Maybe you’ve been to an adult sex shop before; late at night, with a couple of your friends, wandering through row upon row of multicolored sex toys, scandalous lingerie, spermicidal lube and penis-shaped cake pans. If you’re anything like me, you’ve stopped in front of a shelf of unrecognizable objects and wondered: “What could that possibly be used for?”
Finding the right sex toy can be a bit of a challenge. Adult sex shops can, for some, be a bit overwhelming – so many options! And ordering online is not always better, since many college students still have credit cards in their parents’ names. So what’s a horny college student to do? Time to tackle your top sex toy questions.
Do all vibrators feel the same?
Nope. You can find vibrators out there that hum lightly (like a kitten purring) or vibrators that give off a bumpin’ bass. Vibrators differ in speed and intensity, in shape and material, in color and size. What type you buy depends on your own personal preference, and you might have to try a few different types to figure out what you like best.
Are there sex toys out there for men?
Absolutely! There are tons of options for men interested in sex toys. One of the most popular options is to use a standard, battery-powered vibrator with a cup-shaped attachment. The cup is made out of a soft gel material and surrounds the head of the penis, stimulating especially sensitive areas. This is a great toy for men to use on themselves or to use with a partner. Just note that when purchasing this kind of toy, you may have to order the cup-shaped attachment separately.
Another popular sex toy for men is the vibrating cock ring. This toy is meant to be combined with manual or oral stimulation or sexual intercourse. The soft and stretchy gel ring holds a small, egg-shaped motor that gives off light vibrations at the base of the penis or beneath the testes to enhance stimulation. Give ’em a shot!
How can I buy sex toys without anyone finding out? Can you suggest some stores and sites that are super discreet?
As we move further into the digital age, more companies are recognizing people’s desire for privacy and discretion when ordering sex-related products online. In fact, many companies have recognized that their level of discretion can be the difference in a consumer ordering from their site or another toy site online.
When you find a product you want to order, poke around the website and look for a section titled “Support” or “Shipping and Billing FAQ.” Most of the time, people have asked questions like, “Under what name will you bill my credit card”? or “How discreet is your packaging”? See how your site has answered these questions – most companies nowadays will deliver sex products in plain cardboard boxes (rather than in notorious black plastic) and will bill you from a generic company name.
Some sites I recommend: SexToy.com will show up on your bill as “Convergence, Inc.” and will ship your products in plain cardboard packaging. Also, anything you order directly from Amazon (rather than through a store connected to Amazon) will show up on your statement as Amazon.com and comes in standard packaging. I would also recommend heading over to Williamson Street and stopping by the best sex store in town, A Woman’s Touch. The people who work there undergo extensive sex toy training and despite the name, they carry tons of products for men, too.
Are there any special tools for grooming … down there?
You bet. You can buy small electric grooming devices about the size of your pinky finger to get those hard-to-reach hairs down there. You can find these on Amazon for about $30. If you’re not looking to go electric, head to Walgreens and pick up a pack of Noxzema bikini shavers. They’re super small, skinny razors that will help you clean up your shave. Yes, they’re pink, since they’re advertised to women during bikini season – but they can be a great tool for guys looking to trim up a bit, too.
Now, if you’re committed to being completely hair-free, there’s always the Brazilian wax. Take it from me: They’re not as painful as everyone makes them out to be, but they can be a bit intimidating since you’re baring it all in front of someone you’ve never met. If you’re nervous about getting waxed, just remember that the people doing the waxing are not only professionals, but also see a ton of people every day. A word of warning: Don’t get waxed if you’ve just been tanning. Don’t.
I’ve heard that vibrators weren’t always used for sex. Is that true?
It’s true. In the 19th and 20th centuries, specifically in the Victorian period, male physicians used vibrating massagers to treat women who suffered from “hypersensitive nerves” and “hysteria.” Besides the fact that these “diseases” were merely cultural justifications for sexism, the male physicians who “treated” the female “patients” were actually believed to be within their professional rights to stimulate these women to orgasm. Did you know that the very first vibrators, used for such treatments, were actually steam-powered? Can you imagine?
