How to Use a Vibrator: Tips From Sex and Wellness Experts
Our Good Housekeeping Institute testing panel, made up of over 130 women of all ages and sex toy experience levels, tested a range of vibrators to find the ones worth investing in. Safe-sex practices are important either with a partner or on your own. Ensuring your toys are clean keeps infections at bay and can improve the life-span of your bedroom buddy. Remote control options come with a separate device that offers short-range control or hands-free fun. Meanwhile app-controlled vibrators are ideal for long-distance sessions.
There’s a lot of vibrator fear-mongering out there, mostly from idiots who are threatened by female sexual empowerment. Or that your male partners would be intimidated by your vibrator usage? Let’s bust through the BS and talk about how to make your vibrator a healthy part of your masturbatory life.
We spoke to sex experts and sex educators to answer the biggest questions about these sex toys and break down the very best panty vibes for your (uniquely private) pleasure. For far too long, sex toys missed the mark, especially when it came to people with vulvas. Studies have repeatedly shown that people with vulvas need clitoral stimulation to orgasm, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the first clitoral suction toy hit the market. These days many suction toys (also called clit suckers) have been designed by the people using them.
This toy, however, was designed specifically for prostate play, so of course it does so very well. In addition to vibrating, this toy's internal arm moves up and down in a “come hither” motion to massage your prostate. The arms don't work independently of each other, but the 10 vibration settings and overall satisfaction with using this makes up for it. The Lovense Nora is a fantastic rabbit vibe, featuring strong and rumbly vibrations, a flexible clitoral arm, and a rotating shaft that can massage the G-spot.
You can use your fingers to figure out which, if any, orifices you’re comfortable having penetrated, or if you’d prefer the stimulation stay on the exterior parts of your genitals. You can also experiment to see if you enjoy simultaneous internal and external stimulation. Hands can also allow for more finesse and precision than a toy can, so if you’re someone who finds that you prefer a more targeted sensation, hands are definitely your friend. They can be a way for you to experiment with vibration and other sensations if you don’t have access to a sex toy store. D.I.Y is often cheaper than buying a toy made specifically for sexy purposes.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. Below, we’ve chosen the best anal vibrators according to experts and shoppers. Overall, this toy achieved a high satisfaction level among our panel , with the majority saying they'd recommend it to a friend. Use vibration energy to sift bulk solids or sort small items by size.
There are 10 different vibration modes and speeds to explore, and you can do so quietly with this discreet model. It’s a good pick whether you’re well acquainted with your G-spot or more of a beginner. One tester who told us they didn’t usually like a G-spot vibrator and found most models disappointing, was pleasantly surprised with this one. I’ve tried over 400 sex toys in over 12 years of writing about them professionally, including several designed for grinding. The best ones are intuitive to use, comfortable, versatile, and—of course— pleasurable. While I’ve mainly used grinders solo vibrators, I’ve also tested them in situations like dry-humping with a partner and having strap-on sex.
The speed and intensity of their vibrations is controlled with the attached box, allowing you to experiment with different sensations during the experience. There has never been a better time to buy a vibrator—and to find the ones that are best suited to your needs and preferences. From next-gen rabbits to suction toys, there are tons of super-comfortable, body-safe and powerful vibrators that can make solo and partnered play so much more fun.
