How to Choose a Vibrator: A Girl’s Guide to Picking the One You Need

You decided that you want to treat yourself to a vibrator—good decision! But now the big question: how to choose a vibrator actually.

All women have heard about vibrators and dildos. Maybe one of your friends has one or you saw it on an episode of Girls. The point is, the seed has been planted, and naturally, now you’re curious. You want to know how to choose a vibrator and quench that curiosity.

Well, curiosity killed the cat, and when I mean cat, I mean pussy. And when I mean killed, I mean that in the best way possible.

Why use a vibrator?

Sometimes you won’t have someone to pleasure you, and masturbating can get a little dull at times. So, what are you going to do then?

Well, if you’re here, you know exactly what you’re going to do. You’re buying yourself a vibrator. Welcome to the “Happy Vagina” club, glad you joined.

The next step may take some time and you may have to use a couple vibrators until you find the right one for you. But don’t worry, I’m going to help you narrow down your hunt for the perfect vibrator. Read these tips. When you’re looking for how to choose a vibrator, they’ll come in handy. [Read: 13 must-have sex toys for the naughty first timers]

Why choose a vibrator?

If you’re on the fence about buying a vibrator, I get it. It took me a while to actually make a decision on whether I wanted one or not. But there are actually a couple great reasons why you should use a vibrator even if you’re in a relationship.

#1 Achieve easier orgasms. There’s a huge percentage of women that don’t know how it feels to orgasm. If I could make that a crime, I would. It’s really unfortunate that women around the world are struggling to experience an orgasm. So, if you’re one of them, a vibrator can help you achieve an orgasm. The vibration from a vibrator helps increase stimulation. [Read: The checklist to guarantee an intense orgasm]

#2 Because it feels good? You don’t really need to have an excuse to have a vibrator. They make you feel good and increase your own personal pleasure. If you want to experience pleasure, you’re allowed to do so. With that being said, you also may not like using a vibrator and that’s okay too.

#3 Help know your body. When you’re having sex with someone, it can be a challenge to focus on your body and its reactions. Usually, we’re too busy worrying about the other person and how we look in front of them while having sex.

I know, it’s a lot of unnecessary things to think about. But with a vibrator, you can learn about your body. On your own, you’ll be able to figure out angles, pressures, and how much stimulation you need to orgasm. [Read: How to learn what turns your body on]

#4 Explore the types of orgasms. You may not achieve an orgasm through vaginal penetration. However, anal penetration may hit the spot. There are a variety of vibrators which focus on different parts of the body such as clitoral stimulation, anal play, and G-spot. A vibrator allows you to safely explore that.

#5 Men can use them. Yup! It’s not just for women. Men are able to use vibrators as well by placing it underneath the penis for stimulation. They can also use it on their partner. Making your night of fun a little different. [Read: Male masturbation toys that are so much better than a hand]

How to choose a vibrator – 11 tips to pick the right one

Vibrators can be just as fun as the real thing, that is, as long as you know how to choose a vibrator that actually works for you.

#1 Find your style. That’s right, vibrators come in a variety of styles for you to choose from. There are four basic types of vibrators: internal, dual-action, external, and G-spot vibrators.

Now, what’s the difference between external and internal vibrators? Good question. External vibrators focus on stimulating the clitoris while internal vibrators are for penetration.

#2 Stuck on style? Are you stuck on the four basics? If you’re not sure if you want an external or internal vibrator, then go with a dual-action vibrator which gives you a happy medium of both. That way, you don’t need to go again to the store to buy another, you’ll be able to test them both out and find which one works best for you. [Read: The tips and tricks to learn how to use a dildo correctly]

#3 The buzz matters. That’s right, the buzz matters, and it matters for more than one reason. First of all, you want to find a vibration that suits you. With that being said, there’s one big thing you need to keep in mind. The intensity of the vibrator will either increase or decrease the level of noise coming from it.

In other words, if you live at home or with roommates, you want a quiet vibrator. A vibrator with multiple levels of intensity gives you more options when it comes to noise control. [Read: How to use a dildo correctly and give yourself a happy ending]

#4 Shop where you feel comfortable. Listen, you can buy a vibrator online, there’s no problem with that but you should also check out vibrators in person. That way, you can actually hold your potential vibrator in your hand without spending the dollars on it.

By testing the toy up close, you know exactly what you’re purchasing and the staff is usually very knowledgeable. However, not all of us want to carry a vibrator home from the store, so if that’s the case then shop online.

#5 Materials matter. You’re going to be putting this around one of the most sensitive areas of your body, so you want to make sure that the materials used to make the vibrator are safe and also of good quality.

Silicone is usually the best material for vibrators because the vibrations flow easily through the material and it’s easy to clean. Hard plastics are also good but avoid jelly rubber, they contain phthalates. 

#6 Pick one that looks pretty. Don’t pick a vibrator that makes you nervous to use or looks unattractive to you. Remember, masturbation and sex are also visual, if you’re not liking your vibrator, that’s going to take you out of the mood. You want to choose a vibrator that turns you on. If you want to use it the minute you lay eyes on it, then that vibrator may be the one for you. [Read: Pillow humping 101 – How to  masturbate with a pillow]

#7 How are you going to charge it? Unfortunately, vibrators aren’t solar-powered so you are going to have to recharge it. Lucky for you, there are a couple different vibrators to choose from.

You can opt for a classic battery-powered vibrator, they’re usually cheap and need minimal maintenance. There are rechargeable vibrators which are great because you don’t need to constantly buy batteries. Lastly, there are mains-powered vibrators which need to be plugged into an outlet. This one is the most powerful.

#8 Looking for something waterproof? If you’re a squirter, then you’re probably wondering how vibrators handle moisture. Well, vibrators can handle getting wet, but if you’re planning on using it in the bathroom, then you should opt for a waterproof vibrator. Submersible vibrators allow you to completely submerge it into the water. Great if you’re looking to use it in the bath.

#9 Extra features? Of course, you don’t need to focus on this right away. But there are many vibrators that come with extra features. There’s remote control options, power, vibration patterns, and design. Take a look at the extra features once you figure out the rest. 

#10 Size. When it comes to figuring out how to choose a vibrator, this is the one time where you get to choose the size that you want. You need to think about the length and girth of the vibrator you want. Small sizes are ideal for clitoral stimulation and traveling. Medium is considered the average penis and is ideal for clitoral and G-spot stimulation. Lastly, large is for deep penetration. [Read: Homemade dildos for when the moment strikes unexpectedly]

#11 Test out the textures. With vibrators, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes and different textures. Choosing the right texture can help increase your pleasure. There are bumps, swirls, ripples, and more to choose from. You can also find them with a smooth surface. It simply depends on what you want.

[Read: The homemade sex toys you simply have to try]

I mean, what girl has regretted learning how to choose a vibrator? Just remember to give yourself time and practice!