I discovered masturbation at age 8 by rubbing the skin beneath my glans between my thumb and forefinger. I didn't get the idea of stroking my penis with 3 fingers until some two years later. All of this masturbation was dry – I never thought about using a lubricant. The feeling was unique. I didn't think of it as a substitute for intercourse; I didn't even know about intercourse then. As a teen, I continued to masturbate dry. Not until I was in my 20s and had begun to have sexual intercourse did I begin to use lubrication. The girlfriend who would later become my wife had problems with vaginal dryness, so from the start, we used lubrication. I continued to masturbate through my married years – sometimes dry and other times with lube. As the years have passed, I have come to prefer using lubrication. My wife and I use any hand cream spiked with baby oil to make it more slippery. That way it doesn't wear out by soaking into the skin. My current favorite is to lay down a base of a more viscous lubricant such as petroleum jelly or zinc oxide ointment, and then to apply lighter oil such as baby oil or Albolene. My orgasms are intense and satisfying. The zinc oxide helps my fair skin heal from little abrasions. - age 59, New Jersey
For several years after I started masturbating, I stroked dry with no problems. Then a buddy showed me how to do it with a wet type of lube, which worked fine but always left a mess. A couple of years back, I was shown another type of "lube" which few people have ever heard of or used. It's baby powder made from 100% cornstarch. It works like magic. It is so silky smooth it's hard to believe, and works much better for me than wet lubes. Also, there is a great side benefit – it leaves my crotch smelling baby fresh. But remember, it has to be 100% cornstarch powder, not just any baby powder.
- age 19, California
I prefer dry, unless I am using some method other than the "Fist" technique. Then, lube is a must. Lube is also a must for my second session of the day. When using lube, I concentrate on my penis head and end up with a quicker orgasm. I like to taste my "pre-cum," and if I use lube too soon, then that option is gone.
- age 37, Michigan
I have tried masturbating both wet and dry. It's more comfortable and enjoyable with a lubricated penis.
- age 14, New Jersey
I have masturbated both wet and dry. I prefer dry, since the cleanup is easier. However, lube is nice to use occasionally – usually when I'm doing other things besides stroking my penis. I've found that when I masturbate with lube too often, the sensations become more irritating than pleasurable. This may be a problem when I start having sex, but I'll deal with it then.
- age 21, Missouri
I'm uncut, so when I masturbate dry I just use my foreskin. When I use lube with the skin back it can feel very different. Doing it dry is usually quick and easy, while with lube, I go for a lot longer until orgasm. Also, the orgasm usually lasts much longer.
- age 16, Ireland
I like using a lube such as K-Y Liquid; the feelings are more intense. I can run my hand over the head to create intense pleasure. I have masturbated dry many times, but I don't get the intense pleasure that I do with lube. Of course, with a lube, there's always a lot more to clean up, but it's worth the mess.
- age 46, Georgia
I have tried both and have noticed that when I use a lubricant, there is less sensation because my foreskin isn't rubbing as hard. So, I take longer to ejaculate.
- age 17, United Kingdom
I have done both a good bit, and for some reason, my preference has moved more toward "dry." When I was younger, I would always want something to lube it up with, but I like the increase in friction I get when my penis is dry. Does that mean I never use any lube? Nope. I just don't use it often. Another reason has to do with extra mess of the lube.
- age 26, Georgia
I can't help but get "wet" most of the time. I prefer dry because, with me, it makes the experience last longer. But when my juices get going, there's nothing I can do to stop it!
- age 16, Illinois (female)
I masturbate mostly with lube because it gives the strongest orgasms. I can stroke the whole length of my penis better, including the most sensitive parts at the tip. Lube also makes the sensation of touching my penis much stronger.
- age 27, Finland
I love masturbating both wet and dry, but I dislike some things about using lube. I'm uncircumcised, so it isn't a problem for me to masturbate without lube. Still, I do it dry only 20% of the time. When I use lube, it's much more enjoyable and I can use more techniques, but I usually last only 10 minutes or less – sometimes only 3, which is quite frustrating. Without lube, I can last much longer. I'm too shy to get commercial lubes, so I use lubes like baby oil or vegetable oil. Baby oil makes me smell like a girl, while vegetable oil smells a bit disgusting. The amount of tissues I use to clean up when I use lube is very forest-unfriendly, so I guess more lube means fewer trees. The plus side about lube is that my orgasms are always quite intense. Without lube, it's just like any other orgasm, or worse – I don't feel a thing when ejaculation happens. Something just doesn't feel right about my penis.
