How to Use a Vibrator for the First Time

So you’ve just bought your first vibrator, congrats! We bet now that it’s unwrapped in your hand you’re wondering what to do with it. Should you just turn it on and go to town? What are all these buttons for? Why doesn’t this come with an instruction manual? Hey, we’ve all been there! A little gaucheness and apprehension are completely normal when you’re dealing with your very first sex toy. Even a toy that seems as simple as a vibrator can feel quite daunting. Well, worry not! It might not exactly be an instruction manual, but we’ve put together a guide to get the best out of your shiny new vibrator. Read on to learn about the different types of vibrators, which vibe to go for, all the different ways you can use it and tips to get the best experience out of vibrators for beginners

Types of vibrators for women

If you haven’t actually bought your vibrator yet, it might help to know more about the different kinds of options you have before you make your pick. Before you make your choice you should think about whether you’re looking for internal or external stimulation (or both!) and whether you’re planning to use it alone or with a partner. 

Wand vibrators: it’s the witching hour and you need a trusty little wand at your side. With a long shaft attached to a bulb-like, vibrating head that can be used on the clitoris or placed on the base of a dildo for extra stimulation, this is all the magic you need in your life!

Rabbit vibrators: HBO’s Sex and the city put these on the map. You can use internal part functions as a g-spot stimulator and the rabbit ears as a clitoral stimulator. If you’re looking to achieve blended orgasms these are perfect. Besides, it doesn’t hurt that they look cute as hell!

Bullet vibrators: named for their appearance, these have tapered ends for direct clitoral stimulation or vaginal insertion. You can go for this if you’re looking for something small and effective. 

Suction vibrator: Enjoy oral sex? Opt for vibrators that create an intense sucking sensation. These toys use air technologies to target the clitoris for a pulsing type of stimulation. If you want to experiment with a different kind of sensation, this is definitely the vibrator to go for!

These are just some of the most widely available types of vibrators that we think would be perfect for beginners. To learn about more options, check our complete guide to vibrators. 

Now that you’ve made your choice, there are some things you should know about before you go to town.

Tips for using a vibrators for beginners

Even though using a vibrator seems straightforward, there are plenty of ways you can get more out of your vibrator than you would if you just turned it on and went to town. 

Set the mood: using a sex toy for the first time can be quite awkward. Light some scented candles, dim the light, put on your sexy playlist and fantasize a little to really get in the mood! 

Clean vibrator: Regardless of whether the vibrator has been used before, it’s always good practice to clean it before use. Especially if you’re planning on using it for penetration. You don’t want any dirt or unwanted bacteria getting in your vagina! It can cause a nasty UTI turning your pleasure quickly into pain.

Explore your body: start with stimulating the erogenous zones like nipples, thighs or the neck that you like being stimulated during regular sex. Vibrators can also be used to stimulate the perineum by running it along the strip of skin between the scrotum and the anus. If you don’t know what you like you can always take some time to explore the body with your vibrator by just slowly running it across your body. One of the best benefits of sex toys is that they can help you figure out what works for you and you can use that knowledge to improve your sex life with future partners as well! 

Play around with the settings: most vibrators come with multiple settings. You can switch up the intensity level to find what works best for you. Don’t just stick to one setting, you might find that changing the setting after a certain amount of time has its own thrill.

Play with positions: When Ariana Grande sang “switching the positions for you” she was talking about her sex toy. Okay, no she wasn’t but she could’ve been! Try the vibrator in different positions like on your back or on your stomach to see what really gets you going. The same vibrator can feel very different in a different position. You can also experiment with different angles and pressures. Remember, variety is the spice of life, even when it comes to your solo sex life! 

Lube up: Who said you only need lube for partner sex? Adding lube to your sex toy can help enhance pleasure by playing around with sensation. You can also apply lube to your vulva and the vagina as a form of foreplay. Applying lube increases blood flow to the area and makes it more sensitive to all kinds of sensations or activities. 

take care of your vibrator: Just like you don’t turn your back to your partner and sleep after having sex, you don’t just toss your vibrator in a drawer once the job is done. You’ll hurt its feelings! Make sure to clean it with warm water and some antibacterial soap. You can also invest in a sex toy cleaner which can make the cleaning process pretty short and simple. Once your vibrator is clean make sure to store it in a clean and dry place. Cloth or silk bags are recommended. 

Adding a sex toy to your sex life can be a very exciting and rewarding experience. For one, it guarantees more Os. According to a study, women who use vibrators have more sexual satisfaction and sexual desire. According to a survey, 31% of people said using sex toys with their partners helped improve communication between them which by extension improved their sex life. 

Tips for using a vibrator with your partner

Bringing up the idea: Make sure you do it when they’re in a good mood and definitely don’t do it in the middle of sex. If you don’t want to go in blind, you can casually mention sex toys in a random conversation and pay attention to their reaction to gauge if they feel positive about them. 

Clear communication: bringing up sex toys in a relationship can be a very sensitive topic. Make sure you communicate clearly and effectively about the fact that the sex toy is simply an addition to your sex life and not a fix. If your partner seems open to trying it, lay down some general guidelines as to what you both want to seek out of the activity. You can also put down how far you’re willing to go with the sex toy and when should you stop using it. Talking about this explicitly with your partner can help make sure you’re on the same page and avoid any misunderstandings later. 

Shop for the sex toy together: well, you’re both going to be using it so it only makes sense that both of your preferences should be taken into account! Not just that but shopping for a sex toy together can prove to be really intimate, vulnerable and can give you a chance to learn more about each other. Ensuring that every step of the activity is a collaborative effort can also increase the chances of a fruitful ending. 

Diversify: if there are two different genitals in play, choosing which sex toy to go for can be a little confusing. Don’t fret, this is just an opportunity to diversify your repertoire! You can buy a vibrator and encourage your partner to buy their own sex toy. Congrats, your date night just got more interesting. You can take turns with both the sex toys and see if you prefer one over the other. You can also use both at the same time or engage in some mutual masturbation. There’s no end to the fun options to choose from! 

Use condoms: if you’re sharing a sex toy with your partner there is a high risk that you could also be sharing UTIs and STIs! You can and should always clean your sex toys before they’re used by your partner of course but that might not be the most effective way to prevent STIs. Instead, we recommend using barriers like condoms or dental dams while using sex toys. Sharing an unclean sex toy poses the risk of cross-pollination of bacteria and in some rare cases even pregnancy if a vibrator with residues of sperm is used for penetration. If this ruins the mood for you, you can always just keep your sex toy collection separate from your partners’. Two is better than one, anyway!

Now that you know how to use a vibrator a whole new exciting world of orgasms has opened up for you! You can expand your orgasm repertoire and aim for different types of orgasms than you used to. Check out our complete guide to female orgasms for more information and more Os!