(Believe it or Not) My first Vibrator: My Review of the Lelo Gigi

Isn't it lovely? My fuzzy red blanket
will forever be the perfect
backdrop when taking product
photographs. 

You heard right. The Lelo Gigi is the first vibrator I've ever owned or used.

Part of this is because I had never even set foot inside of an adult store before I got my job in one. I hadn't applied for my job- I put my resume up on Craigslist and my manager contacted me via email. I decided to go for it.

This was one of the best decisions of my life, as far as I'm concerned: I've become a part of a really supportive and fantastic work-family, I've learned a lot about myself and my body, learned a lot about sex toys and sex accessories, and I got my first vibrator- the last part thanks to my fantastic partner, who ended up buying it for me as a gift.

It took me about six months after getting my job to decide what toy I wanted to be my first, and then I started so save up for it before my partner stepped in and bought it for me. I knew that I wanted a higher-end, non-porous toy and that I wanted one that was rechargeable. This narrowed my selection down considerably at my store (which is where I knew I'd get my first toy since I get a discount): The best non-porous rechargeable toys we have are made by Lelo, Fun Factory, Je Joue, and Jimmy Jane. I eventually came to the conclusion that I wanted a Lelo (easily my favorite company to talk about and show off to customers) and I eventually settled on the Gigi because of its multi-functionality.

What I mean when I say multifunctionality is that the shape of the Gigi makes it perfect for both g-spot stimulation and clitoral stimulation: the flat head feels fantastic on my clit, and the curve in the toy means that it's fantastic for g-spot stimulation.

Or at least, it should be good for gspot stimulation. The first time I used it, I tried exploring the depths of my vagina with it- and though I found it cool to be able to feel the internal shape of my vagina through the toy, I didn't get any pleasurable sensation from it and ended up using it clitorally, resulting in the fastest climax I think I've ever had (I hear this is pretty common for your first time using a vibrator?).

Everything that comes inside the box:
Toy, User Manual, Warranty Book,
Lubricant Sachet, Satin
Storage Pouch, and Charger.

My first experience with it made the toy intimidating: maybe I couldn't find my gspot. Maybe I didn't have one. Doubt swirled around in my head.

I didn't use it for a little while, but steadily began using it more and more.... externally only. It got to a point where one week, I wouldn't leave the house without orgasming at least once. Using the Gigi was faster and more efficient than manual masturbation, and I'm almost positive that the release helps with my anxiety and chronic pain. It definitely helps me relax before the commute to work and the barrage of images, information, and people that the commute and work come with- which is really stressful for me.

But I still wouldn't use it internally. I had never really been one for internal stimulation- I have difficulty feeling my vagina and get more out of clitoral stimulation- whether it's by a partner, by myself, or with a toy. That's just the way it is, and though I'm trying to explore new techniques and toys, it's something I have to live with until I find out what works for me.

The other day, after a few days of thinking about my lack of using the toy internally, I guilted myself into doing it. Thoughts like "You want to review this thing, but you haven't used it internally more than once?" swam around in my head, and I resolved to try it.

I determinedly thrust the toy inside of myself and moved it around. I tried pressing up against where I thought my gspot was. I tried thrusting. I tried something like the 'windshield wiper' move Elspeth Demina describes in her Pure Wand review. Nothing. I tried different levels of vibration, different pulsation patterns, varying levels of pressure. Still nothing. A few times I felt a really vague sensation, but it was so vague that I could hardly discern what it was. Eventually I gave up and used it the same way I have been.

I don't think my story is a failure; I just think that I haven't figured out the right way to stimulate my gspot. I'm going to keep trying, and I plan on getting other toys that are tailored to gspot stimulation. Hopefully, through trial and error, I'll eventually figure it out.

Product Details

The box. Which is a little worn already, because it's
always next to my bed.

Packaging
The Gigi comes in Lelo's signature black box with the logo on top. When you open up the box, you find the toy nestled in velvet-covered foam with another piece of the outer black material, again with the Lelo logo embossed on it, which you open to find a satin pouch, the charger, a warranty booklet, the user manual, and a packet of Lelo 'Personal Moisturizer' (aka Lubricant).

What you find when you open the box.

The Toy
The dimensions of the Gigi are approximately 6.5 inches long (16.5 cm), and about 3 inches (7.6 cm) around below the hook (don't let that fool you- it's very thin). The silicone insertable portion is 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) long.

It has a circular button on the white, hard plastic base which has - and + laterally (side to side) and ^ and v longitudinally (up and down) (can you tell I've been reading a book that has a lot to do with sea navigation in the 1600s?). The - and + control the intensity of the vibration and turn the toy on and off (+ for on, - for off). The ^ and v buttons control the pulsation patterns.

The settings on the toy are as follows:

It begins with a steady vibration. Press ^ to reach the next pattern, which is a simple, slow, and repetitive pulse. The next is a similar pulse that is faster, and the next is a similar pulse that's even faster. The last pulse is what I call a purr (because that's what it sounds like to me, and I like cats): rapidly increasing intensity that drops off and begins again. Part of the reason the Gigi is a good beginner toy is the simplicity, though I know that some are more interested in a variety of pulsation patterns.

One thing that needs to be mentioned here about the Gigi is that its really quiet. Like, no one's going to hear it unless they're in the same room, next to you, and even then- if it's not on the higher end of it's vibration strength range, no one's going to hear it. Even if you have it turned all the way up, if you use it under the blankets or with quiet music on (which might already be overkill) no one's going to hear it outside of your room or private space.

