Vibracizing America
The fascination with a popular sex toy
Written by M. Lyons, H&A Staff Writer
What was originally a large apparatus for curbing hysteria, the vibrator has managed to become one of the hottest sex toys currently on the market. Originally (read: long time ago) doctors thought that the vibrator was more so for tension and hysteria than sexual release. However, women began to quickly catch on that the vibrator was offering more than anyone could have bargained for. With a quick disappearance around the 1920s, the vibrator made a charging comeback thanks to their appearances in pornographic films. Today vibrators (or body massagers, or eroscillators or whatever we'll call them tomorrow) are one of the most popular sexual toys used. Women, and even men, are finding out that consistent stimulation is helping bring them quality orgasms and release.
Yet, an important question is what kind of vibrator to use? When you look at the catalog of a sex store, you see different varieties of vibrators: big, small, curvy, straight, and some that don't even look like vibrators at all. In fact, some vibrators take on the appearance of everyday household and lifestyle items. So how can you figure on making sure that you've purchased the right "hysteria machine" for you?
First ask yourself where exactly you want to be stimulated. It may sound like a stupid question at first (women will say clitoris, men will say anus/prostate) but think about it more in depth (no pun or foreshadowing intended). There are such vibes that specifically stimulate only the clit or only the anus. There are also vibrators that are essentially dildos with attached stimulators. Some vibrators can moonlight as back massagers or tension releasers for other parts of the body.
"Wait," you say "you're getting carried away. I just want a vibe that's going to do what it has been doing over the years and that's get me off." Well then let's take a look at some popular types of vibrators and how they could help you reach your peak (or two or three or four…)
Traditional Vibrators: You mean the Rabbit Vibrator isn't the traditional vibrator? That's correct! While most people think of the Rabbit when they're talking about vibrators the traditional vibrators have these characteristics: they are straight, long, and thin and have a special coating. This is not what you'll find in all traditional vibes, but they do have a majority of these features. You hold them in one hand and place it against your clit or inside of your anus at the prostate while the vibe goes to work. Women, because of the physical look of traditional vibes, you can use them as a dildo by thrusting in and out of your vagina, periodically letting it rest against your clitoris for stimulation.
Rabbit Vibrators: Ah, now you're talking! Charlotte York, one of the main characters from the hit television show "Sex and the City" turned the Rabbit Vibrator into her new boyfriend, and for good reason. They are extremely popular because they give the thrust feature of a dildo, with the stimulation feature of a traditional vibrator. The rabbit heads that protrude out of the side can stimulate your clitoris while you thrust the dildo portion. It would be the equivalent of having your partner give you intercourse with his penis while rubbing your clit with his finger (again, though, men may find that practice a bit tiring and could even opt to use a vibrator on his girl while having sex with her).
G-Spot Vibrators: Are you wetting right now from thinking that something could hit the elusive G-Spot. Yes, it's true. There are vibrators and attachments that allow women to hit their G-Spot, that area that could bring the most intense sensations. Those type of vibrators have curved bodies or angled heads that when inserted bend in the direction of the G-Spot. Yes, ladies, imagine if your partner's tongue had that much flexibility. But don't fret men, there's P-spot vibes for you too. In fact, if you took an angled vibrator for women and placed it inside of your anus, the vibrator would be able to reach your sexual pleasure area as well.
Egg Vibrators: Will they come up with the bacon vibrator next? Haha, funny, but no. Egg vibrators are the name of the vibrators that, well, look like eggs. These are the most interesting vibes to use. Unlike tradition, g-spot or rabbit, egg vibes can be placed completely inside of the vagina before being turned on (the egg not the woman… although the woman would be turned on eventually). Egg (or bullet egg) vibrators are usually attached to a cord and manipulated by remote control.They could even be held up to the clitoris for direct stimulation.
Eroscillators: Sounds like something out of the 24th century, doesn't it? Actually the Eroscillator is a device that’s ahead of it's time. See the trick with vibrators is that the four mentioned above offer direct stimulation meaning that they rest against the clit while stimulating you to orgasm. Eroscillators broke that barrier by offering an actual movement to the head. What that means is that it would be the same as if you had a lover using a finger on your clit (so more of a vibrating finger than a vibrating flick).
