For folks that don’t spend their days surrounded by sex toys, going into an adult toy shop can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience. Even if you have few hang-ups about sex and feel totally confident and un-phased to hit the sexy shop, the huge variety of the products available could make anyone’s head spin. Today we are going to focusing on how to weed through the choices and pick the perfect dildo for you. We will happily come back with other toy tutorials, but today dildos are in the spotlight.
To start us off, let’s talk about dildos in general. A dildo is a phallic-shaped sex toy usually used for penetration (in whatever orifice you choose). Created from a variety of materials, these toys come in all shapes, sizes and colors – some that look like realistic cocks, others that are hot pink and sparkly, and even some that are shaped like animals with smiley faces! They can be held and used by hand or strapped into a harness, which attaches it to the body. Since there are so many varieties to pick, here are a few things to think about to help the narrowing down process and assist you in getting the dildo right for you!
1) Quality. Buying good quality toys in important. I mean, this is something you are putting inside your body – don’t settle for shantily made crap. Penetrative toys should be smooth and not have rough edges or unfinished seams. Novelty sex stores don’t usually carry high quality dildos. Some do, but I haven’t seen many that I trust. Whether you go into a bricks and mortar store or hop online to shop, good toy stores usually have experts on hand to answer any questions and help you pick the dildo that’s just right for you. Don’t feel uncomfortable asking – that’s what they’re there for!
2) Material. I may be a little biased when it comes to choosing a material for your dildo. I am super partial to silicone, which comes in all colors, firmness and sizes, and cleans/sterilizes quick and easily. It’s a hypoallergenic, body safe material that is strong and difficult to damage (though it does have a few weaknesses, like not being able to combine with silicone lube. Other trusted materials include wood, glass, stainless steel, hard plastic, and ceramic. There are many toys out there that are made of a softer, squishier material called jelly rubber, which are generally cheaper. These toys are ok to buy, but I would suggest covering them with a condom before you insert, as they can leach out chemical plastic softeners called phthalates, which have been thought to be bad for the body.
3) Look and Feel. Are you interested in a dildo that looks like the real deal, or are you thinkin’ of something a little more whimsical? Do you want a “skin” color or would bright blue be your pick? Dildos come in every color and variation imaginable. While there are both dildos, a baby blue dolphin shaped toy and a caramel-colored, realistic cock with veins and testicles are two very different things. What makes you feel most comfortable? Are there certain textures that turn you on?
4) Sizing. When it comes to size, you can choose shorter, longer, thicker, thinner – the world is your oyster! It comes down to what you like. No idea? My suggestion would be to think about the length and width that you (or your partner) feel the most comfortable with. When choosing insertable toys, width tends to be more important than length, as the depth of penetration can be controlled to go deeper or shallower. Try thinking about the number of fingers that feel good, the size of a penis or other toy you particularly liked, and translate that to a rough idea of a good width for you or your partner. And don’t get too discouraged – if your purchase ends up being too big or small, try playing in different position and at various points of arousal (a dildo that was uncomfortably big to begin with might be amazingly perfect fit after a few mind-blowing orgasms.
Good Luck!
