Contrary to what some people may think, there is no right or wrong way to masturbate. As long as what you’re doing feels good, it’s totally up to your individual preferences and wants, which opens up a lot of variations. You can do it in bed, with or without a sex toy, while reading erotica, or perhaps in the most underrated location: the shower.
Shower masturbation is a great place to start if you feel like your pleasure routine is starting to feel stale or you need a little something different to get yourself off. Though it may sound inconvenient or like too much effort if you’re in the mood to orgasm quickly, your body deserves the time, attention, and ambiance it would receive in the shower. Plus, being naked in the water makes everyone feel sexier.
Below, experts explain why masturbating in the shower could elevate your solo sessions.
Experts Featured in This Article
Marla Renee Stewart is a sexologist and sex expert for Lovers, a sexual wellness brand.
Sarah Riccio is a sex educator and the cofounder of Delicto, a sex-toy retailer.
Rachel Sommer, PhD, is a clinical sexologist and cofounder of My Sex Toy Guide.
The Benefits of Shower Masturbation
There are a lot of health benefits to masturbating in general. Not only can masturbating release feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, but it can also help you “get rid of headaches and body soreness, reduce cold symptoms, and even reduce menstrual cramps,” Antonia Hall, a psychologist and sex expert, previously told PS.
In the shower, there’s less mess and clean up, too, sexologist Marla Renee Stewart points out. It’s also a completely private space that won’t allow for any sort of random knocks on the door from your roomies or parents. Plus, being in the shower “helps to mitigate some of the noise that you might make when you’re on your way to orgasm,” Stewart says. (Yes, feel free to be as loud as you’d like.)
Sex educator Sarah Riccio also notes that “unlike masturbating in bed, solo shower play demands full nudity, which can enhance arousal, boost confidence, and encourage a deeper connection with your body.”
How to Masturbate in the Shower
Honestly, the best way to masturbate in the shower is the same way you would masturbate anywhere else. The most important difference is that, if you don’t already, you’ll want to use some sort of lube instead of just relying on the water itself. Though it sounds counterintuitive (isn’t water slippery?), “running water can actually wash away your natural lubricant,” Riccio explains.
For this reason, “silicone-based lube is ideal for shower play because it contains polymers that repel water and keep it from washing away,” she says. Just note that silicone lube should not be used if you’re masturbating with a sex toy made out of silicone, as it will break down the material of the toy. (If that’s a predicament you find yourself in, use a water-based lube instead. You may just need to reapply more frequently.)
As far as what the best masturbating sex position is in the shower (more on this below), feel free to lean up against the wall and enjoy. If you have a bathtub, you can lift your leg up and rest it on the side so that you experience a different angle that way as well.
Bottom line: when masturbating in the shower, there is no step-by-step process on what you should do and how you should do it – just practice whatever feels good. Use use your hands (or grab a sex toy), clench or rub your thighs together, or do whatever you usually do to get off solo.
Shower Masturbation Sex Toys
If you choose masturbate with a sex toy in the shower, make sure your accessory of choice is waterproof – not just water resistant. “Water-resistant toys can withstand some splashes of water and regular toy cleaning, but they can easily be damaged if submerged or soaked,” Riccio says. One great option is the Womanizer Premium ($112), which is a waterproof clitoral stimulator that replicates the feelings of cunnilingus. (In other words, if you love when your partner goes down on you, this baby is for you.) Another option is the Happy Rabbit G-Spot Vibrator ($50, originally $100) from Lovehoney, which stimulates both your clitoris and G-spot simultaneously.
Once you’ve decided on a waterproof sex toy, “experiment with different angles, and make the most of the experience,” clinical sexologist Rachel Sommer, PhD, suggests. “Try different speed settings until you get the rhythm that works for you.”
Even if you don’t want to bring a toy into the shower, Dr. Sommer suggests using the shower head on your clitoris, vulva, or erogenous zones instead. If you don’t have a hand-held shower head, try out the Womanizer Wave ($119), which is a shower-head sex toy made specifically with your orgasms in mind.
Shower Masturbation Sex Positions
Simply do whatever feels most comfortable for you, adjusting as you need to in order to stay safe in the slippery, sometimes cramped space of your shower. You can try standing up, sitting down on the shower floor, or running a bath and lying down in it instead. Dr. Sommer recommends starting on your back: “Simply lie on your back, and reach down there.”
For the more adventurous, Dr. Sommer suggests getting into the classic lotus yoga position (feet together, knees in a butterfly stance). “Not only is the clitoris more accessible from this position, but your pelvic muscles are engaged, and you can clench them down for intensified orgasms,” she says.
Lastly, you could try a position that involves a suction-cup dildo. “Stick it to the bottom of the tub, the side of the shower, the faucet – any place that offers an angle and depth of penetration that feels good,” says Riccio. Then, get into position.
Shower Masturbation Tips
1. Adjust the temperature of the water for the ultimate temperature play experience. “Enjoy 10 minutes of steamy shower water, followed by a quick burst of cold, then back to hot. The sudden change in water temperature will activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which can trigger a big boost in energy and send a yummy current of blood flow to your genitals,” Riccio says.
2. Take your time to appreciate the sensations. “Don’t try to rush yourself into having an orgasm,” Stewart says. Allow yourself to feel all the things without putting pressure on an end goal.
3. Set the mood with candles and music. “Turn on your favorite music that makes you feel good, sexy, and sexual. When you put yourself in the mood, it can help you to have a better time with yourself,” Stewart says. Plus, candles make everyone feel sexy.
4. Invest in a no-slip shower mat like the Gorilla Grip Shower Mat ($27). No one wants to fall while experiencing a mind-blowing orgasm.
Taylor Andrews is a PS Balance editor who specializes in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, and more.
