Cock rings, c-rings, penis rings… whatever you like to call them, we reckon they’re a seriously underrated sex toy.

A cock ring works by sitting snugly at the base of the penis. When you get an erection, blood begins flowing into your penis to keep it hard, and a cock ring can slow blood flow by constricting the vessels.

All of this extra blood flow in the penis can make your erect penis feel slightly larger, harder, and longer. And in fact, cock rings can even help combat erectile dysfunction in people who have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, because they can help keep that blood flowing to the penis rather than directing it away.

Cock rings are also quite cheap, which makes them a great entry point into the world of sex toys if you’re just getting started and figuring out what you like to use. More expensive rings can go for over a hundred dollars, but you can pick up the cheapest rings with change from a twenty.

And as if this wasn’t enough, they’re one of very few toys that are made specifically for people with penises — that’s right, if you have a penis, then there’s a cock ring out there bound to suit you.

If you’ve never used a cock ring before, or if you own one but want to learn how to use a cock ring to have better sex, we’re about to tell you everything you need to know.

From how to choose the right one, how to make sure they fit, and how to get the most pleasure out of your toy, read on for the lowdown on one of our favourite sex toys.

All the Different Types of Cock Rings

Rubber or Silicone Cock Rings

The classic! A rubber or silicone cock ring basically just looks like a large ring—they’re often black in colour but can be made in all shades.

These stretchy cock rings sit around the base of the penis or the top of the balls (where the scrotum connects to the body). Some people like to wear theirs around both the penis and the testicles, but we don’t recommend this unless the ring is specifically designed for that as it can be quite a tight and restrictive fit.

When buying stretchy rings made of soft material, we always recommend looking for body-safe materials rather than rubber or cheaper silicones.

Body-safe silicone is just as flexible, and it’s designed to be used on and around your body whereas cheaper materials aren’t.

Metal Cock Rings

Metal or steel cock rings are sturdier than rubber rings.

An upside to using solid cock rings made of steel is that they’re easy to clean — you can submerge them in water or wipe them down with a toy cleaner, and you can even boil them or throw them in the dishwasher.

A downside, though, is that a steel cock ring is not flexible, so there’s always a chance it may not be the right size for you.

Adjustable cock rings made of body-safe material may be a better choice if you’ve never used penis rings before, or if you’re not sure what size is right.

Cock and Ball Rings

These adjustable rings are made to fit around the penis and testicles. Some have two separate loops while others are just one, larger, loop made to accommodate both body parts.

People who enjoy wearing these often say that they enjoy the sensation it offers to their penis and testicles, rather than just one or the other.

Vibrating Cock Rings

Everything’s better when it vibrates, right? Along with all the benefits of a regular ring, vibrating penis rings contain a little motor that adds vibration. This feels great for the wearer and also for the person they’re penetrating—the extra stimulation can be totally hot for anal or vaginal sex.

NORMAL’s Flynn cock ring is super stretchy, has multiple different vibration speeds and patterns, and is whisper-quiet—just what you need in a penis ring, if you ask us.

A Step-By-Step Guide to How to Use a Cock Ring

Find the Right Toy

Have a think about what you’d like to do with your cock ring. Do you want something that vibrates? Something that hugs the testicles and shaft?

If you’re not sure, or you’ve never used a cock ring before, we recommend starting with a flexible cock ring made of body-safe silicone. This material is longer lasting, easier to clean, and is even safe for penetration if you’re going to be using the ring with a partner.

A steel cock ring is just as safe, but the fit isn’t as flexible as a stretchier ring. If you’re not sure what size is right for you, or what kind of sensation you enjoy, the best cock ring will be a flexible one.

Remember the Lube

We recommend lube for pretty much everything, and cock rings are no exception.

In this instance, you can use lube to make sure the ring doesn’t grip, tug, or tear on the skin of your penis or your pubic hair — your experience should be as pain-free as possible.

Apply some lube around the base of your shaft, and around the inside of the ring. Stretch the ring open and slide it down over the head of the penis, letting it sit wherever feels comfortable at the base. Don’t quickly let go of the ring, because it might snap down and cause pain; release it slowly and gently.

A lot of people have more success putting a cock ring on while their penis is flaccid or semi-erect, so we recommend starting while soft — at least for your first few tries.

If your penis ring is made of body-safe silicone, you should always use a water-based lube with it, as silicone lube can degrade the toy. If your cock ring is made of steel, any lube is fine to use.

Experiment, and Enjoy

Many people use cock rings because they can make the penis look and feel harder and bigger. This alone can be pretty exciting, but it can also be fun to use a cock ring during masturbation, hand jobs, blow jobs, or penetrative sex.

Your partner may even appreciate the change in sensation that a cock ring offers, and of course, you can use it with other types of sex toys, like a butt plug or masturbation sleeve. (You can even use the ring on other toys, like a dildo or a vibrator).

A vibrating cock ring can also be a really exciting way to experiment with using a sex toy in the bedroom, adding extra stimulation for you and your partner during anal or vaginal sex.

We recommend moving the vibrating motor around so it sits above or below your erection. This can stimulate either the clitoris (if it’s sitting above) or the perineum (if it’s sitting below) depending on what position you and your partner are in.

