If you’re unsure if you’re ready for anal beads, anal beads are totally fine for butt play beginners. While your forays ought to begin with a well-lubed finger or two, there are beads available in sizes for folks at all entry levels.

If you’re a beginner, it’s best to choose beads with graduated sizes. Meaning, ones that start small on the string and grow in size as you move up. This allows the user to start with the smallest beads and then work towards the larger beads as they become comfortable with the sensation.

You should start with anal beads that come with three to four beads. You don’t need some long, snaking set of 15 balls when you’re starting out—that could be a little intimidating. Make sure there is a good-sized flared base or circular handle at the end of the beads, otherwise there the beads may get lost inside the body. The rectum is not a closed area like the vagina; once something goes up the butt and disappears, it probably won’t be coming back on its own.

Remember to also stick to medical-grade or body-safe silicone.Materials for the beads, like all sex toys, vary widely depending on where you buy them. Simply put: Do not buy cheap, crappy sex toys. If you buy beads made of jelly or non-ABS plastic (the only non-porous grade of plastic) then you risk leaving bacteria behind. These materials can never be fully disinfected. Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like: Your anal beads will have lingering poop on them. Silicone is one of the go-to materials of choice. It’s body-safe, non-porous, and all you need is mild soap and warm water to clean.

Vibrating anal beads can be a super-fun way to ease yourself into playing with this new toy. “It promotes relaxation and can amplify the pleasurable sensations. If vibration isn’t your thing, there are plenty of body-safe silicone anal beads that don’t vibrate. It’s all about preference.

If you’re truly not sure what sensation you want to feel, start with a basic set of three to four non-vibrating beads and see how you feel about them. If you’d like to experiment with bigger beads, vibration, or a larger number of beads, go from there. There are so many different kinds to choose from.