Have you made the decision to buy your first sex toy? That’s great! Now, where do you get started?
Sex toys aren’t just limited to vibrators and dildos. There’s a whole plethora of options to explore and chances are that you’ll be coming across some of those for the very first time.
With all of this diversity, it can be tough to make up your mind.
To make the right decision, you have to go through a couple of considerations. Here are the five most important things you should definitely know before hitting that “buy” button.
Sex Toy Materials Are Not Created Equal
The material that a sex toy is made of is probably the most important factor to examine.
There’s one critical reason why you should be extra careful – as of now, the sex toy market is NOT regulated. This means there are no set standards concerning the safety of materials. As a result, some low quality products could feature compounds and chemicals deemed dangerous.
Looking for a “body safe” label is the first thing you’ll have to do. Even if the label is there, make sure that the material itself is actually body safe before you add a toy to your bedroom fun repertoire.
Good sex toy materials are non-porous. They don’t harbor bacteria and they’re very easy to clean and sanitize. Some such materials include medical-grade silicone, glass and metal. Jelly and PVC, on the other hand, are highly porous and should be avoided.
Other good materials are plastics and rubbers but these need to be phthalate-free. Phthalates are considered potential carcinogens, which is why you don’t want them coming anywhere close to your body.
Two other possible materials you may come across are TPE and TPR. These are both types of plastic that are phthalate-free. There have been, however, discussions about the quality of these materials. While they are generally considered safe enough, TPE and TPR are porous. If you can afford it, do opt for something a bit more expensive and safer.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Whether you’re looking at g-spot stimulators or dildos that cum, do understand one very important thing – bigger isn’t always better in the world of sex toys.
As a beginner, you could be drawn to girthy and unnaturally big toys.
The problem with those is that they’re not made of human flesh. As a result, some toys will be stiffer and less flexible.
People who don’t have experience with sex toys could find bigger items unpleasant or even painful. Even lube wouldn’t be enough to rectify the situation.
The best approach is to start out small. Get yourself a smaller vibrator and a dildo with realistic dimensions. These will be some of the most versatile sex toys in your collection. As you become more accustomed to those, you can move on to exploring larger items.
In the world of sex toys, girth tends to be more important than length. A long sex toy may be a good idea because you’ll find it easier to grip. A very thick toy, on the other hand, may be completely unusable.
Know Your Pleasure Spot
A sex toy doesn’t have to look realistic in order to give you the experience of a lifetime.
Rather, you should focus on the right kind of stimulation.
To do so, you’ll need to focus on a bit of self-exploration.
Just like it plays a role in partnered sex, solo play can also direct you towards the right kind of sex toy for your needs.
How do you usually orgasm? Do you need just intense clitoral stimulation? Or maybe you need both clitoral and internal vaginal (G-spot) stimulation? How about anal play?
Sex toys come in all shapes and sizes. Some can stimulate two or even more spots at the same time. Some offer very concentrated and targeted pulsations/vibrations for a quick orgasm. Others feature multiple settings to give you an array of experiences.
So, don’t hurry and get a vibrator just because all of your friends have one. A small bullet vibrator that focuses all of the pulsations on the clitoris could be much more satisfactory.
Ease of Cleaning
It’s also important to talk about an aspect of owning a sex toy that isn’t necessarily sexy.
Cleaning your toys is obviously tedious but it’s imperative to keep yourself safe and healthy. You should never leave a toy as-is after use. Uncleaned sex toys will grow bacteria on the surface, even if they’re made from a non-porous material.
Sex toy cleaning becomes even more important if you share such items with somebody else or if you use one and the same toy for both vaginal and anal stimulation.
The more textured and curved a sex toy is, the more difficult it will be to clean thoroughly. In addition, some types of sex toys shouldn’t be submerged in water because their mechanism will get damaged.
Always check the care instructions before buying a specific type of toy. Some can just be sprayed with a sex toy cleaning solution and wiped clean. Others will require a bit more effort to remain in pristine condition. If you’re not that meticulous about sanitization, you should opt for an item that’s easy to clean.
The Frequency of Use Determines Some Features
How often will you use your toy?
Knowing the frequency of sexy times will enable the selection of some additional settings and functionalities.
For a start, a rechargeable sex toy is a good idea if you don’t want to buy new batteries every week. There are still old-school sex toys with a battery compartment. The problem is that regular batteries make the item heavier and they also increase the risk of running out of steam in the middle of a sexy session.
A corded toy is also not an option (although some such toys do still exist). The cord limits the use of the item, it could get in the way and it completely eliminates the possibility to have more fun.
As you can see, practical considerations are just as important as determining the type of toy that would work well for you. Unfortunately, many people don’t take the time to think about these essentials. As a result, they end up buying a toy that will be used only a couple of times before becoming forgotten.
Final Verdict: Determine What Matters the Most to You
No two people have the exact same needs when it comes to convenience and sexual gratification.
To choose the right sex toy, start out with a few key considerations. This way, you’ll narrow down the range of possibilities significantly. Once you do that, you can focus on additional features and even some non-essential extras that will help you differentiate between a couple of choices you like.
A final thing to remember is that the price should not be the primary factor (although it’s a good idea to set some budget). Very often, cheap products end up costing you a lot more in the long-run than a well-made but more expensive toy.
If you come across an offer that’s too good to be true, it probably is. Do your research and use online resources to do a bit of comparison. When you acquaint yourself with the market, you’ll find it much easier to spot quality.
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