Three pink, glass butt plugs with heart shaped bases on white satin

The Ultimate Guide to Butt Plugs

Butt plugs–you’ve probably heard of them, but how much do you know about them? Maybe you've seen them and wondered, "do butt plugs really feel good?" Butt plugs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from, which can make picking one overwhelming. If you’ve been curious but don’t know where to start, we’ve crafted this guide to introduce you to the wonderful world of butt plugs. After this, you’ll know them and you may even love them! 

Why Use Butt Plugs

Popular Types of Butt Plugs

How to Use Butt Plugs

Our Picks

Tips for beginners

Conclusion

 Why Use Butt Plugs

Your anus contains thousands of sensitive nerve endings that can create pleasurable sensations when stimulated. Using a butt plug can provide intense physical pleasure and sexual arousal through pelvic pressure, feelings of fullness, prostate stimulation, and even penile/vaginal stimulation. You read that last part right–thanks to the magical pudendal nerve, we can actually stimulate our genitals via anal play. 

If all that’s not enough to convince you to try them out, butt plugs are also a great way to warm up for more intense anal penetration and help relax your muscles, as well as give you an idea of whether you like anal stimulation before trying more. Butt plugs can be used in power play or BDSM activities, where one partner may wear the plug as a way to submit to the other and for some people, the taboo nature of anal play can create a sense of excitement and arousal. 

 

How to Use Butt Plugs

When using a butt plug, it's important to take your time and go slowly to make sure everything feels comfortable and safe.

To prepare, some people prefer to use a douche or enema before anal play as an extra measure to avoid mess; of course, this is totally up to you. Use plenty of alllergen-free lube (either water or silicone based) on the plug and around your anus to make insertion easier. Start by gently pushing the tip of the plug in. Relax and slowly insert it further as your body allows. If you're having trouble with this part, try stimulating your genitals with your hands or a vibrator at the same time as insertion. When you're ready to remove the plug, do so carefully and slowly to avoid any discomfort or injury. Make sure to clean the plug thoroughly with warm water and soap or toy cleaner when you're done, then store it safely.

After a few times of getting the hang of things, you can experiment and try different movements and angles. If working your way up to larger sizes or girths over time is a goal, be prepared for it to take multiple play sessions to size up. 

 

Popular Types of Butt Plugs

Some of the most popular types of butt plugs include:

  • Tapered butt plug: These have a simple, tapered shape that is designed to insert easily. They come in a variety of sizes, from small and beginner-friendly to large and more advanced. These are perfect for stretching and training up to larger sized anal play.
  • Teardrop butt plug: These butt plugs are named for their rounded, teardrop shape. They come in a variety of bases and are probably the most well-known, popular shape of butt plug. They’re best used after training first with tapered plugs, ending with a plug of similar diameter/girth.
  • Vibrating butt plug: These butt plugs contain a tiny vibrator to provide additional stimulation. They can be controlled by button, remote, or app, and can provide an exciting experience when worn discreetly for those who enjoy exhibitionism and bdsm.
  • Jeweled butt plug: Most frequently metal, but can come in silicone or glass. These plugs are hugely popular because of their blinged out jewel bases. They are often used for aesthetic purposes or as a part of BDSM play.
  • Inflatable butt plug: These butt plugs can be inflated to expand while inserted, providing extra intensity at the control of the wearer or dominant. They are often used by more experienced users. These can be compared to locking butt plugs, which similarly expand once inserted and cannot be removed until the dominant decides to unlock.
  • Tail butt plug: These are designed to look like an animal tail and are often used in role-playing, pet play, or BDSM scenarios. They’re also just a fun way to play dress up!

Our Picks

Best Butt Plug for Extended Wear: T Bar Butt Plug

This plug gets its name from its anchored base–a design that ensures it stays put. Some plugs, like most gem plugs, can be unsafe to wear due not having a large enough base diameter vs inserted diameter. This can result in the wearer losing the toy inside themself! Save yourself the trip to the ER and get yourself a nice t bar anchor butt plug if you’re planning on wearing one for an hour or more. You’ll be glad you did!


Best Butt Plug for Beginners: Anal Training Set

Gloved hand with pearls holding set of pink silicone anal training plugs in front of a white background

For beginners, we recommend starting with a set of tapered anal trainers. As mentioned above, the shape makes insertion and gradual stretching both easy and painless. Plus they’re versatile and can be comfortably used as first time or anytime butt plugs.

 

Best Butt Plug for Aesthetic + Beginners: Beaded Gem Plug

Hot pink beaded gem butt plug on a white background with white tulips out of focus in corner
This sparkly pink beaded butt plug is made of firm silicone for a gentler insertion, and rings in at a dainty 2 3/4" length--perfect for anal beginners. A safe flared base is paired with beads of increased size so the wearer can get taste of anal sensory play.

Best Butt Plug for Aesthetic + Experienced: Heart Butt Plug

Pink glass butt plug with heart base on white satin fabric

We love this glass butt plug because it pairs the beauty of a teardrop gem plug with the safety of a flared base. Glass means easy cleaning and a smooth, firm toy without any worries about allergenic aluminum or nickel.

Tips for beginners

Obviously here at Cute Cruelty, we love glass because it’s totally non-porous (easy to clean) and smooth (easy to insert). If you do go for silicone, start with a firmer, tapered plug with lots of water-based lube. Softer silicone can be great for longer wear after stretching with a firmer plug first. Just make sure when buying silicone that you choose pure silicone.

Always use plenty of lubricant, clean your butt plugs thoroughly between uses, and store them safely. Remember, it's important to listen to your body and remove the butt plug if you experience any unusual pain or discomfort. 

If you're interested in a full how-to guide, we made this free downloadable Anal Beginner's Guide just for you!

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has provided you with some helpful information on how to start using butt plugs. Have more questions? Drop them in the comments or reach out to us at info@cutecruelty.com and we’ll do our best to help you out.

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