Charging the Gigi
Charging is pretty straight forward. When it's running low on power, a ring around the control panel glows red when you turn it on. When plugged in, the glow becomes white and 'pulses' to indicate that it's charging. When the light is solid white, it's done. In the manual, they say it takes 2 hours to charge, and you shouldn't charge for more than 24 hours. You also shouldn't use the toy while it's charging. I've only had to charge mine once in the month (or is it two now?) that I've had it. When not in use, it holds its charge pretty well, and I've gotten quite a few sessions out of it (though sometimes I don't use it for more than a couple minutes, when I'm doing a quick session before going to work) and I'm pretty pleased with that. I've heard reports from other reviewers that they find the charge for their Lelo products lasts very long as well.

The Lubricant 
I haven't used the lubricant sachet that came with the toy. I'm not sure that I will, if I do I'll definitely make note of it here. It is Glycerine and Paraben Free, but I'm not particularly keen on Ginseng in lubricants. I have one with Ginseng and it's supposed to be flavored and it makes my mouth tingly-numb, which I really dislike. My partner likes how it feels though, so I may give this a try. I'm also pretty sure I've read some research about Propylene Glycol being possibly harmful, but I can't seem to find it right now. I'll link if I do.

Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aloe Barbidenis Leaf Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Panax Ginseng Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed (Guarana) Extract, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Polysorbate-20, Aspartame, Polyquaternum-5, PEG-45M, Citric Acid.

I won't go into explaining every ingredient, but most of these that aren't 'typical' lube ingredients are moisturizing (the Aloe), and Stimulating (Ginseng and Guarana).The Aspartame is a sweetener, the Citric Acid is a preservative. It's not terrible overall, but as mentioned, I generally don't like Ginseng and I'm nervous about the Propylene Glycol.

Care and Safety
As a silicone toy, you'll want to spot-test any silicone lubricants before using them as intended with this toy. Up to this point, I haven't spot-tested any silicone lubricants (I'm out) with the toy, though I did accidentally put some JO Premium Cooling on the toy and didn't notice anything amiss. The way you spot test is apply a drop to the base or somewhere unnoticeable on the toy (like when you spot-test hair dye, or try out a cosmetic product when you have sensitivities) and if the lubricant gums up almost immediately, it is incompatible with the toy. You can scrape it off with a finger nail and it shouldn't leave a mark or anything like that, or if it does it should be unnoticeable- but imagine if you had globbed a bunch of that on your toy and it wasn't compatible? That would just suck. I'll post results once I try out some silicone lubricants with this toy.
As far as cleaning and eventual disposal go (though Lelo products should last you a loooong time), look to my previous blog post on sex toy materials, which details care and disposal.
The warranty that comes with all Lelo vibrating products is fantastic: 1 year full warranty and a 10 year quality guarantee (which means that they'll give you half of the value of the toy to spend on a new toy or use in their online shop). You have to register your product, but it's relatively straightforward: Go to lelo.com, click 'Register/Log In' on the upper right-hand corner, and plug in your information. There's a registration card somewhere in the packaging of your product or on the back of the warranty booklet. It took me no more than a couple minutes to get my registration set up, it was really straightforward, and if my toy breaks or malfunctions, I can claim it right on the website after a quick log-in. I'll let you know what happens if I ever have to make a claim, but I don't think I will.

Conclusions
The Lelo Gigi is a toy that I'm fond of. Maybe it's because it's my first (likely) but it's also a toy that I frequently recommend to people who are looking for a high quality toy for the first time. I'm pleased with it as my first choice, even if I haven't gained knowledge of my gspot through it (yet), I know some people have a harder time finding theirs- I personally accept that as a challenge. I plan on continuing determinedly with the Gigi and with other gspot toys as I gain them to try and discover what works for mine. Maybe I need something girthier? Who knows. The Pure Wand is definitely on my list.

Knowing what I do about vibrators from my job, though, this is still a product I highly recommend: If you already know how to manipulate your gspot or even if you haven't, this is a fantastic product. Maybe it will help you find your gspot, maybe it won't. I'm constantly telling people that everyone's body is different- something might work for me, but not for you, and vice versa.

So, overall, the Gigi is a good toy for people who want a higher quality toy but are inexperienced with toys overall or just with high quality toys, or for people who don't need a strong vibration. I've read that some find it to be weaker than later Lelo products (I know the Mona 2 and Ina 2 are definitely stronger, and have a better vibration quality) but not everyone needs strength.

Other good toys to begin with from Lelo include the Liv, which is the same price as the Gigi and has the same quality of vibration and pulsation patterns, but doesn't have the gspot curve that the Gigi does- and the Mia 2, which is a smaller lipstick-style vibrator that is USB chargeable. I recommend the Mia 2 over the original Mia because though I can't notice a difference in the vibration strength (though if I hold them up to my nose, I can hear a higher frequency on the Mia 2), it has a new cap that's supposed to make it waterproof, and it has pulsation patterns. The Mia 2 is the cheapest vibrating toy from Lelo, and it's fantastic if you like clitoral stimulation. It's also fantastic if you travel or want to be able to have a vibrator 'on the go' that isn't too obvious if someone finds it in your purse. I don't know if you can tell, but the Mia 2 is on my wishlist as well.

Hope this review was useful to you; please consider supporting my blog and Lelo by checking them out through the banner on the right of my blog!