These Household Items Can Double As Sex Toys
I think we all know what it feels like to have our favorite sex toy fail us in one way or another, particularly the conundrum of having it die mid-use. But even then, there has never been a part of me that considered using random objects around my house. Instinctively, I was aware that stimulating my coochie with a makeshift dildo would not be the answer to my problem. But, instead, further exacerbate an already frustrating situation…making it…uncomfortable, to say the least.
However, this doesn’t acknowledge the sexually ambitious and curious kinksters who seek out the thrill because there are no doubt those who go for the kill with no reasoning. Still, I don’t have to remind you what curiosity did to the cat, so caution is still best. And, unless your goal is to be on an episode of Sex Sent Me to the ER, then I urge you to refrain from masturbating with these…things…often found in your home. Yes, I’m tabling (no pun intended) a few items but I’m certain there are some safety measures you might be able to take when improvising for whatever reason. So instead of just giving you a list of 16 items found around the home and whether or not they’re safe to masturbate with, I'm also giving a few pointers on how to make them safe for the curious and kinky.
Of note, each expert varies in their views as to what is considered 'safe' and 'unsafe' based on their niche and so much more. In fact, Marla Renee Stewart, MA, sexologist and sexual strategist at Velvet Lips Sex Education points out, “A lot of the things that I would suggest would typically be associated with kink, but anything in general (in the vanilla world), you really just don't want to masturbate with anything that would be harmful to you in any way and that would vary from person-to-person.”
As for the more 'vanilla' side of things, we spoke with WHNP-BC Sexual Health Expert and Pelvic Floor Specialist Jenna Perkins, to provide a brief list of common household items that range from a hard "no" to somewhere in the gray area.
Go for It: Household Items That Can Double As Sex Toys
Giphy- Showerhead (externally);
- Bidet;
- Pillow/mattress;
- Electric toothbrush (externally!);
- Ice to be rubbed externally on the vulva and clitoris;
- Sit on a washer on spin or dryer for vibration and movement (Bonus: add a shoe to the dryer for a more intense sensation);
- Body massager.
Proceed With Caution: Household Items You Should Use a Condom With
- Phallic-shaped foods are used with a condom to avoid bacteria or fungus;
- Brush handle;
- Plastic bottle.
Perkins adds that “anything inserted should be covered with a condom to protect from bacteria. Lube should always be incorporated into penetrative play.” You are able to use the following for lubrication: “Vaseline, coconut, or olive oil applied externally [but keep in mind] oils can degrade condoms and are not recommended for penetration when latex condoms are being used.”
Big No-Go's: Household Items You Should Never Use As Sex Toys
Giphy- Textured items like the bristles on a brush that can scratch or damage tissue;
- Sharp item(s) or item(s) able to poke, like utensils (fork, knife, surprisingly vacuum cleaners, etc);
- Any soft or porous objects (cucumber, zucchini, brush handle) for penetration WITHOUT a condom;
- Lotions and soap that contain fragrances and/or a long list of ingredients.
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Featured image by Getty Images
Motor City native, Atlanta living. Sagittarius. Writer. Sexpert. Into all things magical, mystical, and unknown. I'll try anything at least once but you knew that the moment I revealed that I was a Sag.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images