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Dildos: (page 2)
Anyway, size, shape, and color aside, one of the most important things to keep in mind when you're getting a dildo is material. What a dildo is made of makes a huge difference in how much it costs, how long it lasts, and how you take care of it (and you). Check out our list of materials:
Jellies:
Kind of like the one night stand of dildos - easy to find and fun while they last. Jellies are usually brightly colored and semi-transparent, and you can usually spot them because they look like they have bubbles below the surface. The best thing about jellies is the price - they're usually really cheap, which makes them great to experiment with. You can test out lots of different shapes and sizes without making any kind of huge financial commitment, but the downside of a jelly is that they almost never last, so try not to get too attached. They are easily discolored and have a tendency to disintegrate if not cared for properly (i.e. using alcohol to clean them). Also, they should come with a warning label: CAUTION, EXTREMELY POROUS!!!! Because jellies are made of a porous material, they trap bacteria and viruses, so you have to use them with a condom or you risk infecting yourself with anything a previous user (including yourself) may have had. Once the nasty stuff is in your dildo, no amount of cleaning will ever get it out. Pretty unfortunate, huh? Coya found this out the hard way, with a nightmare reoccurring yeast infection that didn't go away until she threw out her favorite jelly vibrator and started over. But, don't get discouraged! A condom works just fine on these babies, and they are GREAT starter dildos.
Silicone:
Our number one choice. Silicone is a little pricey (at least $40 and up) but it is non-porous, so it doesn't trap the yucky stuff. You can boil it (for up to five minutes), put it in the dishwasher, or wash it with just plain soap and water. But listen!!!! As easy as silicone is to clean, if you are sharing your dildo, you still need to put a condom on it! Please please please! No switching it up without a condom! Okay? Alright. Silicone also retains heat, so you can warm it up before you stick it in by holding it against your skin or running it under some hot water, and it can be a lot firmer than a jelly. One word of caution-silicone tears, so try not to snag it on anything. Also, silicone-based lubes will disintegrate silicone dildos (or butt plugs) so check your labels.
Latex/Rubber:
Good Vibrations guide to sex claims that this material is really difficult to find and only comes in black, but the hot salesperson at Leathersport the other night swore that the dildos Amber was coveting were latex. (These were very nice dildos by the way...no balls...square bases...great for strapping on...PEACH colored...varied sizes.) Although, come to think of it, they were not labeled, so don't assume a salesperson knows the material. The last thing you want to do is clean a porous dildo in a way you would a latex one. Latex is non-porous so you can clean it the same way you would clean a silicone dildo, but be careful of getting oil of any kind on these dildos, they will be DESTROYED!!
Cyberskin:
Ohhh la la. Soft and velvety, nice to touch. Cyberskin feels like skin, but like skin it is porous, so you should use a condom. Wash it with soap and water, but not TOO hot water!!!! Watch out! It melts and changes shape! Don't place it on a flat surface right after washing in hot water - you'll have a flat-sided dildo. Like with all dildos, make sure you let it completely dry before putting away. The thing about cyberskin is that it comes with "renew" to keep it feeling soft. Renew used to be made out of talc - a carcinogen! - but is now being made out of cornstarch. Check your label!!
VixSkin
(from Vixen Creations):
This gets our vote for our favorite technological advance, at least when it comes to dildos. It is soft like Cyberskin, but has the advantage of being non-porous. It is more flexible than traditional silicone dildos and is dreamy to the touch. See our section on silicone for care instructions.
Cyberjelly: : A cyberjelly is basically a really fancy jelly dildo, which means it's porous and you still have to put a condom on it (even with yourself). What's the big deal, then? Cyberjellies are designed recreate the feel of a penis, so they have a hard shaft and a really meaty soft head - super fun! Especially because they are really pretty - they come in bright primary colors and are see-through. Wow! But be careful…these dildos are like cannibals!! Put them too close to your other dildos and they literally eat them alive. You should see the carnage of ruined melted, deformed dildos in Coya's dildo bag because she put her cyberjelly in with the other dildos. We don't yet know why this happens yet, but when we (or Searah at Early to Bed) find out, we'll be sure to let you know.
Soft pack:
Okay, this dildo isn't really used for penetration, although there are a few that are designed to bend up and down or to be kind of semi-erect (fun for the bathroom during a drag king show!). Mostly, these dildos just give you the look and feel of an extra special bulge - foxy! Because these dildos are usually made out of cyberskin, or a similar flesh feel material, they pick up dust and grimy stuff pretty easily. Make sure to coat them in cornstarch (ditch the synthetic powder they come with, even if it does smell like vanilla) when you're not using it.
Wood:
We've seen these, so we're mentioning them, but we don't really recommend them except as objects d'art (Amber once used a very large wooden dildo/cat-o-nine tails as a reoccurring gag prop in a law school talent show - made a nice judge's gavel). Can you imagine using a wood dildo? They're probably smooth and warm, put also porous as hell and the splinters? Ay! We wouldn't want to risk it, but some women just simply love and swear by theirs.
Glass:
Tempered glass dildos are all the rage, but save your pennies because they are expensive, for good reason though – they are oh so BEAUTIFUL!!! They come in all kinds of nice shapes - curved, and ridgey, and nubbly, and...phew. Clean it with soap and water and set it aside to dry. Did we say how beautiful they are?! For an almost identical cheaper alternative, see Lucite dildos below.
Lucite/acrylic:
Clear and hard and looks like glass. This is a fun material in that they have all the aesthetic and practical advantages of glass dildos, but at half the expense. Let's hear it for this versatile non-porous material!
Mmmm mmmm ... there are so many to pick from, why pick just one? One of our favorite perks of doing our workshop is having a great excuse to test out new dildos, but the truth is, your own sexy body is an even better reason to experiment with what makes you feel good! Still stumped though on what size is best for you? Toys in Babeland has a great guide to sizing. Go to http://www.babeland.com/shoppingadvice/dildoadvice
One quick last insertion (get it...huh huh)...Dildos definitely may be used for anal sex, but their shape is not ideal for most asses. Likewise, butt plugs are ideally shaped for your ass, so they are like dildos for the ass except that they are...well...butt plugs. So, you might be more comfortable using a butt plug for anal play rather than a dildo. Check out our anal sex column for more info on butt play.
Please write to us at vulvalove@iheartmyclit.com with any questions you have about how to use or take care of dildos, and look for future columns on straps-ons, vibrators, and a how-to of dyke blow jobs.
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