Getting Started
Air-suction toys feel completely different from traditional vibrators. Here's exactly what to expect, how to start slow, and why that weird nervousness you feel is totally normal.
You've heard about lemon vibrators. You're curious. But then you find out they work by suction, not vibration, and suddenly your brain goes, "Wait, what exactly is that going to feel like?" That hesitation is honest. It's also fixable. Most of the nervousness comes from not knowing what to expect, not from the actual experience.
Here's the thing: air-suction clitoral vibrators like the Lem work in a way your body has probably never felt before. That's not dangerous. It's just different. Once you understand what's happening and how to approach it, the experience shifts from "this is weird" to "oh, I get it now."
Traditional vibrators move back and forth really fast. Your body knows this sensation. It's familiar. Lemon vibrators and other clitoral suckers work differently. They create a gentle seal around the clitoris and pulse the air pressure, which stimulates the nerve endings without direct friction.
Think of it like this: a regular vibrator is like fingers tapping. A suction toy is like gentle, rhythmic pulling. Neither is better. They're just activating different nerve pathways.
For most people, suction feels more intense in a shorter amount of time. You might reach an orgasm faster than you expect. Some people find that the sensation is more concentrated, less diffuse. Others say it feels less intense on the tissue itself because there's no direct pressure.
The research backs this up. People report that air-suction devices stimulate deeper nerve tissue without the same mechanical wear. For folks with sensitive clitoral tissue, this is often a game-changer.
This is where most people stumble. They think, "I'll just try it," turn it on at setting 4 or 5, and then feel overwhelmed. The Lem has multiple intensity levels for a reason.
Here's the right approach: turn it on at setting 1. I mean it. This is not the time to be brave. Setting 1 is barely perceptible to most people. You're not trying to achieve an orgasm on your first go. You're trying to understand the sensation.
Spend 2-3 minutes at setting 1. Just feel what's happening. Get curious about the rhythm. Notice whether the seal feels comfortable. If you need to adjust the angle or pressure, do it now.
After a few minutes at setting 1, move to setting 2. Again, 2-3 minutes. You're building tolerance and familiarity. This isn't a race. People who take 15-20 minutes exploring the lower settings end up enjoying the device way more than people who jump straight to setting 5.
One reason people feel nervous about suction toys is that they're not sure if they're "using it right." With a traditional vibrator, the mechanics are obvious. With a lemon sucker, the seal is crucial.
The device needs to create a light seal against your clitoris for the suction to work. This means the opening of the toy should sit fully over the clitoral area. Not partially. Not awkwardly angled. Fully covering.
If you don't have a good seal, you'll just feel air or a weird sensation that doesn't make sense. This is what convinces some people the toy "doesn't work" for them. Usually, it's a seal issue, not a toy issue.
The way to check: turn it on at setting 1 and feel for a gentle pulling sensation. If you feel that, your seal is good. If you feel nothing or just odd air movement, adjust the angle or position slightly and try again.
Water-based lubricant helps here too. A tiny amount on your skin makes the seal easier to create and more comfortable to maintain.
Here's something nobody talks about: your nervous system has preferences. If you've been using traditional vibrators for years, your body expects that sensation. Introducing something new can feel slightly strange, even if it's pleasant strange.
Some people need multiple sessions before suction feels intuitive. This is not a sign you're "not into it." It's a sign you need a bit more time to familiarize yourself. That's it.
I recommend giving yourself at least 3-4 sessions before deciding whether a lemon vibrator works for you. Session 1: just explore. Session 2: try a bit more intensity. Session 3: see if you can reach orgasm. Session 4: try combining it with other sensations or think about what felt best from sessions 1-3.
By session 4, you'll have enough data to know whether this is your thing or not.
You don't have to choose between your old favorite technique and a new lemon vibrator. They work beautifully together.
If you usually use your hand or a partner's hand in combination with penetration, add the suction toy to that mix. Use it for 5-10 minutes, then switch back to what you know. Or use it to build arousal, then move to your usual method for finishing.
