Whether you’re doing it for the first or 400th time, we thought it would be handy (wink, wink) for you to swipe through (ok, we’ll stop now) some fresh solo sex ideas. Few people realise the immense health benefits of masturbating; making out with yourself is good for your skin, hair, stress levels and libido, and a swift self-administered orgasm is a quick and easy cure for insomnia, period pain and headaches. But at Scarlet, we mainly do it because it feels amazing. Here’s everything you need to lift your masturbation to a new level…
Different Masturbation Techniques
The Classic
Stimulating the clitoris with fingers is a fundamental female skill. Watch your body move as you stroke it and indulge in sordid fantasises about who (or what) else could be playing between your legs. Smear saliva or lubricant between your labia from top to bottom, over your vaginal entrance and your clitoris, or, if you’re wet enough, dip a finger inside yourself and spread your own natural lube around.
Once thoroughly wet, say hello to your clitoris with a firm handshake; feel its size and shape with your fingertips, and take note of its sensitive bits. Do you like to stroke from top to bottom or from side to side? How fast do you like to go? Work out your own preferences and then introduce hand number two. With the extra digits you can pull at your nipples, penetrate your vagina or circle the rim of your anus. This may feel a little like trying to rub your tummy and pat your head at the same time, so don’t feel bad if you need to pull in a toy for assistance.
Next, focus on building your orgasm. For this you’ll need a quick, firm, continuous stroke. Rapidly squeeze and release your pelvic muscles as climax approaches to help tip you over the edge – and remember to keep those filthy thoughts in mind, so you don’t get side-tracked into an anticlimax by thinking about the weekend’s shopping list.
Roller Girl
Once you’ve mastered basic masturbation, you’ll probably want to mix up your moves to keep things interesting. The Roller Girl technique is a simple alternative to basic stroking. With your clitoris sitting snugly between your thumb and index finger slowly roll it back and forth, gradually picking up speed until you’ve found a pace that works for you. Also, try lightly pinching and tugging at your clitoris – a little bit of light bondage will help bring blood into your clitoris making it mega sensitive to the touch.
Tap Dance
Another move that boosts blood flow to your clitoris is the Tap Dance. Gently separate your labia, fully exposing your clit, then with your other hand, use one or two fingers to lightly tap your love button into action. .
Figure 8
It’s easy to become clitori-centric and forget the wonderful nerve endings elsewhere in your nether regions. To avoid neglecting them, stroke your fingers around your clitoris and then around your vaginal opening in a figure of eight. Use varying pressures to uncover which spot gives you the most pleasure – we’ve heard that just south east of the clitoris is lovely at this time of year.
Pillow Talk
As well as fingers, household props make exceptional playmates. Twist and knot the corner of a cushion or pillow and then place your clitoris over the knot while lying on your front. Now rock your hips into the pillow until you find the speed and pressure that gets you off.
Tub Tap Tip
It’s also fun to take playtime out of the bedroom. In the bath tub, you can try this trick: test the water first (it should be tepid), then, lying on your back, bring your bum down to the end of your tub so your clitoris is directly under the tap and your legs are in the air or bent at the knee towards your chest (we never said it was pretty). When you’re as comfortable as you’ll ever be in this position (a flannel over the plughole helps), part your labia with one hand and direct the tap so the water runs over your clit. Warning: you need a mixer tap that’s guaranteed to pour continually tepid water, and not reset itself to boiling when another person in the building decides to fill a kettle. Ouch!
Shower Power
The showerhead works on the same principle as the Tub Tap Tip – use one hand to part the labia and the other to direct the water – but if you’re going to do it standing up, be careful. Steady yourself by placing one foot on the side of the bath or, better still, invest in a shower seat and take the weight off your feet. Inserting a vibrating splash-proof toy like the Showerproof Dolly Dolphin (£31.90, FunFactory.co.uk) at the same time is what will really make you sing in the shower!
