What is a Dildo & What Does it Look Like?
Last Updated on November 18, 2025
Dildos and sex toys are synonymous terms, but the truth is there's more to the basic definition then you may think. Today, I'll divulge a little bit of background history and how they've evolved over the years since.
Table of Contents
Come along with me on a journey of intimate exploration. This is the essential first timers guide with everything you've ever wanted to know about the most popular and oldest sex toy in existence.
What is a Dildo?
The dildo is sex toy used for penetration. They are designed to replicate the pleasure of penetrative sex. They can be used by both men and women and inserted into the vagina or anus.
It's important to distinguish that a dildo does not vibrate. Technically, any dildo that vibrates is called a "vibrator".
So which is better, a vibrator or dildo? The battle of dildo vs vibrator is a big one, so if you want to know how to choose between these two, check out my guide for a few questions to ask yourself to find the right one to match your preferences.
What is a Dildo Used For?
Contrary to popular belief, dildos are not just for sex crazed single women. Partners are really enjoying dildo play together during foreplay. Note the word “play” in there because that's EXACTLY what it is, which leads me to my next point:
Dildos are for FUN! Sex shouldn't be stuffy and serious. It should be enjoyable and adventurous. There is no better way to truly spice it up and add a playful attitude then incorporating adult toys into your foreplay routine.
Even though most dildos are used vaginally by women, men enjoy using them for prostate stimulation. In fact, people of all genders and sexual orientations benefit from the pleasure of anal stimulation from a small dildo.
Dildos are primarily for:
- Foreplay to make it more exciting
- Arousal before penetrative sex
- Satisfying a sexual fantasy during solo play
- Experience new penetrative sensations
- Help stretch the vagina to make sex more comfortable
- Female G-spot stimulation
- Male prostate stimulation
- Anal pleasure to increase the strength of orgasms
If you are wondering how to use a dildo properly, check out our complete tutorial for beginners with tips & techniques to assure your first time experience is a good one!
Dildos are good for lesbian partners because it's the essential appendage missing in their sex life. There are so many dildos for lesbians that don't look like a real cock, most notably the rainbow dildo, a popular choice for lesbians thanks to the pride colors and brilliant rainbow colored pattern. Lesbian toys are often super classy with fancy silicone shafts that curve & wave, stripes of rainbow colors for pride, discreet and subtle perfect for adding erotic enjoyment without looking like a blatant dick. For something extra playful, strap on a strapless! (What is a strapless dildo?)
What Does a Dildo Look Like?
Most dildos look like an erect penis, but they can also be smooth, ribbed or curved and look more like a probe. They all have one thing in common however: a shaft that can be inserted into the vagina or anus.
Dildos can be any color from pastel pink to bright blue to shades of human skin tones and made from a variety of materials including glass to metal, silicone and PVC.
The size and shape varies too from a tiny 4 inch finger-thin probe for beginner anal play to an anatomically correct 7 inches that replicate a true-to-life penis size to a larger-than-life huge 12 inch dick for massive penetrations and the ultimate in advanced level kink play.
Fantasy shaped dildos ranging from simple non-phallic probe shapes to extravagant tentacles or alien arms are popular choices for people who do not want a dildo that looks like a penis. Basically, there is a shape & visual style to suit every preference.
Some are stunningly classy, almost like works of art with beautiful sensual shapes and elegant colors. Others are rather eccentric, like thrusting dildos that move up & down.
Here is an infographic showing the different styles of dildos:
A Bit of History: How They Evolved Over Time
The first dildos ever “invented” were from well before the industrial revolution. Dildos from 30,000 years ago were crudely carved to look like a mushroom. Of course there is “scientific” debate if these were actually used for sexual pleasure, they could be mortars for a pestle. We don't actually know.
When rubber become a common material for household objects, dildos took on a lifelike appearance. Only then could we truly have a replica of a man's erection complete with dimples, wrinkles, testicles and all the other minute details of a bulging erection and balls.
Fast forward to the 1970's and silicone made them feel even more realistic. Sure rubber can look real, but by bringing a silicone mix into the picture, they became a heck of a lot softer, most options now have realistic feeling skin made of non porous materials such as body safe TPE and of course, silicone.
What is a Dildo Made Of?
Dildos are made of a vast range of materials depending on the features it has, how it is designed to look, and the experience it provides for the user. Soft, hard, curved, flexible, you think of it and I promise you it's been made by some sex toy manufacturer at some point in history.
The most common dildo materials are:
- TPE - Thermoplastic Elastomer
- TPR - Thermoplastic Rubber
- PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
- Natural Rubber
- Silicone
- Glass
- Metal / Aluminum
A few decades ago, we would often see jelly based dildos for sale. Now that our scientific world has made the general public aware of toxins in sex toys (or any softened household product), sex toy manufacturers were quick to change their products to body safe materials that do not contain Phthalates.
It was a long an arduous journey, but now I'm happy to report that pretty much any sex toy you could purchase these days from a reputable sex shop is free of toxins. Hypoallergenic and non-porous silicone & TPE are quickly becoming the dominant materials. Originally, it was very expensive to make but now it's so commonplace that we're seeing new silicone toys creeping up and overtaking PVC.
What Does it Feel Like?
The dildo is intended to feel like penetrative sex.
A realistic dildo will feel very lifelike, but one with texture will feel different, adding a bit more fantasy and extra sensations that you wouldn't feel with normal partnered sex.
The curved dildo provides G-spot stimulation while a thick dildo is good for kinky vaginal stretching sensations that some women fantasize about.
Knowing all the different materials and textures, the exact sensation can vary significantly, especially because there are so many variations within this single type of sex toy (we counted 12 types of dildos, BTW).
Soft dual density dildos are oozing and gentle. Hard PVC or glass dildos are heavy and intense. Squirting dildos mimic ejaculation, vibrating dildos have extra sensations and multi function settings, the list goes on and on.
The secret to making your dildo feel good is to use LOTS of lube. Lubricant makes it feel slick & slippery while reducing friction between your skin and the surface of the toy. It also prevents pulled pubic hairs which can cause discomfort. Sexpert tip: Warming lube adds more realism to your experience and flavored lube adds an exotic sweet scent to your bedroom. Choose water-based lube as it's compatible with all toys. ~ Mayla Green
Where to Find a Good Dildo?
There is a plethora of sex shops both online and in person where you can find a good dildo.
People prefer the discretion of online shopping. It so much easier to have the item shipped directly to you instead of walking into a brick & mortar store and purchasing one in person. It can be difficult to find a good dildo online if the website doesn't have good information such as complete measurements, videos and lots of pictures to look at.
Here at TheAdultToyShop, we make it easy to find your perfect toy because we provide more pictures for you to look at. We also have a hand holding each dildo to better convey size and list the detailed measurements of each product.
Lastly, there is a video description for every single item for sale. The video demo is invaluable information because you can get an idea of the density, texture and softness of the product you're considering.
Walking into your local sex toy store is a good option too, but storefronts are limited in size and don't carry the same volume of adult toys for sale compared to the online shop. We have a whole warehouse dedicated to stocking sex toys. Online ordering is very discreet because the package comes directly to you in an unmarked shipping box.
