Feeling ready to spice up things with some sex toys? This guide offers expert insights on navigating these exciting waters as a beginner.
In this age and time, it should be criminal for your sex life to be boring. Whether you are in a relationship or not, your sexual pleasure and that of your partner should always be valued. And while there is no one-size-fits-all approach to having a great sex life, claiming your sexuality today has been made easier with the ready availability of an endless range of sex toys.
On the positive side, this means that you are not limited to the kind of sex toys you can acquire to spice up things in the bedroom. On the other hand, picking from this wide range of options can be a little daunting, especially for a curious beginner keen on getting it right from the very start. This guide eases up things for you, providing valuable tips that will make choosing your first sex toy less intimidating. Let’s dive in!
Understand Your Sexual Needs, Desires, and Interests
Before you rush into shopping for a sex toy, it is important that you first have a good understanding of your sexual needs, desires, and interests. Just like you are unique as an individual, your sexual identity needs to ooze, depending on what best works for you. Therefore, before you take a sex toy suggestion from Mary or Tom, depending on what works for them, you should take time to evaluate the kind of sensations that you enjoy.
Whether you want sex toys to enhance your self-pleasure or spice up things with your partner, knowing the kind of things that drive up your sexual energy will make this process easier. For example, if the sensations that you enjoy the most come from oral sex, then air-suction toys are the perfect welcome gift into the world of sex toys. On the other hand, if you prefer penetration, then dildos or anal toys will work best for you.
However, this doesn’t mean that you only settle for a single sex toy or lock out every other option, as some sex toys, such as vibrators, are perfect for almost everyone, whether for solo fun or to enjoy with a partner. You also have sex toys that will help you satisfy your curiosity and should not be ignored just because you are a beginner.
Once you have a clear picture of the type of sex toys that you would like, it’s now time to move to the next step: knowing the factors you should consider before making that purchase.
Factors to Consider As a Female
The range of female sex toys available today is simply phenomenal. There is everything from G-spot vibrators and dildos to anal toys and nipple clamps that come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. Since narrowing down your choices from such a variety can be challenging, here are the top factors to consider when shopping for sex toys that best suit your needs and interests:
- Lighter Is Always Better
Regardless of the types of sex toys you opt to buy as a beginner, you should always consider the weight. As a general rule, smaller and lighter is always better. The advantage of choosing light and sizable sex toys is that they are easy to use, and you won’t quickly get tired whenever you are using them.
While this doesn’t mean you must only go for the smallest and lightest sex toys under each category, it’s a reminder to pay attention to how easy it will be to use the toy. For example, if you are shopping for dildos, the heaviest and biggest sizes might not be best for you when you have never tried the lighter mid-sized varieties. Remember, as a beginner, you’ll have time to experiment more and grow your sex toy collection, so take it easy.
- If the Sex Toy is Electric, How Loud Is It?
Female electric sex toys are a huge buzz in the market, and it is nearly irresistible not to have a few of these in your collection. The primary advantage of female electric sex toys such as vibrators and massagers is that they provide various levels of vibration or suction, which significantly enhances the pleasure they provide. It’s for this reason that g-spot and clitoral vibrators/massagers are considered a must-have by most females and are highly recommended for any beginner collection.
Nevertheless, not all electric sex toys have the same safety ratings and range of sound. For the best experience as a beginner, experts highly recommend sex toys that are quieter and have excellent safety ratings/features.
- You Always Need Something Portable
Whether you are buying solo sex toys or a variety that can be used when you are with your partner, you need to consider how easy it will be to carry your toy around. Even if you don’t think you’ll be using the sex toys in different locations, portable sex toys give you so much flexibility, allowing you to enjoy sexual pleasure wherever you choose.
- What’s That Material Again?
As more female sex toys are introduced to the market, there is also a greater range of materials that these toys now come in. Unfortunately, not all materials that are used to make sex toys are safe for you, and such materials should be avoided at all costs. Some of the common unsafe sex toy materials include phenol, vinyl, PVC, jelly, phthalates, and toluene.
The best sex toy materials that you should always go for are body-safe silicone, borosilicate glass, Lucite, aluminum, and stainless steel. Your choice of sex toys should also be non-porous to avoid the risk of using toys that could create hospitable environments for bacteria to grow in these hard-to-reach pours.