Some people find that starting with the suction toy at a low setting, then moving to something more familiar, makes the familiar tool feel even better. Your body gets primed in a new way, and the rest of the experience builds on that foundation.
This approach also takes the pressure off. You're not relying entirely on this new sensation to get you there. You're just experimenting with how it fits into your bigger picture.
Unlike traditional vibrators, air-suction toys benefit from a small amount of water-based lubricant. Not a lot. Just enough to create a better seal and reduce any friction on the delicate skin.
A dime-sized amount on your vulva is usually plenty. More than that can actually make the seal harder to maintain because the seal works partly on gentle moisture, not puddles.
If you're using silicone-based lube, make sure your toy is non-silicone (most are). Silicone lube can degrade silicone toys. Water-based lubes work with any material and are easier to clean up anyway.
Don't skip this step if you have sensitive tissue. A bit of lube transforms the experience from "that feels odd" to "that feels really good."
Because suction works faster and differently than vibration, some people experience a kind of overstimulation that surprises them. Your clitoris suddenly feels very intense, almost like it needs a break.
This is normal. It doesn't mean the toy is too strong. It means your nerve endings are getting activated in a concentrated way, and your system is like, "Okay, that's enough for now."
If this happens, just stop. Turn it off. Take a breath. You can go back in 10-15 minutes if you want. Or you can call it a session and try again tomorrow. Your pleasure doesn't have an expiration date.
For some people, this concentration of sensation is exactly what they're looking for. For others, it takes time to get used to. Neither response is wrong.
Once you've decided a lemon vibrator works for you, keeping it clean is straightforward. Most air-suction toys are waterproof or water-resistant, which means you can rinse them with warm water after each use.
Use a little mild soap if you want. Dry it thoroughly before storing. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight. If your toy has a charging port, make sure it's completely dry before charging.
Proper care extends the life of the toy and keeps your skin happy. It's worth the 30 seconds of cleanup.
Absolutely. Air-suction toys are actually ideal for some first-timers because they don't require penetration and the sensation is unique enough that it bypasses some of the anxiety people feel about "traditional" toys. Start at the lowest setting and take your time. There's no learning curve beyond comfort.
Not really. The suction is gentle, even on the highest settings. The worst that usually happens is you create a slightly uncomfortable sensation and turn it off. You can't damage yourself with a quality lemon vibrator. That's part of why they're worth trying even if you're nervous.
As long as you want. Some people get everything they need in 5-10 minutes. Others take 20-30. There's no "correct" timeline. Pay attention to what your body tells you and stop when you want to stop.
Yes. Many couples use air-suction toys during partnered sex because they don't require hands and the suction sensation doesn't interfere with penetration. You might want to talk through positioning first, but it's definitely doable.
Some people genuinely prefer the sensation of traditional vibrators. That's fine. You're not broken. You just have a preference. A lemon clitoral vibrator isn't the right tool for everyone, and that's okay. Your pleasure matters, and using what actually works for you matters more than trying to like something that doesn't.
Similar, but more consistent and adjustable. A partner's mouth has texture and temperature and movement that varies. A lemon vibrator has rhythmic, steady suction that you can control. Some people like one. Some like both. Some prefer one over the other depending on the day.
The nervousness you feel about trying a new sensation is completely valid. It's also not a sign to avoid it. It's a sign to approach it slowly, with curiosity instead of expectation. Start low. Give yourself multiple sessions. Use lube. Be patient with your body's adjustment period.
If you're still curious about how air-suction toys fit into your broader pleasure practice, check out our guide on comparing lemon vibrators to traditional vibrators for sensitive tissue. Or if you want to explore how suction toys work with a partner, we've got a whole piece on that too.
Most importantly: your body is not weird for being curious about new sensations. And Hello Nancy's lemon vibrators are designed specifically so that exploring feels safe and straightforward. You're not signing up for anything extreme. You're just trying something different. That's exactly what pleasure should be.