Hi @rusticwhore, nice to see you again! Hope your spring is going good.
Yay for anal exploration! You’re off to a good start on taking it slow and using a good amount of lube (FYI, I’m a big fan of Sliquid Sassy for anal play, it’s water based so it’s safe for toys so you don’t have to worry about it and formulated to work great for anal, what me and my partner use!)
As for other tips, I have a few. First off, hygiene and cleaning, it’s really up to each person and what they are comfortable with. Some folks like to douche before. I never do, it’s not a requirement by any means for anal play, just a preference. A good shower before helps just in case any particles or toilet paper (or also a bidet is great for prep too). In reality, expect that at some point a little poop (or more, who knows) will get on a toy. It’s normal. It’s just poop. I keep some baby wipes or tissues nearby just so when I take a toy out, I have somewhere to sit in just in case. Also if you’re worried, especially when first starting, about either that or lube getting on anything, throw a towel down. It’s a simple way to clean up mess. I wouldn’t do anal play personally if I ate a rich or spicy meal that might have my stomach full, but you don’t need to fast or only do anal on an empty stomach. I’ve played around plenty of times after a normal meal and been fine. Also for hygiene and medical safety, def. avoid anal if you have hemorrhoids, let your backdoor just be healed before doing anything.
To start exploring, I highly suggest you get a training set. Mainly because you don’t know until you try what you can take, and if you buy the smallest plug, it might actually be too small (been there done that), so I find the training kits are your best bet! That way if the smallest one is too small, you’ve got more options vs. waiting to buy a new toy. And really they are great ways to ramp up to longer and sometimes wider width. Here are some I like:
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Mood Naughty Anal Trainer Set-a classic style, great set of beginner plugs at a cheap price. If you want to have some extra fun, can pop this in and then use a wand vibrator held against the base to give some vibration: Mood Naughty 1 Anal Trainer Set | Spectrum Boutique
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Luxe Beginner Plug Set-same three plug format, just a different style and shape. Also super affordable. Just depends what style you’d prefer: https://spectrumboutique.com/luxe-beginner-plug-kit.html
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b-vibe anal training and education set-the creme de la creme of anal trainer sets. Yes, it’s pricey BUT hear me out…you get three plugs, but you get variety and one vibrates and the other is weighted vs. most standard sets are just basic plugs. Plus you get an enema if you want to do that before anal play, a lube applicator which if doing solo stuff is super handy, and a really nice educational guide too. If you can swing it, it’s a really great set: https://spectrumboutique.com/b-vibe-anal-training-education-set.html
Also we have some great books on anal as well. If you want to deep dive, highly suggest this one: Anal Pleasure and Health | Spectrum Boutique
And last but not least, just because I always like to remind folks, make sure any toy you are using with anal play has a base (or with beads a loop) so that your toy doesn’t go fully in and you end up in the ER having to get it removed. An expensive and not fun time for anyone, ha.
