The world of sex toys is a large and occasionally confusing place. With some toys, it is obvious what they are for. I mean, a dildo is pretty self-explanatory. However, some toys are not so cut and dry.
Enter the humble anal bead....
To many, this particular toy's use is not so readily apparent. I remember when I was a teenager, just the word alone was perfect for punchlines even though I had no idea what the hell I was saying. Eventually, one of my boyfriends introduced me to them, showed me the ropes, and made a true-believer out of me. Now I am here to spread the gospel of anal beads to you! Let's just dive right in...
What Are Anal Beads, Anyway?
The short answer is that they are pretty much as advertised- they are a series of round balls designed for insertion into the rectum to produce extra sensation during sex and to enhance orgasm. But things have come a long way since the prehistoric days of hard plastic balls held together by a thin string. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of styles and materials, all of which we will go into later. By now you may be wondering, "What, exactly, do they do?."
Why Use Anal Beads?
This is really the meat of the issue right here. What are they good for and what can you expect? Basically, anal beads produce an exceptional feeling of "fullness" in your anal cavity when inserted. If left in well engaged in other sexual activities, the motion of your body will cause them to sort of roll around, producing a sort of internal massage that does wonders for your super-sensitive prostate.
Another great thing about them is the sensation they produce when removed. As they are removed, they create pleasurable sensations for both your prostate and your anal sphincter. If removed as you are approaching orgasm, they act as a nitro-booster for your climax. Words don't do this feeling justice, it really needs to be experienced to understand just how good anal beads can feel.
The Different Types Of Anal Beads
As noted earlier, anal beads come in a wide variety of styles and materials, each offering different advantages and drawbacks. Here is a quick breakdown of what you'll be looking at when you go to choose a set.
Materials
Silicone
Silicone is one of the most preferable materials for use in any sex toy. It is soft, non-porous, and body safe. Because silicone is non-porous, it is easy to clean and doesn't have a tendency to harbor hidden bacteria or other harmful things such as fecal matter or dirt.
The fact that silicone is softer makes it extremely comfortable and very newbie-friendly.
Glass
Glass is another higher-end material for use in sex toys. Much like silicone, it is completely body safe, easy to clean, and non-porous. Personally, I like glass because it has a little extra weight to it that adds a level of "presence" you generally don't find with other materials.
Glass can also be heated or cooled using hot or cold water. This is a great way to add a new dimension of sensation to your anal play that is not to be underestimated. However, unlike silicone, glass is very inflexible and lacks its silky softness.
Metal
Metal, to me, is comparable to glass in many ways. It has that added weight that really lets you know it's there, as well as offering the ease of cleaning and the ability to be used for temperature play that glass provides. Many people like the aesthetic of surgical/stainless steel toys.
ABS Plastic
ABS is a material used by middle-of-the-road to high-end manufacturers and is generally a lot like glass or metal, in that it is hard and non-porous but it lacks the heft of glass or metal.
One thing to look out for when buying toys made of ABS is whether or not the toy is seamless. Plastic toys that are not seamless can be somewhat uncomfortable. As long as the toy is seamless, however, this is a perfectly serviceable material.
PVC
PVC is a pretty serviceable material and, in many ways, plays like silicone. However, there is one major difference between the two- PVC is not completely non-porous. This means that bacteria have a hiding place and this makes the toy somewhat less sanitary. Many people, myself included, recommend using a condom on PVC toys to help keep them clean.
Natural Materials
Not unheard of but far less commonly found materials like polished stone and even treated wood exist. Smooth, polished stone offers a cool, weighty sensation that I really enjoy, as well as being quite easy to clean.
Some people are put off by the idea of a wooden sex toy because images of splinters in incredibly unpleasant areas immediately spring to mind. If you go with a wooden toy, be sure that it is well-treated, smooth, and non-porous before pulling the trigger on that purchase.
Really, the major draw of stone or wood toys is the aesthetic appeal they provide. One of the most beautiful sex toys I have ever seen was a lapis lazuli dildo an old boyfriend of mine had.
Types Of Anal Beads
These are pretty self-explanatory, they are beads that vibrate. There are a few different styles of vibrating bead, with the main differences being in how they are controlled, recharged, and variations in vibration modes.
Rigid
Often made of glass or stainless steel, these beads are somewhere between traditional anal beads and plugs. They usually take the form of a dildo or plug with bulbous points running down the length of the toy. Some have uniformly sized beads and others offer a graduated design where the beads increase in size as you progress down the length of the toy.
Textured
These beads have some sort of added tactile quality to their surface that enhances sensation when used. There are many different textures out there, from slightly raised bumps to rounded spikes and more.
Cock Ring Combo
These beads also feature a cock ring on the bottom end. This style of bead is perfect for guys who like to wear their beads while they are engaged in other sex-acts to encourage the inserted beads to move around inside them and tickle their prostate and anus. Some models even feature a vibrating cock ring for extra sexy goodness.
These are the most common styles of anal beads though, there are others out there such as elongated beads, tapered beads, or beads on a curved shaft.
On To The Fun Stuff! How To Use Your Anal Bead
Step 1
Now that we're done with Anal Beads 101, we can start to really dig into how they are used. The first thing you are going to want to do is to get yourself nice and worked up. This will cause your prostate to begin filling with its magic juice and cause it to swell up a bit. This makes it easier for your beads to stimulate. You're also going to want to have some good lube on hand to ensure everything goes nice and smoothly.
Climax Bursts Water-Based Lube
Step 2
Personally, I like to start off by gently fingering my funhole a bit to get good and loosened up. Once I'm nice and loose, I like to get in there with a lube-shooter to get started off right and get a nice even coat of lube going in there. You don't have to use a lube-shooter but I find it just makes the whole process a lot easier and a good deal less messy. Your mileage may vary.
Step 3
Now that you're good and lubed up, you're going to want to generously slather your beads with lube. Make sure you get all around each individual bead so you don't end up hitting a dry patch that could derail your fun. Seriously, get crazy with the lube, you won't regret it.
Step 4
Once your beads are nice and lubed up, start to insert them one at a time. If you can't get them all in, don't worry. It's more important that you go at your own pace. After all, this is about your pleasure, not trying to prove something. If you can't fit them all now, eventually you'll get there. Be patient and just have fun!
Step 5
Now that you have your beads inserted, start to experiment with how they feel. Try flexing your downstairs muscles and see if you can get them to move around a bit. With a little practice, this is a great way to get some seriously good prostate action going. Trust me, it's worth the effort!
Now, do whatever it is that turns your crank. Beat off, play with your balls, whatever you like! The idea here is to start working your way towards orgasm. You know how to get yourself there better than I do, so I will leave that part in your capable hands.
So, once you feel that an orgasm is getting fairly close, start to slowly pull the beads out. This will cause them to begin massaging your prostate as they exit as well as your anus. If done correctly, you're going to experience a seriously boosted orgasm that will leave you weak in the knees.
You don't always have to remove them slowly, some people like to zip those babies right out at the exact moment of orgasm, while others just like to take it slow and easy. It's really a matter of preference and the only way to find out what you like is to experiment!
There You Have It!
Well, there it is! Everything you ever wanted to know about anal beads and, hopefully, a little more than you expected!
When all is said and done, anal beads are a great way to add a little extra boost to your solo-play and an awesome way to add a new layer of fun to your time with a partner. Now all that's left for you to do is go get yourself a set and start experimenting!