Yeah, five major types of vibrators, but there's plenty of other considerations to make before you purchase: Will you be using this with a partner? What kind of material is it made from? Does it use batteries or do you power it through electricity? Can you use it in the shower, tub or just on dry land? These are very important questions to ask yourself when you're looking around for a vibrator. Let's help make the decision easier by discussing a couple of these questions further.
What kind of material is it made from? This is an important question to ask because it also determines the type of lube you by and if it's made from a material that you may be allergic to.
Silicone is one of the more popular materials. It's non-porous, non-toxic and can be cleaned with simple soap and water. Due to it's texture it can retain body heat (imagine putting an ice cube to your clitoris…brrrr!). It's a very durable and long-lasting material however do not use silicone with a silicone lube pretty soon the whole thing will look like the lube and that ain't pretty. One of the better ways to clean silicone is to boil it. However, if you can't remove the vibration mechanics from the silicone, then don't boil, you'll destroy the vibration feature.
Rubber materials are difficult to clean, yet they make up for it by being soft and comfortable to hold. Phtalates are commonly used with rubber materials so if you pick one up, be sure to grab some condoms for the most hygienic and effective use of rubber toys.
Cyberskin makes a vibrator (especially vibrating dildos) feel very lifelike in your hand. They can be molded and designed to look like actual penis. You'll find this most effective when you want your vibrator to take on the appearance of an actual penis. Having a lifelike look and feel could help one visualize that an actual person is having sex with them. Vibrating Cyberskin dildos just add to the flavor by including a stimulation feature. Cyberskin, like silicone, should not be used with a silicone lube. It'll make the penis melt and there's no clinic that could help with that one.
Plastic vibrators are non-porous and can be cleaned with soap and water. The one drawback for plastic is that it can be very noisy. So unless you can make louder noises than the vibe (and your neighbors can back you on that claim) then you may want to stick with a material such as the others that can contain the sound better.
Will you be using this with a partner? Why should you have all of the fun? Even masturbation can now be a multiple person activity. If you're willing to share your excitement with your partner then you may want to look into traditional vibrators since they are slim enough to fit into vaginas at either end. You could also get a bullet vibrator and just enjoy watching your partner get off on the sensations.
Battery Powered vs. Electrical Charge? With electrical vibrators you get the benefit of not having to worry about it dying on you and a stronger stimulation. However, you also get the benefit of only going as far as the electrical cord will allow you. With a battery powered vibrator, you can take those anywhere you like. Some vibes are rechargeable in that they plug into a wall but only to recharge the batteries so you can take the actual vibe anywhere you want. Battery powered vibrators are usually less expensive than their electrical counterparts and because they take batteries can come in all forms (some are portable).
Battery Powered vs. Electrical Charge? With electrical vibrators you get the benefit of not having to worry about it dying on you and a stronger stimulation. However, you also get the benefit of only going as far as the electrical cord will allow you. With a battery powered vibrator, you can take those anywhere you like. Some vibes are rechargeable in that they plug into a wall but only to recharge the batteries so you can take the actual vibe with you. The downside for battery powered is that you're at the mercy of the battery. Once it dies out, then you're stuck till you replace them. It's best to have an extra set on hand near you at all times.
Where can I take my vibrators? As mentioned above some vibrators are very portable. They can come in many different sizes and shapes. There are even vibes that take on the identity of other household or personal items. If a vibrator is portable and waterproof, then you've hit a jackpot. Imagine coming home from a long day and being able to give yourself a nice "massage" while relaxing in the bathtub. With electrical vibes you can't do that (for obvious reasons) so battery powered vibes are best for this purpose. But, again, make sure they specifically say that they're waterproof.
So if work, school or other stresses in your life are causing you to hysterics, try a vibe!
As with all toys, we recommend that you practice safe usage, no matter what you purchase. Use condoms and common sense. It's best to completely clean a toy in between sharings and after use. You'll find that the toy will maintain its look, feel and stimulations for years to come if you just take proper care of them.
This article was written by a staff writer who thinks that hiding bullet eggs during Easter would make for a more interesting egg hunt experience.
