Pleasure products are a great way to introduce sensations to your sex life that wouldn’t be possible without them—and anal beads are a great example of that.
For the unfamiliar, anal beads look vaguely like keychains or holiday ornaments. These anal toys consist of a series of increasingly bigger spheres that are connected by a cord, and topped off with a handle or flared base, emblematic of all anal-safe toys.
While the other common anal toy—the butt plug—delivers consistent feelings of fullness, anal bead stimulation pleasure lies in movement. The insertion and removal of each bead is accompanied by a whoosh of sensation as the anal opening rapidly opens and closes around it.
Using anal beads can require greater intention and relaxation compared to other sex toys.
They are generally recommended for people who already have had experiences of anal stimulation through prior anal toy use, anal fingering, or analingus, and know they enjoy it. That said, anal beads are more versatile than usually credited, and can be enjoyable for all sorts of pleasure-seekers.
Why anal beads?
What do they do? Anal beads are sex toys designed to move in and out of the anal canal. The unique, beaded design allows the toy to deliver what can feel like pops of pleasure with each addition or subtraction of a bead. There are thousands of nerves clustered around the opening of the anus, and those get stroked with each bead insertion and removal in—usually—a feel-good way.
What body part or parts are they for use with? Anal beads are designed for the anus. You can also experiment with running the toy over other erogenous zones and lean into anything that feels good. However, these toys are relatively specialized and don’t offer quite the same multipurpose appeal as something like a dildo or a bullet vibrator.
What do they feel like? What it feels like to use anal beads is going to vary a lot, based on factors like your experience with anal play more generally, the unique string of beads you’re using, the type and amount of lubricant used, and your present state of comfort, stress, arousal, and body-awareness.
Anal beads usually deliver pleasure, so long as you utilize a string suited for your experience level, use way more lube than you might initially think you need, and move only as fast as your body indicates it can handle.
The anus sports two primary sets of anal sphincter muscles—internal and external—which both can remain contracted (their typical state) or soften. When you are turned on, the external sphincter typically relaxes, making entry easier. The internal sphincter, however, usually relaxes only after stress has left your body and been replaced by a sense of safety. If either anal muscle group is contracted, inserting the beads will likely not feel good. Listen to your body throughout and interpret discomfort as a sign to slow down.
Exactly how anal beads feel also depends on what else is being folded into the play. Utilizing beads to stimulate your back-side nerve-endings while you or your partner(s) pleasure your front genitals can intensify the sensation. Some say it feels like waves of sensation are swelling throughout their body, while others report internal fullness or pressure. The beads give the pelvic floor and anal canal muscles something to contract around, which many people find heightens overall sensation.
The speed with which you insert and exert each sphere will also impact your experience. Each insertion or removal delivers a rush of sensation as the sphincter muscle rapidly opens and closes again. Some people like to insert (or exert) one bead at a time slowly, pausing between beads to revel in the feeling that a single bead can deliver. Others like the intensity of inserting or removing the entire strand at once. One especially popular way to use anal beads is to insert them slowly, using the gradual buildup to increase pleasure, and then remove them during orgasm, when sensation throughout the body may already feel amplified.
Quick facts
What materials are they made of? The best anal beads are made entirely from medical-grade silicone, including the beads and the connective cord. Silicone has a silky, skin-like feel that is non-abrasive to the anal nerve endings, and thus supports insertion and removal. A silicone cord can be sanitized, while a fabric cord obviously would be harder to fully clean.
There are some anal beads made from stainless steel, ABS plastic, and borosilicate glass. These materials are considered body-safe, which means they are non-porous, easy to clean, and safe for anal insertion. However, they are far denser and heftier than silicone; that added weight makes similarly-sized beads feel much bigger than silicone varieties during insertion, exertion, and wear—something some people enjoy, but those new to anal play may find overwhelming.
Are they loud? No. Vibrating anal beads can make a noticeable sound turned on outside of the body; however, the sound usually becomes muted once it’s inside the body. If discretion is a priority, you’d be wise to read online reviews, seek out descriptions of decibels, or visit a shop with tester products on display.