- If it’s A Penetration Sex Toy, You’ll Definitely Need Lubes
If you’ll be buying penetration sex toys, it is vital that you also remember to buy lubes. Whether it’s a vaginal or anal sex toy, you’ll need lubes for a more comfortable and pleasurable experience. There are three main types of lubes in the market today: water-based lubes, oil-based lubes, and silicone lubes.
Water-based lubes are the most popular type of lube for use with sex toys as they are PH balanced, feel almost like the body’s natural lube, and are easy to wash off. They are, therefore, an excellent option for beginners, including those with sensitive skin or prone to yeast infections and UTIs. On the other hand, silicone-based lubes have the advantage of being extra slippery and longer lasting than water-based lubes, which are known to dry out quickly. Silicone lubes are also safe to use with most toys except those made of silicone, as they cause them to degrade quickly.
You also have oil-based lubes that are best for use when you won’t be using any latex barriers or toys during sex. These types of lubes are better for external sexual activities such as massages and hand jobs, and because of their composition, they are hard to clean and may stain bed sheets. Lastly are hybrid lubes, which are fast becoming a favorite option for most people as they offer the advantages of water-based lubes with a bit of silicone to make them extra slippery and longer lasting.
Factors to Consider As a Male
Male sex toys are also getting plentiful, and just like female toys, there is a broad range of options available today. There is everything from penis pumps and masturbation sleeves or strokers to torso toys, fetish toys, and vibrators. Here are the top factors to consider as a male shopping for sex toys for the first time.
- Cheap Can Be Expensive
While it’s good that you might want to get that bargain purchase, the cheapest male sex toys are not usually as good as you’d expect. As a beginner, you’ll be better off avoiding the risk of low-quality products that could be harmful to you by having a suitable budget for each sex toy you want. Remember, this doesn’t mean that the most expensive sex toys are the best, but it calls for caution when considering the prices of sex toys online.
- The Material Matters
Male sex toys come in a wide range of materials, and not all of these materials are safe for you. The general rule is to avoid any type of sex toys made with harmful chemicals or non-body-safe materials like PVC, vinyl, jelly, and rubber. Instead, go for silicone or TPE sex toys, which are certified to be safe for everyone, even those with sensitive skin.
- Targeted Pleasure Zones
Most beginner males make the mistake of choosing sex toys based on size as a primary factor. Even though you need a sex toy that fits, bigger is not always better; instead, you want a sex toy that targets your pleasure zones. Yes, you got that right, the best male sex toys are the ones that stimulate areas that you like, be it the tip of the penis or perineum, the area between the anus and the scrotum.
- If it’s Electric, What’s Its Intensity?
The level of intensity varies from one sex toy to another, and as a beginner, you don’t want to get a toy that you won’t enjoy using for extended periods. If you don’t know your sensitivity levels, start with toys that offer lower levels of intensity or vibration before you can consider those with stronger stimulations.
- Easy to Keep Clean
Keeping your sex toys clean should always be a top priority if you expect to enjoy using these toys without any risk of harm or potential infections. As a beginner, choosing simple-to-clean toys is always the better option as you don’t want to struggle cleaning your toy each time. To help with this, always read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean the toy before making that purchase. The simpler the cleaning process, the better for you as a beginner.
- Don’t Forget Lubes
The vital role of lubes can’t be emphasized enough when using most male sex toys, especially masturbators and anal toys. Therefore, the moment you decide to buy that sex toy, always remember to buy lots of lubes, as you’ll definitely need them. As mentioned above, there are water-based lubes, oil-based lubes, silicone lubes, and hybrid lubes to choose from, depending on your needs and interests.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you are female or male, buying sex toys for the first time can be pretty challenging. However, once you know where to start, you’ll quickly discover this is not too hard. All you need is to take your time, relax, and follow our expert tips as you work on getting that great collection of sex toys that will elevate your sex life.
Don’t forget everyone is a beginner somewhere, and you don’t need to be intimidated about anything. If you can’t shake this off, focus on all the good times that you’ll have once you get your sex toys, and let your desires guide you on this exciting path.