- age 16, Malaysia
Dry is more intense and quicker, but wet feels better. The cleanup takes longer. If you masturbate long and often, wet is the way to go. Baby oil and hand creams are the best because they don't dry out like water-based lubes.
- age 27, Ohio
I like wet better because it feels more like you're having sex! Your hands move a lot more, and you can rub them over the head, which feels GOOD!
- age 15, Australia
Both wet and dry have their advantages. I don't get so sore, and I can keep going longer when I use lube. The technique is quite different. I stroke my glans when I use lube, while I usually move the skin up and down when I don't use lube. I don't think one method is more convenient or preferable than the other – I still have to clean up!
- age 20, Finland
I do it both dry and lubed, and prefer lube. I discovered lube when I was 12, and had been masturbating for two or three years. A friend was sleeping over. We started fooling around, and he asked me if I had any hand cream. I asked what he wanted that for, and he told me it felt good on his penis. So, I sneaked down to the bathroom and found some Vaseline Intensive Care lotion. We both lubed up – and wow, did that feel good. It was a wholly different feeling, and I did it differently. I used my whole hand rather than just three fingers. I noticed my friend went more slowly and gently and was enjoying the journey more. I usually did it fast and furious to get to the best part. I tried stroking more slowly, and we did it side-by-side for at least a half-hour. Every time he'd slow down or stop, I would, too. I didn't want to ejaculate before he did. It was the best orgasm of my life. Now I use lube whenever I have the time, but sometimes I still do a dry quickie if I don't. I definitely prefer lube, even though the cleanup is a bit more of a problem.
- age 15, West Virginia
I have done both, and I prefer "wet." If I have the time, I lube up my penis while it's still soft and then stroke it slowly. As I do, I imagine that it's my wife's mouth or hand pleasuring me. I find that "starting from scratch" (as she calls it; we often masturbate together) and taking my time results in far more intense orgasms.
- age 43, California
I am circumcised and can't climax without lube.
- age 15, United Kingdom
When I first began masturbating as a teenager, I always did it dry, because I simply didn't know about using lube. It may seem obvious to some, but it just never occurred to me. I enjoyed masturbating that way, of course, but then I had nothing to compare it to. When I learned about lube (and I have absolutely no recollection of when and how I heard about it), masturbating became so much more enjoyable. I didn't have to worry about rubbing my penis raw, and I could stimulate the entire shaft, including the head (which up to then, I had never really done). Since then I have masturbated exclusively with lube, and I can't imagine going back to dry masturbation.
- age 44, Tennessee
I don't use lube. When I masturbate and I get wet, I use my juices as lube. I've never done it any other way.
- age 16, Washington, DC (female)
Masturbating dry is definitely more convenient. You can do it almost anywhere you have privacy as long as you have a tissue or something to ejaculate into and have no mess to clean up. But there is nothing like some K-Y Jelly and water to increase the feeling. I masturbate at least once a day in the shower. There, I use conditioner because it's convenient. With lube, I can stroke the entire length of my penis on every stroke. Without lube, I stay below the head most of the time to avoid chafing the sensitive skin.
- age 29, Pennsylvania
I usually use lube when I'm alone. Without it, it's just far too dry, and I can't thrust as hard as I'd like without being uncomfortable. Once, however, a friend of mine did it for me. She didn't use any lube at all, and it felt incredible – even better than when I did it. But I definitely prefer to masturbate with lube. It's far more realistic and comfortable.
- age 19, Connecticut
I cannot masturbate dry: I naturally produce a lot of natural lube – my own "pre-cum." So, I have never needed artificial lube. This makes masturbating easy, and much more pleasurable.
- age 15, United Kingdom
I have tried both. Since I am not circumcised, when I masturbate dry, I tend to stroke just along the shaft of my penis. When I masturbate dry, the head of my penis is somewhat sensitive to touch. With lube, it's not so sensitive and I can focus on the head. Masturbating dry is quick and clean; it's ideal when I don't have much time. But when both privacy and time are mine, I use lube. The sensations are much better.