Jacuzzi Floozy
Some whirlpool jets come from the tub’s floor, others come from the sides of the tub. Grab the edge of the whirlpool for balance and straddle a water jet coming up from the floor, or if the strongest jets are on the sides of the tub, hold on to the sides and let your body float into position. Next, for a super wet ride, thrust your hips back and forth into the stream, clenching and releasing your PC muscles as you go.
How Other Women Get Off
“I masturbate using a vibrator most of the time, although occasionally I’ll watch a porn video and use my hands to manipulate myself. If I’m in bed, I’ll read sexy books and stories (Clirtaure link) to help me get there.” Tali, 28
“The fantasies I use to get myself off can be anything from being with any hot guy I know, to having a sexual encounter with another woman. Another great fantasy is pulling up at a work site where there are a bunch of sweaty men, opening up the trench coat I’m wearing and flashing them, then watching their tongues drop out and the hard-ons in their pants grow. Most of these are guaranteed to work.” Simone, 29
“I started out using the water flow from bath taps and pool jets. I learnt to use my hand after that, and then progressed to back massagers, and then my first vibe. I’ve always preferred something other than just my own fingers. I think the sensation and end result are so much better.” Kitty, 26
“The only way I can reach orgasm is by slipping a finger inside my bottom. I don’t know whether it’s breaking the rules, or I’m just ridiculously sensitive there, but that’s the only thing that works for me.” Erin, 41
“When I was younger, I’d get a mirror out, sit in front of it and masturbate to watch and feel my own sensations. I found it was one of the best ways to really know what’s going on down there and now I know exactly how to have the most intense orgasms.” Jessie, 27
“I’ve really come to enjoy masturbation as a regular event in my week. I create a really relaxing and sexy scene: a glass of wine, a bubble bath and erotic reading to get me in the mood. I don’t use a vibrator, just my own hands, and I tease myself by stopping and starting to get a better orgasm.” Nas, 36
“Thinking about someone who shouldn’t be going down on me doing just that, while rubbing my trusty old teddy between my legs, works every time.” Kate, 19
“I don’t find it a turn-on to have sex in public places or anything like that but, when it comes to masturbating, I like to add a bit of risk factor. The idea of getting caught in the act really excites me. In the past, I’ve masturbated in
the toilets at work, and once in the car.” Ellie, 24
Your Solo Sex Kit
Essential pussy-pleasing treats for a night of naughtiness with me, myself and I.
1 Rabbit
There’s a reason we rabbit on about these – they give your vagina a rollicking good seeing to, while spreading hot vibrations all over your clit and labia. If you like twice the stimulation (who doesn’t?), but can’t be bothered to operate two toys at once, the Dream Rabbit is just what the love doctor ordered.
2 G-Spot Stim
Some women prefer to mix and match with internal G-spot stimulation – use either hooked fingers or a specially designed G-spot toy to reach the G (located about two inches up the front wall of the vagina). At the same time, continuing clitoral stimulation will help arouse you and make the G-spot more sensitive to touch. Try the OG Pleasure Air G Spot.
3 Clit Stim
Most female orgasms are achieved by stimulating the clitoris and its surrounding area, so treat your hooded friend to finger strokes or, for added horsepower, any vibrating gadget with kick. We love a Finger Vibe and also Finger Skin Sleeves and these, feature two different textures to tickle your fancy.
4 Porn
The right mindset can mean the difference between mediocre masturbation and the sort of mind-blowing session you have to ring your mates about. Bookmark your favourite Cliterature stories to recap when inspiration is needed, or watch a few porn films (generally the less you end up watching, the better the film is). Check out Make Love Not Porn for ethical real life porn videos.
5 Lube
The ultimate wanker’s weapon, a splash of good lube can intensify sensation and prevent friction injuries. Lubes have undergone a bit of a revival in recent years and you can buy them in a variety of flavours and styles. For instance, Pjur MySpray is a new sensitising lube that provides a “champagne bubbles sensation” – pop that cork!