Are they beginner-friendly? Anal beads can be used by all sorts of pleasure-seekers, so long as they are approached with patience and used with plenty of lubricant. Indeed, while anal toys—and anal beads in particular—are often dubbed advanced sex toys, the category itself is not off-limits to those new to the wonderful world of sex toys. The nerve-rich erogenous zone can respond favorably to anal touch and insertion, whether you’ve used or enjoyed any other kind of sex toy before or not. In fact, despite the misconception to the contrary, anal beads can actually be more accessible for beginners than other anal toys, because they often have a very, very tiny first bead.
That said, not all anal strings are optimal for beginners. If you’re newer to anal exploration, you’ll want to opt for a shorter, slimmer string. Ideally, one with a first bead that is no bigger than a marble, and a last bead no larger than a ping-pong ball—these conservatively sized notches will make it easier for your body to experience the insertion of multiple beads without pain. If you have experience with other forms of anal penetration (i.e., anal fingering, anal intercourse, or butt plug use), you may be able to accommodate a larger bead circumference comfortably.
Do I need anything besides the toy to use them? Yes, you’ll need store-bought lubricant to use your string safely. The sensation of a sex toy meeting skin can be friction-y in such a way that is neither comfortable nor safe for the anal canal. The anal tissues are fragile, and thus any friction can cause soreness and small tears. Applying lubricant to the toy creates a buffer between the toy and your body, allowing it to slide pleasurably over the nerve-dense sphincter rather than sticking to or pulling on your skin.
When purchasing lube, remember that silicone-based lubricant is not compatible with silicone toys, as silicone adheres to itself and thus can deform your toy. So, look for a water-based or hybrid lubricant instead—ideally, one marked as anal lube, as those options tend to be thicker and longer-lasting than run-of-the-mill alternatives.
While it’s not strictly necessary, a lube shooter is also nice to have on hand. Essentially a syringe for the slick stuff, lube shooters apply lube to the further-back parts of your anal canal where your fingers can’t comfortably reach, which can make penetration feel easier and more comfortable.
Are they safe?
Anal beads are safe so long as they sport the flared base that makes any anal toy safe for insertion. The looped or flattened flared base of anal safe toys keeps the toy in the nerve-dense part of the body and out of the rest of the GI tract, where they can become stuck, necessitating medical intervention.
As with any other sex toy, safety also depends on the toy. While medical-grade silicone, ABS plastic, stainless steel, and Borosilicate glass are totally safe, products made from porous materials can trap bacteria that later irritate your tissues or leach chemicals into your body, potentially messing with the anal microbiome.
Of course, anal bead safety isn’t just predicated on the product you purchase but on the care you take during use, too. It’s essential to be the tortoise rather than the hare when using anal beads. Going too fast or too deep, or opting for too large a product too soon, can cause pain and irritation. In serious situations, ignoring the body’s signals to slow down can lead to micro-abrasions of the anal skin and tissues. While these fissures usually heal with TLC (and a little preparation-H), it’s best to avoid pushing your peach past its limits, as it will make it easier to relax and enjoy exploration in the long run.
In an effort to replace misconceptions with medically accurate sex education, let the official record show that using anal beads will not damage your anal anatomy. The opening will not permanently stretch or loosen, nor will your future bowel movements be affected. The anal sphincters contract and relax, just like any other muscle in the body. So, as long as you don’t push this muscle group past its capacity, asking these elastic muscles to do this during sex won’t have any lasting impacts.
How can you keep them clean? All pleasure aids come with cleaning instructions on best care practices for that unique product. Typically, non-vibrating anal beads can be cleaned before and after use with warm water and a squirt of fragrance-free soap. A specialty sex toy cleaner can also be purchased, if the washes you already have on hand are scented. And, if you share a bathroom or the closest one is down the hall, you might consider sex toy cleansing wipes, which can keep the toy clean in the absence of a sink or shower.
Prepare yourself for the fact that it is common for anal sex toys to have a slight lingering odor even after a wash. While soap and cleansers will remove any bacteria, body fluids, and lube from the toy, the toy may not return to its odor-free state until it is dry. In instances where this is not the case, washing it a second time, allowing the sudsy water to sit on the toy for a beat before rinsing, will do the trick.