- age 21, Canada
I find that using a little lube is pretty much the same as masturbating dry. The feeling is great, but the final orgasm isn't as good. Using a whole lot of lube keeps me going for hours and makes the final orgasm GREAT!
- age 15, New Jersey
"Dry is more like 'real masturbation.'
Masturbating wet is more like a sex game."
Nowadays, I usually masturbate dry – mostly because it's so different from intercourse with a female. I have noticed that in periods in my life when I have had a constant sex partner, I usually masturbate dry. When I'm out of a relationship, I prefer to masturbate wet. About once in every 4 times, I masturbate wet mostly to explorer different techniques that come with the smoother surface. Both are fun – but dry is more like "real masturbation" for me. Masturbating wet is more like a sex game.
- age 23, United Kingdom
This is an easy one for me – wet only. I simply can't masturbate dry. I get no pleasure from it. I use lube and plenty of it. One time, my dad walked in when I was masturbating with hand lotion. We had a long talk. He is perfectly okay with my masturbating, says that everyone does it, and that it's a good and natural thing to do. So I asked him if he could buy me some professional lube to masturbate with, and he said sure. That was a year ago. About every month I say, "Hey, Dad, can you pick up some K-Y for me?" or some other lube. I switch around. It's great that we have such an open relationship.
- age 14, Illinois
Masturbating with lube is nice, but it takes additional time and effort, both in setup and cleanup. I find it best to shower afterwards. I use Neutrogena hand lotion, so my penis smells nice and feels *really* soft afterwards. If I'm at the computer, though, I'll just whip it out and masturbate quickly. The lotion is best when I want to make something feel good for a long time. If I'm pressed for time or just want to do it quickly, I won't use lotion.
- age 22, Canada
I am circumcised and have tried both methods. I found that masturbating with lube is much more relaxing and feels better than masturbating without. When I don't use any lube, my penis usually gets sore. But I think the only reason I like lube better is that I am cut.
- age 13, Alabama
Being uncircumcised, I learned to masturbate without lube and have always enjoyed it that way. Occasionally over the years I did try baby oil, but I rarely used it until I found JackinWorld a couple of years ago. Since learning many new techniques in your "Expert" section, I now use different lubes frequently, as well as continue with the basic "Fist," dry, where my foreskin helps lubricate the end of my penis naturally. The more intense feelings gained from using a lube and the slower pace offered with some of the more sensitive Expert techniques, has added a wonderful new dimension to my entire masturbation experience. Both dry and wet are wonderful for me and I enjoy having the option of using either as the mood strikes me. I find masturbating either wet or dry to be convenient, though wet is usually more sensitive and different techniques more interesting. I like it all – wet or dry, slow or fast. But at times when I start dry, I change my mind and really have to add a lube.
- age 64, Florida
The only time I masturbate without lube is through my pants or in my pockets when I get an erection, such as when I'm reading something on JackinWorld that I find arousing. At these times, though, I never do it to orgasm for fear of the mess I'd have to clean up. But both give me different sensations. Sometimes I begin masturbating through my pants and end up totally naked and lubed up. I usually get fantastic orgasms this way, as it builds to a greater climax.
- age 16, Alberta, Canada
I use a wet lube that enables me to glide over the entire surface of my glans, reaching even the most sensitive undersides. I find that using lube is like making love to myself – including my penis and other parts of my body.
- age 48, Hawaii
Usually, I masturbate wet only when I'm in the shower. I live in a dorm, so it's tough to get privacy – and it's tougher to masturbate wet in my room, because my roommate could walk in at any time. It's easier to hide what I've been doing if I don't have anything on my hands. I usually masturbate dry underneath my pants by rubbing against my leg because I can do it almost anywhere if I have just a little cover. I love masturbating dry, because I usually do it in public then!
- age 19, New Jersey
I've tried it both ways, and I think for women, lube is a definite requirement. I don't seem to get wet until just before orgasm. So, if I don't use lube, I can't get to the point of orgasm. Dry masturbation is uncomfortable, and I can't get that aroused when I do it without lube. The lubrication *greatly* increases the sensation. I use the same masturbation techniques whether or not I use lube.
