You've heard about e-stim online and are contemplating giving it a go. But you're probably nervous about what to expect during your first e-stim session, with a thousand questions on your mind.
Is it going to hurt? Is it safe? Am I going to set the bed sheets on fire? You get the gist.....
The quick answer to those questions, though, is no, yes and good lord no.
Before we proceed, you will need some equipment, which can be confusing, but I will break it down for you here.
Safety Considerations
Always take safety seriously, stick to playing below the waist once you get this first session out of the way. If wiring up to your forearm, place both electrodes on the same arm so you don't run a current across your chest.
When placing pad electrodes, try to aim for areas without hair or with fine hair. Thick coarse hair can increase the likelihood of hotspots developing. If you feel prickly sensations or a hot spot, back off with the power and reassess electrode locations.
E-stim should be avoided if you have electronic medical implants, are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
For more pertinent e-stim safety information, check out this article once you finish this one - Beginner’s Guide to Safe And Fun E-Stim Play
Basic Kit Requirements
Before enjoying your first e-stim session, you will need three bits of kit to create a circuit:
1 - A Control box, this is the electronic gizmo that creates the amazing electrical impulses that we enjoy during an e-stim session.
2 - A set of electrodes. To create a simple e-stim circuit, you need two electrodes, which serve as contact points. One to let the e-stim current into your body and one to complete the circuit back to the control box.
3 - A set of cables to link the control box to the electrodes. These are included with a control box when you buy it and are suitable for the pad electrodes in the kit.
Luckily, kits are available that include all three required pieces of equipment for every budget.
Check out our beginner's kits here - BEGINNER'S KITS
How To Wire Up For Your First Session
The biggest tip I can give you for your first session is to keep things simple. Forget about things like tri-phase, audio or even multiple channels.
Stick to one channel with two electrodes. Which electrodes you use is up to you, but I recommend just using the pad electrodes that came with your e-stim control box.
This first stimming session aims to alleviate your fears and to give you an idea of what to expect when you wire up more interesting areas of the body.
Connect two pads to a single channel on your control box and place them on one forearm about two inches apart, or alternatively, put them on a shin.
Placing the pads in a non-erogenous zone lets you experiment with your controls without fear of zapping your delicate bits. Your first session should be all about exploration and getting over your fears.
Once you are wired up, ensure the power controls on your control box are set to zero before turning on the box.
Increase the power slowly until you feel the first little flutter — then play around with it. Always remember to turn the power back down to zero and to turn off your control box before moving or removing the electrodes, or you will get a zap.
What Will You Actually Feel in Your First E-Stim Session?
Your first session should be used to get a hang of the controls and capabilities of your control box. Start low and slow and experiment with different settings.
The sensations e-stim generates can feel like butterfly wings gently caressing your skin at very low power levels, to pulsing, stroking, and throbbing at higher levels.
You may even see muscle twitching or your fingers moving on their own, in time with the e-stim pulses. This is normal and why I don't recommend attaching electrodes to large muscle areas like your thighs when starting.
Note the subtle changes between power levels and programmes on your e-stim control box. Not what feels best, as you can use that knowledge in future sessions.
This session aims to build confidence in your kit and in your understanding of how the controls affect the sensations. This is why I recommend either a forearm or a shin to experiment with. This way your delicate bits are safe for another time but you can get over your nerves and just as importantly you can gain confidence in your equipment.
"I was surprised at how nervous I was trying e-stim for the first time. I had done my research, but it is a huge jump from reading about to to letting the electrons flow. I'm so glad that I tried it though." - Jules
What To Do In Future Sessions?
Now that you know what to expect and are less nervous, the next time you play, you can work on the interesting parts of your body below the waist. Again, keep things simple using pads and imagine a line between the two pads when you place them. You want to aim to have that line go across your most interesting areas, such as along the penis or across the clitoris.
With genital stimming, it is even more important to go low and slow with the controls. Build up the sensations over time and enjoy sensations that can't be achieved any other way.
You are now firmly on the path to your first hands-free orgasm, it probably won't happen on the first go and it takes experimentation, but when you get there - WOW! There is no feeling like it.
I hope this article has given you some ideas on how to tackle using an e-stim kit for the first time. Remember, get over your nerves, relax, and really take your enjoyment to new levels.
Before you jump into the good bits, do yourself a favour and read this — it’ll save you from the classic beginner trip-ups (like hotspots, bad placement and over-eager power levels). - E-Stim for Beginners: 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid (So You Don’t Zap the Mood)
Other Helpful Articles
Check out more of our beginner's e-stim articles.
What Next?
If you fancy giving e-stim a go and are looking for your first kit, we can certainly help you out.
Ready to book your first session? Browse our Beginner’s Kits
"My eyes widened when the pads went on my forearm and I switched on the control box. Once I felt those first gentle sensations, I thought … whoa! I am really going to enjoy this." - Sally
This advice is for those 18+ and assumes you have no medical conditions. If you’re unsure, speak to a medical professional.