Though they sometimes resemble a piece of jewelry, anal beads are strictly for the bedroom, and they’re a great “intro toy” for beginners. They’re usually made of smooth rubber or silicone, which are gentle and help prevent irritation.

How to Use

If you’re totally new to anal play, find a string that starts very small—maybe no bigger than the tip of your pinky. This will help get you comfortable before you move on to the larger beads at the other end.

Bonus Features

Insert the string bead by bead to increase sensation gradually. Once you’re comfortable using them, try removing the string right at the point of orgasm to intensify the sensation.

Anal play has a reputation as an adventurous technique, but today’s toys make it safe and easy to explore an area that’s rich in nerve endings for both men and women. It’s also a gateway to a major pleasure zone for men—the prostate gland. We’ve compiled a list of a few anal toys that make exploration more fun for solo or couples play. Just don’t forget the lube.
Materials

Two words: nonporous and nontoxic. These types of toys avoid trapping bacteria, viruses, or fungi and ensures your body doesn’t absorb potentially harmful chemicals.

Design

Anal toys should have a smooth, ergonomic design that’s easy to insert and control. They also should have a flared base or a loop at the end for easy removal.

Instructions

Always use lube. Never use silicone-based lube with silicone toys. Clean anal toys after every use.

Anal plugs come in a variety of sizes and can be made out of soft jelly rubber or silicone, or hard plastic, glass, or aluminum.
How to Use

Keep a plug in during vaginal sex for a more powerful orgasm. You can also wear them long-term (say over the course of an evening out with your partner) to heighten arousal before intercourse. If you do want to wear it for an extended period of time, make sure you’re still using lubricant and that you pay attention to your body’s signals if it starts to feel uncomfortable.

Bonus Features

To enhance sensation, look for a vibrating plug.

Pro Tip: Always use an anal toy with a flared base for easy removal, and never use something that’s not expressly designed for anal play.

Anal vibrators stimulate nerves in the anus, intensifying sensation. They’re shorter and thinner than regular vibrators, generally measuring 4”–6” long and 0.75”–1.25” wide.
How to Use

Try using it during masturbation or foreplay. Like other anal toys, it will relax the surrounding muscles, getting them ready for penetration.

Bonus Features

Anal vibrators take many shapes, including probes and wands, so explore until you find one that’s most comfortable and stimulating for you.

A prostate massager is a slender toy with a curved tip that targets the prostate gland, located a few inches inside the opening of the anus.
How to Use

The sole purpose of these toys is to stimulate the prostate gland, a.k.a., the P-spot, so choosing a large or wide massager or a small one is completely up to personal preference.

Bonus Features

That part’s easy—prostate massagers typically vibrate and pulsate for extra sensation.

Pro Tip: If you’re using an anal toy with a partner, it’s important to keep communicating with them. Make sure they’re always comfortable, that you’re using enough lube and taking things as slow as they would prefer.