Anal toy size: start small! If new, begin with a small toy and gradually increase size. Flared base: choose toys with a flared base or handle for safe removal. Material: Body-safe silicone is soft, flexible, and hypoallergenic. Glass/steel is non-porous, easy to clean, great for temperature play.

Lubrication: The Key to Comfort & Safety

Unlike the vagina, the anus doesn’t produce any lubrication. For that reason, it’s super important that you have a generous amount of lube with you when you’re engaging in anal play. This will prevent discomfort, and will result in a smoother glide.

You can use your lube by placing it on your anal toy and to the anus before you engage in any anal play.

What are the best lubes for anal? Well, there are different types you could use:

Water-based lube is safe for all toys and it’s easy to clean. Silicone-based lube is longer-lasting thus great for extended play, but it should be avoided with silicone toys. Oil-based lube is great for metal or glass toys but it’s not condom-safe.

How much lube should you be using? As we mention, a generous amount. In other words, more is better! And you can continue to re-apply lube as and when to maintain smooth and friction-free play.

Preparing Your Body for Anal Play

Once you’ve got your eye on one or more anal sex toys, and you know all about the right lube to use and how much, you’re ready to prepare your body for anal play.

Here are 3 tips to follow in preparation for anal penetration:

Relax, breathe, and take your time. Insertion can be uncomfortable if you're tense. External massage helps. Start slow, use fingers first. If it hurts, STOP. Anal play should never be painful. Rushing ruins pleasure. Breaks are fine.

Proper Techniques for Inserting & Removing Anal Toys

Then, when you feel comfortable with inserting an anal toy inside of you, the key is to take it at your own pace and not to rush.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use anal toys:

Step One: lube!

Lube, lube, and more lube! Use it on the toy and around the anus for a comfortable experience.

Step Two: position

Get yourself into a comfortable position. It is said that the most comfortable position for solo anal play is to lie on your side in the fetal position, but you may want to be on all fours or squat. Find what feels best for you.

Step Three: insert and relax

Insert the toy, and relax. Remember to never force it inside of you. Allow the sphincter muscle to relax naturally around the toy in order to aid in the best comfort, and give yourself time to see how it feels.

Step Four: the experience

Once you’ve experienced having an anal toy inside of you, you can gauge the experience. If you’re a beginner to anal play, it may have been a strange experience, and that’s fine! Whether you kept it inside of you for a short period of time, or you engaged in other sexual activity, it should all take place according to your comfort level.

Step Five: removing an anal toy safely

Once you’ve had your anal play experience and you’re ready to remove the anal penetration toy, remember to never yank or pull it out too quickly as it can cause pain or injury. Take it slow, relax the muscles, and gently twist and ease out the toy. This will help avoid discomfort or sudden contractions.

Now that you’re familiar with how to use anal toys, there are additional tidbits that are essential to having a positive anal play experience. And they’re just as important as the act itself.

For one, hygiene for sex toys! That is, keeping it safe and sanitary.

Here are some guidelines on how to keep your anal sex toys safe for use:

Clean your anal toys before and after use by washing them with antibacterial soap and warm water, or using a sex toy cleaner. You could use both for added protection.

You could boil anal penetration toys that are made of glass, metal, or body safe silicone in order to sterilize them, but only if they’re not motorized.

Another way in which to keep your anal toys safe and clean is storing them correctly.

Here are some guidelines on how to store your anal sex toys:

Store them in a dry, lint-free bag to prevent dust accumulation

If you have more than one toy, keep them separate from each other to prevent material damage

And lastly, for an additional layer of safety, never share anal penetration toys without using a condom. Anal toys should only be used by one person unless it is protected by a condom.

Avoiding Common Anal Play Mistakes

1. Skipping lubrication

The best advice for beginner anal play is to use the smallest size first. Use the smallest size for as long as you need until you feel entirely comfortable moving up a size. And when you do move up a size, we recommend going for something only slightly bigger. For example, you could get yourself an anal training kit, which has 3 different-sized butt plugs, allowing you to work your way up in size gradually. A big mistake is to choose the wrong size (aka something much bigger) too soon. Always start small.

4. Forcing insertion

Just the same as we recommend not going for big sizes, it’s important not to force any anal toys inside of you. This will undoubtedly cause pain. Pain is the body’s way of telling you to stop. In this case, take a break, and then try again when you’re ready with a lot of lube, patience, and anal relaxation.

5. Not cleaning your toy properly

By using our cleaning guide above, you’ll be able to prevent any issues such as infections.

Ignoring your body’s signals.

If something feels off, stop. You simply must listen to your body.

Q and A: Additional Safety Considerations

Q: Can you use anal toys during partnered sex?

A: Yes! But you must communicate with your partner, and be sure to use a lot of lube.

Q: Can you sleep with an anal toy in?

A: No! Always remove your toy after play time to prevent discomfort and risks.

Q: How often can you use anal toys?

A: As often as your body feels comfortable… listen to what feels good.

So, to recap, the most important takeaway when it comes to safety and enjoyment in anal play is that you take it slow, stay relaxed, choose high quality materials, use a lot of lube, start with smaller toys, and listen to your body.

Additionally, be sure to clean your anal toys before and after use, and to store them correctly for optimal health.

For beginner anal play enthusiasts, you may love the Soraya Beads.

They’re vibrating anal beads that start off with smaller beads and progress to larger ones as you insert the toy. That means that you can slowly introduce the feeling of anal stimulation at your own pace, and insert more only when you’re comfortable. We suggest not using the vibrational settings until you’re ready.

At first, gently feel the sensations & get used to the toy. When more experienced, use anal beads inside and out to feel sensations, or leave them inside.

Tip: Anal beads can really enhance one’s orgasm when removed at the height of release. And remember: lube is your friend!

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