So you want to buy your first vibrator — or replace a crappy old one. It seems like a daunting task, we know! There are a ton of options out there. But it’s not as difficult as it seems. We will walk you through some considerations to make the experience fun and stress-free. When choosing your first vibrator, a lot depends on which part of your body you want to stimulate…

Washing toys may not be the most glamorous thing a person can do, but cleaning sex toys is vital to keeping vibrators and dildos in tip-top condition! Don't worry -- it takes mere minutes to clean a sex toy, and the techniques are about as simple as washing your hands. Nearly all sex toys can be washed with good old antibacterial soap and warm water.

Slick, wet, and wonderful — lubricant is a sexual accessory that should always be kept close at hand. Lube makes all sex acts frictionless and more fun and is absolutely essential for anal sex (the butt is not self-lubricating!). However, due to the variety of lubes available today, choosing one can sometimes be daunting. Remember, finding the perfect lube for you is a personal thing.

Most masturbation sleeves are built on a simple premise: to enhance the stimulation that one gets from their hand. Many, though, go above and beyond that duty, adding unique textures, supple materials, and stimulating suction to the equation. However, don’t let the term “masturbation sleeve” restrict you — like any sex toy, sleeves can be enjoyed solo or with a partner.

Of all the muscles that comprise the pelvic floor, the pubococcygeus muscles are probably the most famous. The pubococcygeus muscles (more well-known as the PC muscles) run from the pubic bone to the tailbone and form a sort of figure eight around the genitals. All people have PC muscles, and these muscles are instrumental in sexual response — in fact, they involuntarily contract during orgasm and help to propel ejaculate.

Cock rings, also called penis rings (or as we affectionately call them, “C rings”), are glorious little devices meant to encircle and bind the penis and testicles. They gently restrict blood flow out of the penis, which can make the penis temporarily firmer and more sensitive. This may prolong an erection, and some wearers find that it intensifies their orgasms. But mainly, cock rings provide sensations of tightness and pressure that many folks enjoy. Plus, they just look sexy.

If you’ve been to She Bop, you’ve seen the lovely glass sex toys on our shelves and in our cases. They’re always shining and reflecting the light, naturally drawing the eye to them. But glass dildos and butt plugs are more than just beautifully-shaped hunks of glass — they are incredibly stimulating pleasure objects.

The majority of sex toys we carry are made of pure silicone, so it’s no surprise we have a special place in our hearts for it. It’s an extremely versatile material, and because it can be soft, silicone is ideal for anal beads, double-ended dildos, packers, and any time a more yielding material is desired. Gotta love that!

While most of the toys we carry at She Bop are made from silicone and ABS plastic, there are a number of other body-safe materials we have in the shop that pique the interest of our customers. One of those eye-catching materials is stainless steel — an ultra-shiny, non-porous, and beautiful metal that has many benefits. In fact, stainless steel has a bit of a cult following among sex toy connoisseurs, in large part because of these advantages.

Besides having a perplexing name (pronounced “thal-ates”), phthalates are a family of chemicals used to soften hard plastics. In the realm of sex toys, they are often the reason that cheap sex toys are squishy, smelly, and… potentially toxic. Although we may not know it, phthalates are not foreign to us. They are present in a variety of everyday stuff: paints, deodorants, shower curtains, nail polish, vinyl floors, and even food (most likely because they can leach out of food processing machinery and food packaging). However, troubling research on phthalates has cast doubt on whether phthalates are as innocuous as they once seemed.

Hustling sex toys through airport security, onto a plane, and eventually to your destination can be a tricky and worrisome process. The good news is, sex toys are becoming more expected at the airport. We previously wrote about a news story in which the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) admitted that sex toys did not bother them very much. In fact, many folks have asked TSA’s AskTSA twitter about a variety of sex toys, and they are always happy to answer.

In our culture, menopause is often painted as an unpleasant, even ominous stage of life that will bring nothing but trouble. And while it is true that menopause is accompanied by many uncomfortable symptoms, it is a phase that also holds some hidden potential. Menopause is a great time for a rebirth — for a relearning of what feels good to you and how you would like to experience sexuality in your later years.

In a world that often imposes rigid standards of beauty and sexuality, the journey toward sexual empowerment and body positivity can feel like a radical act of self-love. These interconnected movements are about more than just accepting our bodies or exploring our desires—they’re about reclaiming our narratives, celebrating our uniqueness, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect. Whether you’re just beginning to explore these concepts or are already on the path, understanding the power of sexual empowerment and body positivity can transform the way you see yourself and interact with the world.