- age 26, California (female)
I'm uncircumcised, so I never use lubrication when I masturbate. When I masturbate, my hand never lets go of my penis – and if it does, it's only to rest my hand. When I used lubrication, my hand would always slip off, which was annoying.
- age 16, Australia
As a teen I preferred convenience, so I'd masturbate dry most of the time. I was creative but never totally satisfied. The big change came when I started to have intercourse regularly. That's been going on for 30 years. I still need to masturbate frequently, only now, I always do it "wet" because that feels the most like the sensation I feel from her vagina. I've become focused on duplicating the feeling of intercourse – I guess that's what "losing virginity" does for your mental focus.
- age 53, Missouri
I have used lubricant for years whenever someone else is masturbating me. It is not as easy to hurt the penis or get sore that way. I prefer non-water-based lubricants, as they don't dry out. I vary the stroke and speed, and can feel more pleasure as I stimulate various parts of my penis. I also enjoy the fact that I produce large amounts of fluid as a precursor to ejaculation. I use that for self-stimulation as well. I have developed my variety of masturbation techniques over the years, so I use lubricant on all the parts of my body that can be stimulated to cause an orgasm – not just my penis.
- age 63, South Carolina
Lube is okay, but I find it hard to achieve orgasm with lube. I like masturbating dry, because I can get a better grip on my penis and go faster. Sometimes I do both – I use lube and rub it on my penis until it soaks in. Then, when I can get a good grip, I masturbate like that. My penis feels softer, which is nice.
- age 15, New York
I am uncircumcised, so my foreskin feels just fine! Also, I make a lot of "pre-cum" – usually enough that my penis gets all slick, even when I pull the foreskin all the way back. It takes a while to make that much, though, so those sessions usually last longer. I've also used lube and it feels great, but I reach orgasm much faster that way, unless I deliberately slow it down. If my penis is totally dry, I can't stand to have the skin pulled back. The friction is just too much, and it hurts. My favorite is to pull the skin back and forth until there's enough "pre-cum" to pull it all the way back, and then stroke comfortably. Wow!
- age 32, California
Wet can be sloppy and messy. Dry can be painful. For me, the best compromise is Ammens Medicated Powder. Try it – the stuff is great. It gives just the right amount of friction. No other powder I've used gives the same results.
- age 45, Nevada
Lube can be messy, but necessary if you like to stimulate your prostate through your anus. These wet sessions generally produce an intense, almost painful feeling in the head of my penis after orgasm. Dry sessions are easier to clean up and don't cause the post-climax sensitivity.
- age 23, Arizona
Wet is much better. Dry may be more convenient for that sudden urge, but wet more closely matches the feeling of sex. I also like to masturbate wearing a condom, since everything is contained and I can concentrate on the feeling.
- age 42, Texas
Normally I masturbate dry. It's more convenient, although it doesn't feel as good. Masturbating with lube is amazing – it seems to channel a wonderful feeling completely throughout my penis. On most occasions, I have to settle for dry, though, because cleaning up is more difficult and time-consuming with lube. Also, masturbating with lube lets me stroke my penis completely, contacting every surface. This is not possible with dry masturbation, where I can only hold on to the shaft skin and move the skin itself over my penis. Finally, my favorite technique (performing the "Fist" with my dominant hand and "twisting" the head with the other) is possible only with lube.
- age 14, Massachusetts
I always need lube. It feels much better! I cannot do it dry.
- age 33, Netherlands (female)
Masturbation with lubrication is far better, because it feels much more like a vulva or a mouth.
- age 18, Connecticut
I masturbate both dry and with lube about equally. It gives variety. Sometimes, whether I use lube or not depends on the fantasy I have going. With lube, I usually climax sooner and the climax lasts longer. Without lube, it takes longer and the climax is shorter but more intense. So I would say both are about equal in satisfying me.
- age 36, Hawaii
I use lube (soap) only in the shower. When I'm in bed, I go dry. In the shower, the orgasm is stronger and I usually can't have another one. But when I masturbate dry, I can have many orgasms.
- age 13, Maryland
"Wet" masturbation feels like actually having sex, which is the most pleasurable experience a human can experience. BUT – and this is a very big but – "dry" masturbating is a whole new experience for a male to go through. It doesn't feel just like real sex, but it is very pleasurable.
- age 22, United Kingdom