The Best Lube for Masturbation: How to Choose

Masturbation. Everyone does it. It’s relatively simple and easy, and it can quickly reduce stress levels and boost your mood¹. But for many people, especially men who are circumcised, there are many ways to make it an even better experience. One of those key tips is using lube, which can help to decrease friction and increase sexual pleasure, as well as provide men who struggle to stay hard with a way to get their load off with ease. If you are looking for tips on which lubes to use for masturbation, then you are in the right place, as this guide has a complete overview.

Read on to learn about:

• Why Use Lube for Masturbation?
• Types of Lubricants Available
• How to Choose the Best Lube for Masturbation
• Top Recommendations for Masturbation Lube
• How to Use Lubricant for Masturbation Effectively
• Tips for Maintaining Hygiene

Why Use Lube for Masturbation?

If you haven’t used lube before, you are in the minority. An American study shows that 70% of American men use lubrication for sexual intercourse and masturbation². Lube is a particularly great tool when it comes to decreasing friction between your hand and penis, making for a more satisfying session.

Lube is particularly recommended for men who are circumcised, as studies suggest that circumcision affects masturbation habits³. This is especially true in the USA, where four in five men are circumcised⁴. As uncircumcised penises create their own lubrication, known as smegma⁵, they do not need lube as much. Conversely, uncircumcised men usually have to use lube to pleasure themselves⁶, making it not only an enhancement for masturbation but also a highly crucial tool. 

It’s not only men who might want to use lube to masturbate. Women might not masturbate as much as men, but they also report higher pleasure from lubrication during solo play⁷. Let’s dig into the benefits of masturbating with lube now.

Benefits

Masturbating on a regular basis is a great way to reduce stress and increase sexual confidence. This can be enhanced significantly when you use lube to aid your masturbation journey. The benefits of masturbating with lube include: 

• Reduced friction
• Reduced discomfort due to vaginal or penile dryness
• Less likelihood of developing rashes, chafing, and bruises
• It allows for wetter, more exciting play
• It helps increase pleasure
• It allows for experimentation
• Some are compatible with sex toys
• It can give you an exciting new sensation
• It can prepare you better for lubricated sex
• Provide lubrication for circumcised penises

You might not experience all of these benefits when masturbating with lube, but considering that there are no common downsides, you have no reason not to try! With that said, check yourself for any rare allergies before starting.

Types of Lubricants Available

Now that you understand the benefits of masturbating with lube, it’s time to get an idea of the types of lubricants available and their specific pros and cons. Let’s dive into the lubes you can use when getting your rocks off. Read on to learn more:

Water-Based Lubricants

Water-based lubricants are known for their versatility and used in many sexual situations. They’re quick to wash and safe to use with condoms — both latex and latex-free. Make sure to read and follow all label use directions. 

Three Pros: 

1. Condom compatible (always read label to check)
2. Easy to wash off
3. Highly versatile

Three Cons:

1. Needs to be reapplied often
2. It’s not waterproof
3. Can contain glycerin, which may cause irritation⁸

Silicone-Based Lubricants

Silicone lube is made from silicone oil. It is waterproof, perfect for the shower. It’s even safe to consume in small amounts. 

Three Pros: 

1. Waterproof
2. Thin and slippery for extra sexual pleasure
3. Doesn’t need to be reapplied

Three Cons:

1. Not compatible with silicone-based sex toys
2. Can stain clothes and sheets

Oil-Based Lubricants

Oil-based lubricants are an excellent choice if you are looking for an extra-long and fiery session with a focus on the whole body, not just the genitals. This is especially true for women who might want to play with their breasts or men who want to massage their balls while masturbating at the same time.

