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A Beginners Guide to Vibrators

Writer's picture: Susannah Shepherd Susannah Shepherd

Buying your first sex toy can be a terrifying, confusing and liberating experience. Maybe you’re yet to have sexual experiences with a partner, or perhaps you’re in a long-term relationship. Whether you’re looking to start your solo-sex journey or step up your game, a sex toy is a great addition to everybody’s bedside drawer.


Where do you start?!


Here, we’ll be introducing you to the world of vibrators. Whilst some of these vibrators are designed specifically for vulvas and vaginas, many are versatile and can be used on different erogenous zones. (For people with penises, keep your eyes peeled for more content in the coming weeks!)


What to Look For in a Vibrator


Everyone is going to be looking for different things from a vibrator, so here are a few practical considerations when looking for your new best friend.



Price: Vibrators can get very expensive, but you can also get more basic ones for much cheaper. Expensive vibrators are a good investment, being of higher quality with a greater variety of settings and convenience built into them. However, if you are buying your first vibrator and aren’t sure what you like yet, go for something simpler and cheaper. The last thing you want is to spend £200 on a toy that doesn’t get you off. You won't necessarily be compromising on pleasure by going cheaper. Plus, you can always buy more expensive toys as you expand your collection.



Noise: Any object that vibrates makes a noise, inevitably, and vibrators are no different. However, some make more noise than others. If you live on your own, or with people who don’t mind the buzzing from the bedroom, this isn’t necessarily a huge factor for you but for people who live with flatmates or parents who maybe don’t want to hear you wanking, make sure to check the product descriptions and reviews to see how loud a toy is.



Size: Similarly to the noise factor, if discretion is an important factor for you to consider, you may also want to think about where and how you will store your toy, and whether it will need to travel anywhere. My bullet vibrator is easy to throw into a bag for overnight trips, but my rabbit vibrator, less so.


Size is also an important consideration if you’re buying an internal toy, as everyone will enjoy different sizes in terms of penetration. A 10-inch dildo may be ideal for one person, whereas you may be happy with something more petite.

Additionally, consider storage: are you going to have a display wall or could you do with a cotton bag or a zip-up case?



Power: Vibrators are either battery operated or rechargeable. A rechargeable vibrator is more eco-friendly and has more longevity, but they can also be more expensive. If you go with a battery-operated toy, make sure to buy the batteries too. Nothing is worse than getting in the mood only to find you forgot the AAAs.



Cleaning: If you’re going to using something in or around your genitals, its a good idea to keep it clean. Sex toys can be made from a variety of materials (glass, silicone, rubber) and require different types of maintenance. So make sure you check how to keep yours properly clean and tip-top. Some will be fine with soapy water, others might need a specific cleaning product. Personally, because I’ve only ever shared bathrooms with flatmates or family members, I choose wipes, meaning I can keep my sex toys out of communal spaces.



Pheww! Nearly there!

Now we've covered the various factors for consideration, we're on to the actual toys and their performances.



There are broadly two categories of vibrators, external or internal stimulators.

If you are sexually active, be it with a partner or yourself, you may already know what sort of stimulation you like, where and how you like to be touched. However, if you are just starting your solo-sex journey, you may have no idea.

If this is the case, you may need to go through some trial and error. We recommend going manual for this (using hands!) before investing in toys.

But never fear! Let’s go over the different options available to you.


Note, this list is in no way extensive, so if you don’t see something you like, there’s plenty more out there!


External Stimulators


To kick things off, let’s look at external or clitoral stimulators.

These kinds of the toy are meant to be enjoyed externally and whilst some are designed specifically to be used on a clitoris, others can be used on other erogenous zones (nipples, inner thighs, etc). An external vibrator is a great place to start, as they tend to be smaller, cheaper, and more discrete. There are a lot of options to choose from in this category, but here are some good options to start with.



My first recommendation for an external stimulator is the bullet. The OG.

Many of my female friends were introduced to the world of vibrators through this guy, myself included. They are small, quiet, easy to use, and versatile, everything you could possibly want. They are also great value. You can buy more expensive ones that look sleeker and have more speed settings, but most will be about £10-£20.

However, the bullet, whilst the most well known external stimulator, is not the only option by any means. Another option is a vibrator with bunny ears, much like you would find on a rabbit vibrator, which we’ll get into later. The vibrating ears create a flicking sensation, making your experience more interesting but still cheap and discreet...


If direct clitoral stimulation sounds a bit too intense for you, I would recommend palm-sized vibrators, like Unbound's Bean vibrator.

These are designed to go over the whole vulva and offer a gentler experience. A bonus is there are some particularly pretty options for these, because why can’t vibrators be used as decor?


Alternatively, if you’re looking for something with a bit more oomph, you might consider a wand or massager.

These pack a big punch, but at the expense of size and price, as they are bigger and more expensive than the previous options.


A particularly saucy choice is toys which simulate oral sex.

One option here is a clitoral stimulator that goes over a clitoris and mimics a sucking sensation. These are also on the more expensive side, but well worth it if oral is your favourite part of sex.

A vibrator I am dying to try but am yet to experience are ones that simulate a tongue, like The Frenchman from The Smile Maker's Collective. These are described as being a more sensual experience. For myself and others who find oral to be the best part of sex, this is the kind of technological advancements we like to see!



Internal Stimulators


Moving on, we have internal stimulation. These types of vibrators are penetrative and aim to stimulate your g-spot. There are fewer options in this category, meaning there’s more freedom in terms of pricing, noise and size. And remember, lube is your best friend here!



The internal equivalent to the bullet, as in the basic must-have, is the rabbit.

If you watched Sex And The City, you’ll remember this guy. Rabbit vibrators have both a penetrative element as well as a clitoral stimulator, giving you the best of both worlds, and maybe better classed as dual/combination stimulation. Because these are so common, there are a variety of options at different price points, with different aesthetics, speed and vibration settings, sizes. Some even have rotating shafts!

The combination of external and internal stimulation can be overwhelming at first, but go slow and stick with it, it’s worth it.



Your other option here is a g-spot vibrator, which stimulates, you guessed it, the g-spot. The shape of these vibrators is what makes them unique and so enjoyable.

And of course, last but not least, there’s the classic dildo. These guys have been around forever, and are available in every shape, colour, material, or size you could imagine.

Although it might seem overwhelming, don't feel afraid to throw yourself into this! (Or, just dip your toes in the water, start off with a bullet for a tenner, and then put your feelers out into the not-so-dark-darkness.)

On your own, you are safe to explore.


We hope this sets you off on the path to masturbatory heaven.


Happy wanking!


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