What to Consider When Buying a Dildo

When deciding between dildos, factoring in your experience level, stimulation preferences, and how you intend to play with your pleasure product will lead you to a worthy purchasing decision.

Material

Dildo materials impact the toys’ firmness, finish, care instructions, and lubricant compatibility. The most common materials for dildos are silicone, metal, and glass, respectively.

• Glass and metal dildos are hard, allowing you to apply firm pressure to your hot spots, while silicone dildos have more give and flexibility.

• Silicone dildos tend to have a soft, velvety finish, whereas metal and glass dildos are extra smooth and cool to the touch.

• Metal and glass dildos are compatible with all lubricant formulas, while you should only pair silicone dildos with water-based or hybrid lubes.

Functions and Features

Uninformed pleasure seekers might presume a dildo is a dildo, any way you slice it. But as dildo connoisseurs, trust us when we say that couldn’t be further from the truth. Dildos have come a long way since their debut: where they were once simply stationary insertable adult toys, you can now find a wealth of different features to satiate your carnal cravings. Thrusting dildos and ones with suction cup bases are ideal choices for those looking for a hands-free experience, while vibrating dildos are a fabulous match for anyone who requires rumbly stimulation to reach their peak. The best dildo functions and features really boil down to personal preference, so go with whatever floats your boat!

Size

Large dildos are the perfect treat if you yearn for expansive stretch and reach, but they likely aren’t the best choice for your very first dildo. We recommend you start your dildo journey with a small-to-medium-sized toy for a beginner-friendly experience; after all, you can always size up at a later date. But if you think you’ll want to climb up the size ranks sooner than later, you might enjoy inflatable dildos that host a bevy of sizes in a singular satisfying body.

Exploring Different Types of Dildos

Lovehoney carries a vast collection of varying dildo categories. Below are just a few types of dildos you can choose from:

Anal Dildos

Anal-safe dildos have design features that prevent the dildo from being irretrievably sucked inside your bum. For some anal dildos, this may be a flared or flanged base, while others, such as wand-style dildoes, might instead have a stopper at the beginning or end of the toy’s handle.

G-spot Dildos

G-spot dildos boast specific curves and angles that allow the dildos to hit and stimulate the G-spot with every thrust. Penis owners can enjoy G-spot dildos too, as the very same design aspects that are ideal for G-spot stimulation are equally opportune for prostate stimulation!

Suction Cup Dildos

As their name implies, suction cup dildos feature a suction cup base that users can adhere to hard, flat surfaces for hands-free riding sessions. Suction cup dildos are also a favorite for fans of strap-on play, as their flared base can fit within harnesses and briefs.

Strap-On Dildos

While suction cup dildos certainly count as strap-ons, they aren’t the only type of strap-on dildo on the market. You can also find strapless strap-ons, which include an insertable end for the wearer to use in place of a strap-on harness.

Realistic Dildos

As a base defining factor, realistic dildos have a shape that – at the very least – mildly resembles a human penis, including a raised corona at their tips. These anatomically inspired dildos range in their level of realism, with some taking a highly detailed approach to penis-like design and others mixing a few realistic features with some non-realistic ones, like hot pink hues. But if you’re looking for hyperrealism in your dildos, you can undoubtedly find a pleasure product match with ease! In addition to raised coronas, ultra-realistic dildo shapes may also include details like veins, ridges, and textured ball sacs. Flesh tones are a popular choice for realistic dildos, and you can find one that mimics every skin color under the sun. Some realistic dildos even closely simulate the experience of playing with a real penis, such as in the case of ejaculating dildos.

Silicone Dildos

Many sex toy customers seek out silicone dildos due to their non-porous and hypoallergenic makeup, which means they’re 100% body safe. Though dildos made of glass or metal are also body safe, they lack the soft, skin-like finish that silicone dildo fans adore.

Vibrating Dildos

Internal stimulation lovers who cherish toy flexibility and a supple texture yet refuse to sacrifice rumbly vibrations in their pursuit of pleasure can find the best of both worlds in vibrating dildos. Also referred to as “dildo vibrators,” vibrating dildos generally operate either via a removable bullet vibrator or an internal motor.

How to Use a Dildo for Maximum Pleasure

You’ll likely find using a dildo comes to you quite naturally. That being said, there are a few handy tips that can help increase comfort and streamline your expedition to dildo ecstasy:

Get in the Mood

Foreplay is a key component to stellar sex, whether you’re playing with a partner or indulging in some solo fun. Instead of diving right into dildo penetration, take some time to turn yourself (and your partner, if they’re present) on before getting busy-busy. Consider creating a sensual atmosphere with mood music, dim lighting, and aromatherapy to set the scene, and don’t forget to arouse other erogenous zones beyond whichever one you’ll be pleasing with a dildo.

Make Friends with Lube!

Even if you’re using your dildo on a self-lubricating orifice like the vagina, more lubrication is never a bad idea (and an absolute MUST for anal play!) The wetter you are, the easier the dildo will glide in and out. To ensure everything is extra slippery, we recommend applying lubricant to both the dildo and the orifice it will enter.

Play Around with Positions

Switching up positions can switch up sensations too. Instead of sticking with your go-to masturbation or partnered sex position for your entire dildo enjoyment session, experiment with a few others you have in your arsenal. Who knows – you just might discover you have an entirely different preferred position when it comes to dildo play that feels addictively satiating!

Caring for Your Dildo

Especially if you’re investing in a high-end dildo, you’ll want to take a few measures to extend the product’s longevity. Sex toy maintenance is also important for your sexual wellness and health, as any object you introduce to your intimate parts should be ultra-hygienic. Follow these guidelines to keep your dildos in peak condition and your body happy:

Dildo Cleaning

Be sure to wash your dildo before and after every use and any time you switch from anal play to vaginal or oral play using your dildo. Mild soap and warm water should suffice, but we recommend using a water-based sex toy cleaner instead of soap as their formulas guarantee compatibility with adult toy materials, whereas standard soaps can be a bit of a guessing game. Another dildo-cleaning option is sex toy cleaning wipes, which appeal to many due to their convenience and compatibility with non-waterproof (generally motorized) toys.

You can even deep clean your dildos now and then with special sterilization processes. 100% silicone dildos and ones made from borosilicate glass or stainless steel are safe to place in a pot of boiling water for up to three minutes. UV sterilization is another viable avenue for those looking to keep their dildos extra fresh.

Dildo Storage

It’s best to keep your dildos in a cool, dark spot and away from direct sunlight. If the dildo in question is made of silicone and you also own other silicone adult toys, be sure to place them, perhaps in a storage bag or case, so they don’t touch one another to prevent material degradation.

Why Choose Lovehoney for Your Dildo Needs

Lovehoney does more than just stock the best dildos money can buy – we also provide a shopping experience that replicates that same superior quality. While there’s absolutely no shame in buying a dildo (or any sex toy, for that matter), we understand you might not want to broadcast the latest addition to your pleasure product collection to your neighbors. That’s why all Lovehoney shipments come in plain, brown boxes – only you and any lucky partners you might share your toys with will be aware of the erotic joys your package contains.

We genuinely care about customer satisfaction, offering free returns for 60 days and a 1-year product guarantee to ensure just that. And if, for some reason, a problem should arise, our Customer Service team is available 24/7 to make things right ASAP.