Three Pros: 

1. Doubles up as massage oil
2. Perfect for long-lasting masturbation

Three Cons:

1. Stains your clothing and sheets
2. Can weaken latex condoms (check specific condom compatibility)
3. Can clog your pores

How to Choose the Best Lube for Masturbation

Choosing the best lube to masturbate with, depends on your needs and preferences. Generally speaking, if you want to start on your masturbation journey, water-based lube is the best way to go, as there is less mess. This might be a strong option if you are looking to be discreet, for example, if you don’t live alone, and don’t want people to know you are getting your rocks off in the next room. If you are more seasoned in your masturbation habits and want to enjoy a longer sensation, or you would like to climax in the shower, then an oil or silicone-based lube is the perfect choice. The important part is to be in tune with your body to figure out the best lube for you.

Top Recommendations for Masturbation Lube

If you are looking for a mind-melding masturbation lube, then you are in the right place, as K-Y® has an excellent selection of lubes created for both men and women alike. For men looking for a slippery and sexy experience when it comes to getting off, then K-Y^® Warming Liquid Personal Lube is an excellent choice — adding heat to the bedroom while adding waves of pleasure. For women looking for enhancing clitoral stimulation, then K-Y^® Intense Pleasure Gel Lube is a brilliant way to get you there quicker. While men can apply as much lube as they want to their penises, women can apply just a few drops to their clitoris to enhance their masturbation sessions.

Still not sure what you’d like to pick? Find the best lube for your specific needs with the K-Y® Pick Your Pleasure page. Check it out today.

How to Use Lubricant for Masturbation Effectively

Using lube is simple and effective, no matter whether you have a penis or a vagina. For men, there is no right or wrong way to use lube, but it’s recommended to put a couple of drops on the head. You can also put the lube in your hands, on the middle of your penis, or on your testicles. For extra fun, or for a prostate masturbation session, you can even put the lube on your finger and put it in your butt.

Women can use a quarter-sized dollop of lube before applying it to their clitoris, vulva, or nipples. Make sure to take some into your hands first to get used to the cold shock and gently apply it to sensitive parts, so you can ease into your masturbation session. Not sure if you are masturbating correctly? Why not try it in front of a full-length mirror? 

For both men and women using their best sex toys, adding lube is a great idea If you are masturbating and want to avoid messing up your sheets and pillows, then it’s worth laying out a pillow you don’t mind spoiling underneath your body. This way you can enjoy your session without worrying about staining the bed. With silicone-based and oil-based lube, you have to be careful about dropping it onto a hardwood floor. Those types of lubes can leave stains for weeks, even months. Remember to always check toy and lube compatibility first!

Tips for Maintaining Hygiene

No matter which lubricant for masturbation you choose, it’s always important to maintain strong hygiene practices, before, during, and after your session. Make sure to wash your hands first to avoid an infection, clean and trim your nails to avoid lube getting into unwanted places, and to clean sex toys thoroughly. It’s also not a bad idea for men to cover things up with a condom. Additionally, if you are incorporating anal play into your session, never use the same hand or fingers for both anus and genitals! 

Afterwards, it’s very important to get into the shower and wash up thoroughly. Women should also make sure that they have a pee straightaway, which is well-known for preventing urinary tract infections⁹. Additionally, uncircumcised men in particular have to be careful to wash under their foreskin to break the build-up of smegma. If you are using an oil or silicone-based lube, make sure you wash thoroughly to get it all off. If this seems all like a lot of effort, you can always kill two birds with one stone by masturbating in the shower!

Resources

1. Cleveland Clinic, 2022, Masturbation
2. National Institute of Health, 2014, Men's use and perceptions of commercial lubricants: prevalence and characteristics in a nationally representative sample of American adults
3. National Institute of Health, 2020, The Contrasting Evidence Concerning the Effect of Male Circumcision on Sexual Function, Sensation, and Pleasure: A Systematic Review
4. National Institute of Health, 2022, Incidence of circumcision among insured adults in the United States
5. Sexology, 1970, How Smegma Serves the Penis
6. BMK, 2007, Is infant male circumcision an abuse of the rights of the child? Yes
7. National Institute of Health, 2011, Association of lubricant use with women's sexual pleasure, sexual satisfaction, and genital symptoms: a prospective daily diary study
8. Stanford Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology, Undated, Female Sexual Medicine
9. CDC, 2021, Urinary Tract Infection

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