How to use them?
The tenets for using anal beads are similar to those of any anal play. First and foremost, don’t go from zero to anal beads. Instead, spend plenty of time generally preparing your mind and body for pleasure. Anything that helps transition you away from the stress and distraction of everyday life and towards pleasure, including stress-reduction techniques and gentle forms of touch, can be helpful.
Many people find it supportive to engage in other sensual and sexual experiences before narrowing focus to the anus, including listening to audio-erotica, reading smut, kissing, nipple stimulation, manual stimulation, oral, and more. All of these can help support the arousal process by flooding the body with feel-good chemicals, directing blood flow to erogenous zones, and helping all muscles—including the anal sphincter—relax. If you’re exploring with a partner, emotionally connecting with them through cuddles and conversation, can downregulate your nervous system, which puts you in the brain and body space where pleasure thrives.
Once you’re feeling turned on, you can gradually shift focus to your backside, or that of a partner, if you’re playing with beads with them. You could start by massaging the butt cheeks, teasing the place where the thighs meet the tuchus, tracing a finger or tongue up and down the crack, holding a vibrator along the muscular flesh, or circling the entrance with a well-lubricated finger. This kind of focused, external touch begins to stimulate the nerve-dense region while helping the body feel safe enough for more direct stimulation.
When the body is ready for and can be receptive to bringing or allowing anything inside the anus, the sphincter muscles will typically soften. If you’re the partner inserting the beads and have a good view, you’ll likely be able to see this unclenching. If you’re utilizing them solo, you may be able to feel the release, or even see it in a hand mirror. At this point, you can cover the anus and the first few beads with lubricant.
Next, position the first bead against the anus. Depending on factors like arousal level and the size of the bead, the first one may slip right in, creating a subtle sensation of stretch as the widest portion of the bead slides inside, before the muscles close around the connecting stem. If not, you or your partner can use fingers—or the first bead—to press down on the opening muscle. Much like massaging your shoulders can help those muscles relax, consistent pressure can encourage the anus to soften. Some people also find it helpful to bear down slightly against the bead. While this may sound counterintuitive, gently pushing down with those muscles as you might before going to the bathroom actually widens the opening.
While finding the right angle for insertion can take a little experimentation, you shouldn’t feel like you’re jamming the first bead in, nor should anyone doing this experience pain. Discomfort is the body’s way of telling us to slow down. If these sensations arise, communicate it to anyone present with you, and take it as an opportunity to return to external touch and explore other erogenous zones more thoroughly.
Once the first bead is inside, pause. If you’re utilizing the beads by yourself or a partner is doing the inserting, take a moment to assess what you’re wanting and needing. Ask yourself: Do I need a moment to adjust to the feeling? Am I hungry for more right this second? Is pleasure my predominating sensation? On the flip, if you’re inserting the beads in someone else, check in with similar questions before continuing with additional beads. The insertion of each bead will provide a brief rush, followed by a feeling of fullness once the muscles close again.
Remember: the goal isn’t to insert the whole string, but to experience pleasure. There are plenty of ways to keep play going if the receptive partner doesn’t feel they can or want to accommodate additional beads, but are still turned on.
One is to move the string in and out up to the biggest bead they want to accommodate that day, giving the receiver’s body a chance to keep experiencing the sensation of a bead sliding in or out, without additional girth or length. Another option is to keep the string in place, while focusing on another part of the body. In a partnered setting, this might mean wearing the beads while giving your partner head, or during vaginal intercourse.
Some people like the feeling of having the string removed in one fluid motion as they orgasm, as the rapid opening and closing of the hole can intensify the sensation even more. Others want to stop using the beads when the sensation stops feeling good, or they want to focus on another erogenous zone. For both, breathing through removal is key for comfort. The first time you use beads—or use them with this particular partner—it’s best to go one at a time.
