How to Use a Vibrator

If you're here because you haven't tried out a vibrator yet - you're in for a treat! We're excited for you. If you're here because you have tried out a vibrator but felt like something wasn't quite clicking, not to worry. It can take a few tries to get the hang of things, both in terms of using sex toys themselves, but also when it comes to your own technique and sexual health. We've got tips and tricks from sex experts and our own research to guide your new sex life adventure.

Choose the right vibrator for you. 

Anyone who has purchased a vibrator before knows that you're confronted with an overwhelming range of toys to choose from. There are g-spot vibrators, clitoral vibrators, suction vibrators, rabbit vibrators, wand vibrators, and many more we've probably never even heard of. 

The first question to ask yourself when you're looking for a vibrator is: do I want something internal, external, or both? In other words, am I interested in clitoral stimulation, g-spot stimulation, or both at the same time? 

If you're just starting out in the world of vibrators, we'd recommend a clitoral toy like an egg vibrator or a bullet vibrator. They're usually smaller, less intimidating, and more discreet, along with being versatile enough to experiment with whether it's trying it out with your partner or using it on other erogenous zones on your body. 

Look for something with minimal bells and whistles to make operation as easy as possible like the Limon - the last thing you want to happen when you're about to get down is to start fumbling with a bunch of buttons. You also want something with a good motor, that creates "rumbly" vibrations instead of "buzzy" vibrations. The former is able to create pleasure throughout your entire clitoris (including the internal part), instead of just on the surface. 

Reviews are your best friend when it comes to shopping for a vibrator online (look to bloggers, journalists, or YouTubers for more extensive demonstration and testimonial), but if you're able to go shop in person, the salespeople are your absolute best resource. 

Fully familiarize with your vibrator.

Once you're at home with your new toy, there's a good chance it'll arrive either a partial or low charge. Get your charging station set up (the vibrator should come with its own charger) and be sure the tank is full before you get going. 

If it's a battery-operated toy, check your battery supply while you're waiting for the toy to arrive in the mail or before you go shopping - or just do what everyone does and steal from the TV remote control. 

Once it's charged up, give the vibrator a good clean. While it hasn't been used by someone else, there's a good chance it collected some micro-dust while it was in storage and in shipment. For silicone toys, use just water and a mild soap to wash and scrub for about 30 seconds. 

Read through any instructions that came with the vibrator, not only so that you know the basic operational details but they also might give you some specific tips on ways to use the toy. Be sure you know how to turn the vibrator off once it's turned on and also be comfortable with the power level controls before you get started. 

Create the time and space. 

Time with your vibrator is time for yourself; to slow down and enjoy your pleasure. Especially if it's your first time using a vibrator, you'll want to leave plenty of time to explore your body and have enough guaranteed privacy to focus on what your feeling. 

Find slivers of time where you can have the most privacy possible - it could be early in the morning, late at night, moments when housemates are at work. It could also be in the shower as long as your vibrator is waterproof and you don't have someone else waiting in the shower line behind you! Generally though, try to be somewhere comfortable. The bedroom is obviously an ideal spot for closed-and-locked-door privacy but also because it's probably more naturally associated with sex in our minds. 

Be sure you've already tested out how loud the vibrator gets, from its lowest to highest setting, so that you can plan sound masking accordingly. Anything that vibrates will naturally make a little bit of noise but between music playing, a fan running, and ambiance white noise, it's less likely that someone will notice a faint rumbling. 

Be experimental with settings and placement.

Just as there are seemingly endless variations of vibrators to pick from, there are endless ways for our bodies to feel pleasure. And our bodies all differ from each other. What feels barely-there for others might be too intense for others and vice versa - none of it makes us abnormal! 

When using a vibrator, start out in a low and slow mode. If it feels too intense directly on your skin, you could use the vibrator outside of your underwear or through a sheet. Move around the clitoris for a while (around the labia and just above the clitoris) before placing the vibrator directly on top of it. The clitoris is ultra-sensitive, so you don't want to shock it with immediate intense vibrations. When you do move to the clitoris, use the vibrator in small massaging circles or up and down (gently, so as to not tug too hard on the clitoris). 

Once you're in a groove and things feel good, start to play around intensity. Turn up vibration power little by little. The sweet spot is when you don't feel like you're immediately being rushed to climax but have enough stimulation to feel really good in the process.

Experiment with different pulsing patterns once you're at a sustainable intensity level. Pulses can be especially pleasurable if you're getting close to climax and want to take things over the edge. 

Don't worry if your first few times aren't amazing. 

Sex with yourself isn't unlike sex with others - there's a good chance that your first time will be awkward and fumbling. Add a vibrator into the mix and you've got an extra tiny machine to navigate. But if you choose the right vibrator, have a comfortable environment, and understand the basics, you can pretty much let instinct and pleasure kick in. The point of masturbation is not to climax. The point is to feel great and bask in your own sexual pleasure. If a vibrator can accomplish that, you're doing things right.