6 Butt Plug
An A-grade masturbator knows not to neglect the a-hole. It’s packed with nerve endings and playing with it makes you feel like you’ve done something a bit naughty. But you have to be careful. Toys for anal play are specially designed with a groove around the base to prevent them getting sucked all the way into the rectum – make sure you use one, along with lots of lubricant (the bum can’t make its own like the vagina can), and never put anything that’s been in your backside in your vagina – the transference of bacteria puts you at risk of infection. Once the butt plug is in place, relax, breathe deeply, then slowly commence your usual masturbation routine – all sensations will be magnified. Try the Ass Berry Butt Plug ideal for beginners.
7 Household Props
Where would we be without them? Cucumbers, carrots, deodorant cans, shampoo bottles: as long as they’re clean, covered in a condom and have no sharp edges, they make perfectly good dildos. Cost effective and great for experimenting with before buying the real thing in a size to suit you. Insert, then clench and release with your Kegel muscles while you stroke your clitoris at the same time.
What Men Think About “Me-Time“
“Women masturbating is wicked. I’m a firm believer in the theory that if you know how to get yourself off, then you’re more likely to get off with someone else’s assistance. Plus, how could any guy resist diving in and helping out when they catch their girlfriend doing it?” Steve, 27
“My wife pretends she doesn’t do it, but I know she does. I’ve confronted her about it, but she still denies it, which is a shame because, for once, I’d like to be in the room when it happens.” Matt, 34
“It doesn’t turn me on that much, but what’s important is that it turns her on, because then I benefit from it as much as she does. After all, she’s doing what feels best for her, so if I can learn a few of her preferred methods, we’re both a lot happier.” Alex, 29
“My other half loves to satisfy herself, and I sometimes feel that her right hand or Rabbit is getting my share of the action, but she assures me that the more she, er, works out, the more she wants sex. If I ever find out this is a lie, I’ll be pissed.” Dean, 42
“There’s nothing more exciting than watching a girl lose herself while she masturbates in front of you, with both of us becoming more aroused by the minute. It takes all my willpower to hold back and wait for the right moment to take over.” Marl, 25
What It Feels For A Boy
“How does it feel for a guy? For us chaps, masturbation is manual labour – nothing more, nothing less. The urge to knock one out is primordial. We don’t really understand it and we don’t particularly want to. We wank because we can. An insight into the level of maturity with which men approach the beautiful art of solo pleasure lies in our manhandling lexicon: crank the shank, spank the monkey, jerk the gherkin, burp the worm… Male self-love is different to women’s; there is no effort made. Unlike what we (oh poor misguided fools) assume your sessions to be like (soft lighting and a scattering of rose petals every time, right?), ours are perfunctory, like uncapping a stubby. It starts early and develops fast. Male masturbatory mania is common, particularly in boyhood (ahh, the wonder years), but it’s all healthy experimentation, and even those first ham-fisted, sticky-fingered salutes to female high school teachers and our mates’ older sisters are essential basic training for the sexual skirmishes to come. Yet the cock-knocking doesn’t stop when full sexual congress commences. By 25, a man’s penis should be the palette his imagination paints from, a guilt-free indulgence funded by a spank bank of triggers: a smell, a memory, a few minutes to kill. Men are simple beasts. If it feels good, we do it. Pass the tissues.” Scarlet Male Fan
5 Good Reasons to Masturbate
Here are five scientifically proven reasons why getting off is good for you:
1 Shiny hair: Studies show women who masturbate produce more of the hormone oestrogen, which makes hair shiny and skin smooth.
2 Safe fun: No STIs, no accidental pregnancies, no man troubles. Masturbation is the ultimate one-night stand.
3 Dewy complexion: The sweat produced while masturbating cleans your pores, making skin glow and your rashes or blemishes fade.
4 Mood booster: Having an orgasm is a natural painkiller, which relieves stress, period pain and headaches. It also helps you sleep.
5 More sex: Sexually active people give off more pheromones, the body’s natural chemicals which help to attract a mate
Fun Masturbation Facts
- The clitoris is the only body part that’s sole purpose of giving pleasure
- Around 10 per cent of women ejaculate when they orgasm
- Surveys, though unreliable generally show that women masturbate as often in one month as men do in one week
- Most women can masturbate to orgasm in under four minutes, while it takes between 10 and 20 minutes to get there during sex
