty of mid-range sex toys – priced between $25 – 45 – that can more than meet your needs.
Absolutely, always, yes! Always use lube when possible – it makes everything more slippery, and will make your sex toy experience so much more enjoyable. A bedroom gadget that feels too big or vibrates too strongly might bring you over the edge with the addition of a little lube. Before committing to a lube, though, be sure to test it on your skin to ensure that you don't have any adverse reactions to it.
Also, be aware that some oil- and silicone-based lubes may make some sex toy materials break down, so you might want to always opt for water-based ones instead. You can even go organic if you prefer.
You should definitely clean your sex toy regularly. While normal, anti-bacterial soap will do the trick, you could get yourself some specialty toy cleaners on the market. And if your sex toys have many nooks and crannies that are difficult to clean, here’s good news: you can use condoms on your sex toys! All you have to do then is to dispose of the rubbers once you’re done – no cleaning involved.
You should always air dry your toys, but if you don’t feel comfortable laying them out in plain sight, make sure you dry them completely (every inch) with a clean towel. Store your gadgets in a cool, dark, and dry location. Be sure to take the batteries out if you’re not planning on using your toys regularly; batteries can corrode and ruin your toys.
You may not want to bust out your anal beads the first time you have sex with someone, but you should seek to introduce your partner to the sex toys you have within the first few times of doing the deed together. This way, they'll know that you already incorporate the use of sex toys for pleasure and might be less intimidated. They might also get a better sense of what you like in bed, which is never a bad thing.
If you don’t know the difference between a cock ring and a dildo, don’t worry – here’s a brief guide to some of the most easy-to-use options to kick-start your libido:
Buying a toy you will enjoy may take some time, and experiments. Which is normal. If at first, you don’t succeed in buying a pleasurable sex toy, try again. Use that experience to decide what you do want for your next sex toy; testing several different toys is the best way to find what works, so don’t give up! And in the meantime, don’t forget to enjoy the experimenting! Have fun.
