What Dildo Material Is Right For You?
While silicone is the most popular material for dildos, there are more materials to choose from than you may think! Read below to find out which materials to stay away from, and to narrow down which material is the best for you.
The Bad
Non body-safe materials include jelly, PVC, rubber, TPE/TPR, and ‘Realistic Skin’. These materials can have a sticky feeling and unnatural gleam to them. If they are porous and contain phthalates, they are not safe for your body. Porous materials are harder to clean properly and break down easily over time. If you do use them, throw them out after 6-12 months or if the material begins to discolor/distort. Another red flag is if a sex toy company says their material is ‘realistic skin’ or another ambiguous identification. They can also have the same issues as the other materials and can even fuse onto other toys.
The Good
Silicone is of course, the most common and cheapest body-safe material. It’s non-porous, latex-free, phthalate-free, and hypoallergenic. There are different grades of silicone as well, including body-safe or medical-grade. It’s a durable option with few downsides - one being that dust can collect on it easily.
Metal, including stainless steel and aluminum. There’s pricier than silicone but will last for a long time. They can also be heavier.
Glass, in particular, borosilicate glass. They have a versatile price range and are unlikely to break. It’s great for temperature play, maintaining both hot and cold temperatures.
Wood toys are pricier and their safety can depend on what the wood is coated with. It needs to be waterproof and non-porous.
Stone is an uncommon material, but safe to use after being glazed and polished.
ABS Plastic is made for more external toys such as vibrator handles.
Lucite has a firm texture that is good for Kegel exercises.
Extra Things To Look Out For
Chemicals that can cause itching, burning, rashes, and damage. Phthalates are often found in cheap rubber sex toys. Other chemicals to watch for include phenol, timethytin chloride, carbon disulfide, toluene, and admium. If a product has a strong smell, it’s a strong indicator that some of these materials are in it.
Porous materials breed bacteria easily. Avoid them unless you use a condom over them.
No matter which material you choose, make sure to properly clean them. Visit our blog post here to learn the best practices for cleaning sex toys.
Dupe A Dick offers custom dildos made out of silicone, created by 3D scanning and replicating a dick! Join our waitlist here to be notified once they’re available.
