Anal sex. Once considered a hugely taboo sexual act, it has in recent years gone mainstream, popping up all over the pop culture landscape. Pick up any magazine with a sexual health section and you’ll likely read something about backdoor loving. These days, pegging is mainstream and analingus isn’t that big of a deal. In other words, a sizeable segment of pleasure product consumers is interested in exploring the world of anal pleasure.
While beginner anal toys and kits are important, butt exploration doesn’t end there. These types of devices are often just a jumping off point allowing folks to get used to the feeling of anal penetration and determine what sensations they do or don’t like. Some folks find that once they’ve gotten the hang of anal play, they want to move on to something more intense, or even closer to the extreme, and are ready to graduate to more intense toys.
Novice anal adventurers don’t stay newbies for long and many go on to seek bigger, better and more novel things.
What Exactly Is Extreme Anal?
This is anal play that goes beyond a (well-lubricated) toy or finger to explore the boundaries of what the butt can take. For some, this may involve the insertion of increasingly large or thick toys while for others it may focus on how far into the body something can be inserted. This may be encouraged or imposed by a dominant who wants to push their submissive’s body to the limits. Someone might start exploring extreme anal because they enjoy anal toys in general, or even being fisted, and want to take their anal play to an even higher level.
Covering the Basic Anal Bases
If your customer’s philosophy is “bigger is better,” there are a number of devices you can suggest that will stretch their limits. Before going there, however, it’s important to remember beginner anal basics:
- Anal toys only. These have a wide handle or flared base preventing them from getting lost inside the rectum. Look for a flared base that is wider than the thickest part of the toy’s insertable diameter.
- Lube is everyone’s best friend. Remember, the bigger the sex toy going inside, the more lube the person will need — and they’ll likely have to reapply often. Make sure to recommend that customers have plenty of anal-friendly lubricant on hand and suggest that they purchase containers that are larger than the usual eight-ounce bottles.
- Rectal tissue is delicate and needs to be treated with care when sizing up with sex toys. Remind shoppers that it’s important to gradually increase the size of the toys — don’t go straight to something the size of a fist or two feet long after using a traditional anal plug, especially if it’s for the first time. Think of graduating to larger anal toys as a long-distance marathon and definitely not a sprint.
Getting Extreme
There are two key challenges people undertaking anal depth training must overcome. First, they must learn to relax the puborectal sling, a powerful muscle that creates the first curve of the rectum. This muscle tends to clamp down to close the rectum if it feels pressure, as it does during anal sex or stimulation. Learning to relax the muscle, even when it’s stimulated, is key for successful anal depth training. Second, people undergoing anal training must learn to associate the deep pressure they feel when penetrated anally with pleasure. Focusing on relaxing the body and getting in touch with its sensations can aid anal depth training. Many people find deep breathing helps them relax during anal penetration, and getting in certain body positions, like being on all fours or kneeling and sitting back on a toy, also aids relaxation.
Before deciding which toys to try next, it’s important to help shoppers determine what their end goal is. Are they looking for a more intense experience using bigger toys? Do they just want to go deep or is girth important to them too?
Deep-depth items are a great option for folks looking for both depth and girth, plus assistance with stretch training. These toys double as all-purpose anal stretching trainers that are even great for those into anal gaping. Make sure to keep multiple size options in stock for the option for anal training.
These kinds of deep-depth anal tools sometimes combine length and girth with texture in order to stimulate the anus and rectal walls during penetration. Keep in mind all of the unique ways that anal players enjoy their extreme play and offer options that cater to them all.
Anal play isn’t a trend — it’s here to stay. And while it’s essential to carry the basics, don’t stop there. Novice anal adventurers don’t stay newbies for long and many go on to seek bigger, better and more novel things. Make sure you always stock a varied selection of butt toys for those looking to level up their anal game and be prepared to offer tips, advice and upsells, too!
Rebecca Weinberg is the president of XR Brands.
