Anal August is here and we wanted to put out a refresher guide for those looking to celebrate! Whether you're just curious or you're an experienced adventurer, this anal play guide is intended to help anyone safely and pleasurably explore your backdoor.

Using the Right Lube

Unlike the mouth and the vagina, the anus does not self-lubricate. Saliva, cooking oils, or lotions are unsafe, can dry up quickly, and cause friction. This means that store-bought lubricant is an essential tool to have on hand before you even think of penetration.

Almost any silicone or waterbased lubricant will work, but some lubes are specifically formulated for anal sex, which can make it more pleasurable. Pjur's Analyse Me, for example, contains hyaluronic acid that has moisturizing properties that form a cushion on the thin, delicate tissues of the anus. Wicked Sensual Care's Jelle Plus is also a great lube for anal because it's super thick, plush, and contains clove extract, which is a natural relaxant.

Lubes that contain silicone can also make for a better experience due to silicone's long-lasting slickness that won't dry out, whereas some waterbased lubes may need to be reapplied over time. Intimate Earth's Tushie is a silicone-water hybrid lube that stays slick and also contains all-natural ingredients to help relax the body for anal.

If you find that penetration wipes most of the lube away before it's getting into your body, try using a Lube Shooter, a special internal lube applicator for anal sex.

Safety Tips for Beginners

Every year in the United States, there are nearly 4,000 ER cases of people who—for one reason or another—put an unsafe object in their butt. What's more astonishing, though, is that 55.4% of those foreign bodies were sexual devices. Using sex toys anally can be extremely pleasurable but you have to be able to identify what is and what isn't safe for anal insertion.

Any object that you want to use anally must have a flared base. This base is called a flange and it's what keeps your dildo from getting sucked up into your body and requiring a hospital visit for removal. The flange should be sturdy and at least wider than the widest point of the internal toy.

Thankfully, most anal toys and dildos already have a flange to them. There are, however, lots of styles of vibrators that don't have a base so if you're looking for an "anal vibrator," make sure it's actually safe for anal use and has that wide base to it.

That being said, if you're looking to use a toy anally that you also use vaginally, be sure to use condoms or sanitize your toy properly before going from anal to vaginal use. We'll get into how to give your toys a deep clean in the aftercare section.

Preparation

Sex isn't a race and anal especially isn't something to be rushed. Until you know how your body responds to anal play, go slower than you think you need to. Start warming up for backdoor play by just relaxing. Before anything touches you, take in a big breath and exhale slowly. If you're stressed out or tense, it's not the time to attempt anal play.

Before diving into anal, some people like to prepare by cleaning themselves with a douche or enema. This will reduce any potential mess involved with anal penetration. That being said, this step is fully optional and isn't required for anal play. If it makes you more comfortable, that's always an option.

Now that you're ready to explore, start with external stimulation or your smallest toy to ease into things. If your toy is larger than your finger, you may want to start by manually stimulating the anus with your fingers first as a warm up. Be sure your nails are cut short and your hands are clean. Don't forget the anal lube we discussed earlier!

Beginner-friendly toys are usually very thin and tapered for easy insertion. You want to make sure you're starting off small, inserting slowly, and working up to any larger toys like dildos or anal penetration with a penis after you're comfortable with something smaller. For this reason, anal training kits like the Calexotics First Time Crystal Booty Kit are very popular as they give you multiple size options to play with gradually over time.

Listen to Your Body & Communicate

During anal (or any sex), it's important to practice good communication skills with your partner. Verbally checking in to see how things are going is crucial. Going slow and asking questions like, "how does this feel?" or "does it feel good when I do this?" is a good way to keep updated on how your partner is doing.

If you notice that your partner appears to be in pain, you're in pain, or you feel like something's just not right, stop and fully check-in before progressing. Pain is the body's way of signaling that something is wrong. Anal play should not hurt so if you're in pain be sure to stop and rest before trying again. Be sure to reapply lube and get your partner's enthusiastic consent before continuing after a break. If the pain persists, try starting smaller and going slower another time.

Aftercare

At the end of your play session, you should check in with your partner again and make sure that everything went as intended. Discuss what you liked, didn't like, and things you may want to try next time. In addition to checking in, you should hydrate and have your partner do the same as you relax and discuss.

Once you feel ready to clean up, wash any used sex toys with toy cleaner and warm water. For a deeper clean or for toys that are going from anal to vaginal use, you can also boil silicone toys without a motor for 5 minutes or put them on the top rack of an empty dishwasher cycle on "sanitize" with no detergent.

Once dry, store your toys in a toy bag or lockbox to keep them safe and clean until their next use.

Conclusion

While there is a lot to know about anal sex, it's pretty basic information once you've been through it. The key to enjoying anal sex is patience, listening to your body, going at your own pace, and communicating with any partners along the way.

Once you get comfortable with basic anal toys, there are loads of exciting features you can try! You can add things like vibration with the We-Vibe Vector+, a prostate plug that is controllable from anywhere in the world via app. You could dive into BDSM or roleplay with a tail plug. You can even experience an inflatable anal plug that gets larger for a "full" feeling like the INYA Inflataplay. The options are limitless!

We invite you to continue your anal adventure by shopping in-store or online so you can discover our collection of exciting anal toys, anal lubricants, and training kits to help you along the way.

Have more questions? Our sales representatives are here to help! Stop by in-store and talk to a staff member for more information on the products we carry.