If at any point removal creates sensations that feel sharp, sticky, or painful, stop—or communicate to your partner your need to take a beat. Applying additional lube around the anus, exhaling as you pull, and bearing down should allow you to remove the toy without that initial discomfort.
Can I use them alone? Absolutely. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that finding a position angle that facilitates anal opening and allows you to reach between your legs comfortably may take a little experimentation.
Some people find lying on their back with their hips lifted and a position tool works best, while others prefer leaning against the headboard and craning their neck forward for the visual aid. Others, too, find it easiest to assume a doggy-style position, getting on their hands and knees and either accessing their anus between their knees or from around their back. You can also try assuming an air squat position on the floor. Try out different solo positions, allowing your comfort to guide your choice.
Can you use them with a partner? If so, how? Yes! Some people like having a partner control the toys, while others prefer to be the one in control. Other lovers may want to purchase more than one string, so that everyone can enjoy the sensation of anal beads at once.
With that, while pleasure products like a double-ended dildo are explicitly made to be shared between multiple partners, anal beads are generally single-user toys. If you and your partner(s) plan to use the same strand at different times, be sure to thoroughly disinfect it between uses to reduce the risk of transferring bacteria.
Where to get them?
Is there something I can find at home? No, anal beads can absolutely not be rejiggered from something you have lying around your house. For something to be safe for anal play, it needs to be made from body-safe materials and feature a designated flared base. Bluntly, there is nothing else that can take the place of anal beads. And, just to drill the point home, putting something not explicitly made for anal insertion inside of your body can be incredibly dangerous, as anything with a suboptimal shape, size, or texture can scratch, irritate, or otherwise damage the anal canal.
However, you may already have a sex toy on hand that is safe for anal insertion. And your own fingers are a great option for back-end exploration.
Where can I get them? Online and in-person sex toy shops all sell anal beads. Online carriers typically offer a much wider selection of anal beads. Still, brick-and-mortar stores have the advantage of being run by helpful experts and of having tester products on display for size and sound testing.
Some shops have and enforce age restrictions. So, depending on your birth year and location, you may want to check out the homepage or ring the store ahead of time to see if you’re eligible to shop.
If you’re shopping online and discretion matters to you, check out the FAQ section or ring the customer service line to learn how the item will appear on your bank statement and how it will be packaged for shipping. Most retailers default to non-identifiable packaging and names; it’s best to check ahead of time.
What do they usually cost? Anal bead prices range widely. Simple silicone strings generally don’t cost more than $50, but motorized, steel, and/or glass options can cost up to $200.
How should I pick the right ones for me? Most anal beads rock a graduated design, with each bead slightly larger than the last. That said, the size of the first and last beads—as well as the total number of beads—varies tremendously from product to product.
If you’re new to anal beads, the most important thing to focus on is the size of the first few beads. Don’t let your eyes be bigger than your opening here. Instead, look for a product with at least two beads with a diameter under half an inch. Smaller starter beads will give your body a chance to adjust to both anal penetration and the unique sensation of beads.
Pleasure-seekers who are newer to anal beads don’t need to worry too much about how many beads are on a given string because you don’t have to—and probably shouldn’t—utilize all the beads. Longer strings can reach deeper into the body, and even deliver direct stimulation to the prostate, an erogenous zone located a few inches back inside the anal canals of most people assigned male at birth. If you already have experience with anal play, you might choose a string that’s similar in length to other forms of anal penetration you enjoy with different body parts or toys.
You’ll also want to consider the exact shape of the flared base. Flattened, T-shaped handles can usually nestle comfortably between your butt cheeks, which can be nice if you like lying on your back. It may not be comfortable to lie on your back while wearing beads with an O-shaped base; however, loops are easier to grip, grab, and pull out, making them the more accessible choice for people with any mobility or strength limitations.
One last thing to consider: Vibrating anal beads are often much larger and thicker than non-vibrating options, as they need to accommodate a motor. The added bulk disqualifies most vibrating options for beginners.
That said, any external vibration along the butt cheeks and the outer entrance of the anus can go a long way toward helping the sphincter muscles relax. So, if a motorized string isn’t in your size, you might also consider purchasing another vibrator, too.