Keep It Safe

Cock rings can be wildly hot, but there are a couple of things you need to do to make sure you wear a cock ring safely.

First of all, because cock rings are designed to restrict blood flow, you shouldn’t leave it on for more than half an hour or so—any longer and it could start to do some damage.

Remove your cock ring after twenty minutes or half an hour and give yourself a break for a while, then put it back on if you want. If you feel pain, tingling, numbness, or a ‘pins and needles’ type feeling while using your cock ring, you should remove it immediately as it may be too tight.

Cock rings should be snug, but if they’re too tight they can cause serious, permanent damage. You should also never fall asleep while wearing a cock ring. Make sure you remove it before rolling over for a post-orgasm snooze.

Don’t Forget Protection

You can wear a condom while using a cock ring, although there are a few things to be aware of. It is recommended that you put the cock ring on first, and then the condom afterwards — trying to put the cock ring on after the condom may be a little difficult.

You should also make sure that the ring and the condom aren’t touching each other, as they may accidentally get caught and pull, ripping the condom. You can — and should — use lube with the condom as well.

Speak With Your Doctor About ED

If you want to wear a cock ring because you’re struggling with getting or staying hard, it could also be worth having a chat to your doctor about erectile dysfunction.

It’s super common to occasionally have difficulty maintaining an erection, but if you notice any sudden changes in how your body responds to arousal or you feel like your sex life is being seriously affected, it’s worth checking in with a healthcare provider to make sure that you’re not experiencing any underlying health conditions.

Penis rings can be really effective in helping people maintain an erection and increase sexual performance — some people even recommend using rings with a penis pump or other devices—but you should always see a doctor who can provide medical advice on this if you’re concerned.

Blow Jobs and Hand Jobs With Cock Rings

Cock rings can be great for masturbation and penetrative sex, but there’s something really sexy about wearing a cock ring for a sex act that’s totally focused on you.

Oral sex and hand jobs can feel absolutely amazing, and a cock ring can make them feel even better. You don’t need to wear your cock ring any differently during a blow job or hand job, but you should politely check in with your partner to make sure it’s not in their way (and if you’re using a steel cock ring, make sure you don’t accidentally knock it into your partner’s teeth during oral!).

If you’re curious about how to best use a cock ring during a blow job or a hand job, here are our top tips:

Lube Up

We say this all the time, but we really do mean it. Lube can enhance any sexual activity by making things slipperier, smoother, and a whole lot sexier. Plus, more lube means there’s less chance of having your skin accidentally tugged or torn during play.

Get Into Some Good Vibes

Cock rings are great — but vibrating cock rings can be even better. With so many vibrating toys made for vulvas, it’s about time the penis and testicles got some attention, right?

You can experiment with the placement of the cock ring to stimulate different areas of your body with the vibrating mechanism. Turn the ring around so the vibrator sits on your testicles or perineum for some added stimulation.

Mix Things Up By Holding the Ring

If you find that wearing a vibrating cock ring is a bit intense, hold it in your hand and apply the vibrations to your shaft, testicles, and perineum. You can also ask your partner to hold the ring in their hand and use the vibrating mechanism on you.

Let Your Partner Take Control

Some vibrating cock rings can be controlled using a remote control or app, which means that you can experiment with putting your partner in charge of the pleasure you’re receiving.

Install the app on their device, or hand them the remote, and allow them to raise or lower the vibration settings for you. This can be a hot way to experiment with BDSM and control.

Experiment With Other Toys

If you and your partner are curious about using sex toys together, you could also incorporate a butt plug or wand vibrator into your play.

Alternately, your partner could use a toy on themselves while they stimulate you.

You’re only limited by what you feel comfortable with, so if you’re keen to explore then we recommend experimenting with some other devices together too.

Some Important Safety Tips

As with any sex toy, you should clean your cock ring before and after every use.

If you have a ring made of body-safe silicone or steel, you can wash it under the tap or even throw it in the dishwasher (just make sure to rinse off the suds afterwards).

If your ring has a vibrating mechanism in it, though, you shouldn’t submerge it in water — wipe it over with a damp cloth and a gentle antibacterial soap, or give it a spray with a sex toy cleaner, like ours.

Store your cock ring somewhere safe after cleaning. NORMAL’s Flynn cock ring comes with its own dust bag for storage, but you could also use a clean cosmetics bag or empty cardboard box.

Whatever you do, don’t just throw it under your bed to collect dust, and don’t leave it somewhere where it could come into contact with other substances like lube, cosmetics, or deodorant.

If your cock ring has a battery in it, you should remove the battery before storage and check regularly to make sure that the battery isn’t leaking battery acid. Battery acid can be seriously harmful to your toy and your skin — if you notice battery acid leaking, you should throw the toy and the batteries away.

If your toy is rechargeable, however, all you need to worry about is making sure it’s fully charged and ready to use! Our tip is to get your charging cable out at the same time as your cock ring, and leave the cable somewhere you won’t miss it when you’re done.

This way you won’t forget to put the ring back on the charger — and once it’s charged, it’ll be ready and raring to go the next time you want it.

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