Whether you’re sex shopping in a store or online and no matter what you are actually looking for when you do that shopping, at some point, a glass dildo or two might catch your eye. And it’s no wonder! Glass toys account for some of the most head-turning, breathtaking, straight-up gorgeous products available.
That said, I know what a lot of you are thinking: “Glass? Around your genitals? That doesn't sound like the best idea. Doesn't the glass break?!” Turns out, a lot of folks wonder about breakage when they’re first introduced to glass dildos. I get it. No one wants to risk a sex toy injury. So, today we're going to look into whether these worries are founded (spoiler alert: not really), what makes glass dildos so special, how to find the right one for you, and how to keep your glass dildo in great condition. So read on for more about glass dildos!
What are glass dildos?
This sounds like a silly question because it's pretty obvious that they are dildos (phallic adult sex toys designed for penetration) made of glass. However! Not all glass is the same. The glass in your windshield is very different from the glass you drink out of and even more different than the material that makes up your glass dildo. All this means: glass dildos won’t break or shatter unless you try really, really, really hard.
When it comes to understanding the ins and outs of glass sex toys, there are going to be some terms you see thrown around a whole lot. Let’s take a look at some of those.
Borosilicate Glass
This is glass that has been engineered to withstand harsher conditions, including getting banged around a bit or being exposed to heat. Sometimes you will hear people refer to this as Pyrex glass, but Pyrex is a brand name, and there is some question as to whether that brand even uses borosilicate glass anymore. Either way, rest assured, your glass dildo should be as strong as that blue flowered dish your mom made lasagna in.
Annealing
This is the process of heating glass and allowing it to cool very slowly. It’s done to relieve internal stresses (that can weaken glass) and, in general, make glass stronger. Fun fact: this same process can be used to strengthen the metal. To sum up, annealing glass makes it more durable.
Tempering
This term often gets mixed up with annealing, but it’s a different process. Like annealing, tempering is a thermally controlled toughening process that increases strength, but in this case, the outer surface is put into compression, and the inner surface is put into tension. The result? When tempered glass breaks, it forms little pebbles instead of sharp shards. Tempered glass is often called “safety glass” and is used in things like shower doors, glass windshields, and tabletops. This term isn’t typically used in regards to dildos, so if someone tells you their glass dildo is “tempered,” you might want to ask some questions.
Stress
I mentioned stresses in glass in the annealing section, but in this context we’re talking about stress points - things that can make a glass item weaker and more likely to break. The term gets tricky because there are contexts where glass stress can make stuff stronger, but for this dildo-based convo, we’re focusing on the potential of stress to weaken items.
Okay, now that we’ve gone over some of the technical terms, let’s get down to the question I think you are all here for. It’s time to talk about glass dildo safety.
Why Would You Want a Glass Dildo?
There are several big pluses to glass dildos. In addition to the fact that they are often very, very pretty, they are also hypoallergenic and nonporous (no little crevices to harbor bacteria). Meaning they can be sterilized between uses. Plus, they can also be used with any kind of lubricant (water based, hybrid, oil based, silicone lube, you name it!).
The hardness of glass toys can also be beneficial (orgasmically!) to many users. For folks interested in experimenting with larger toys, squishy sex toy material like silicone can drag on the skin during penetration and make it feel like your body is pushing back against the silicone sex toy. Glass, in the meantime, tends to glide over the skin (though lubricant is always a great idea!), and the fact that it doesn’t squish at all can help make the insertion/penetration process smoother and more comfortable. Just make sure you know how to use a glass didlo properly.
One more bonus of glass dildos is that they can be particularly good for G-spot stimulation. This, once again, comes down to the hardness of glass toys. With a glass dildo, the pressure you can exert on your or your partner’s G-spot will be firmer and more consistent compared to a floppier toy. What's more, if you are looking to add more excitement, glass dildos are also great for temperature play. All you have to do is to submerge them in warm water or ice.
Are Glass Dildos Safe?
The short answer: Yes. The longer answer: Yes, but, as with any sex toy purchase, you want to shop smart. Avoid toys that have been painted (the paint can chip off), examine your toy for sharp edges or “seams”, and if a price seems like it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Ideally, you want a borosilicate glass sex toy that has been annealed, as we discussed above. Annealing means that after the hot glass piece is done being created, it is put into an oven which is brought up to a certain high temperature, over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and then slowly cooled at a precise rate. This will make your toy more durable and less likely to break. Even if your glass dildo does break, however, it will typically not break in the “glass dildo shattering inside the body” way most people imagine.
Will a Glass Dildo Break While in Use?
So, generally speaking, no, a glass dildo — especially a high-quality borosilicate glass dildo will not break during use. That’s not to say that glass dildos never break. It’s just far more likely that a toy that has been used often will develop stress (like we talked about earlier!) which will get worse over time, and then one day, you plop the glass adult toy down on your nightstand, and it breaks in half or a chip forms in the base.
What I’m saying is that when glass dildos break, it’s usually a pretty mundane event that happens nowhere near your genitals. To ensure that your glass dildo use stays safe and comfortable, look over your adult glass toy carefully before each use and after each cleaning to check for any cracks or weaknesses. Additionally, if you drop your glass dildo on a tiled or concrete floor (or street), it’s probably a good idea to send that dildo to the great nightstand in the sky. You might not see new cracks or nicks after dropping a glass dildo, but along with new weakened stress points, they could be there, and you don’t want to take that risk with something you put in your body.
To Be 100% Clear: Yes, Glass Dildos Are Safe
Are there factors that can affect the safety of a glass dildo? Absolutely! But now that you know what to look out for, you can make educated choices when selecting a sensual glass pleasure sculpture. Remember to always inspect your glass toy closely before each use and after each cleaning and be sure to store it carefully. If your toy didn’t come with a bag to keep it safe during storage, consider wrapping your glass dildo in a towel or blanket to keep it from getting knocked around.
There are lots of benefits to using a glass dildo, and, let’s be honest, they just look cool! So be smart in your product selection, take good care of the glass dildo you select, and keep an eye out for any nicks or cracks and enjoy the unique experience that only glass can provide without any of the worries!
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