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We have been publishing sex toy reviews for a decade now, and we have a real appreciation for the work and skill that goes into producing safe, reliable pleasure products. We get plenty of inquiries from people who want to try to make their own sex toys (and we’re regulars in sex and sex toy communities), so there is obviously a lot of interest in this topic.
It’s understandable that people might think that they know better than anyone else what they want in a sex toy; however, we can’t recommend this route. Sex toys are accessible and affordable these days. The well-reviewed THRUST Pro Mini Ella is less than $20, for instance.
We want to answer our readers’ questions, so we will walk through some options for creating a homemade onahole — but we will also reinforce that professionally produced toys are safer and (almost always) more satisfying.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our founder and CEO, Tim Larson, has personally reviewed well over 100 male masturbation toys, including many onaholes. He knows very well what folks are looking for in this kind of product. In addition to Tim, My Sex Toy Guide is made up of sex educators, product testers, researchers, and journalists. We know this industry inside and out, so to speak, and we’re here to present the information that our readers want and need.
What Is a Homemade Onahole?
People have been making things to stick their penises in for as long as people have had penises, but onaholes specifically date back to the late Muromachi Period (1333-1573) and early Edo Period (1603-1868) in Japan. They were originally known as azumagata, which translates to “the thing with the shape of wives,” and they were popular with merchants who traveled extensively.
Some of the first onaholes were housed in the sheaths of samurai swords. Both merchants and samurai were relatively wealthy, and the construction of onaholes reflected that. Other cases were made of tortoiseshell or bamboo, and the interiors were crafted from silk that was further softened with persimmon juice, velvet, and bird down. The working class also wanted onaholes, of course, and less expensive versions were made with konjac (a starchy root vegetable) and mochi (soft rice cake).
Current-day onaholes are made with washable body-safe materials, not snack foods. They usually have soft bodies (as opposed to hard-shelled Fleshlights) and richly textured interiors. They range from discreet compact models to adult torso-sized toys.
Homemade onaholes are, as you may have guessed, DIY versions of these male masturbation toys. Since most of us don’t have access to industrial silicone or TPE, they are usually made from items that we have at home or are available at big-box hardware or craft stores.
If you’re interested in trying this project at home, you should check out the Zhang Xiao Yu onahole, which was the highest-rated in our review article. You’re probably not going to be able to replicate it on your kitchen table, but it should serve as inspiration.
Are DIY Onaholes Safe?
Homemade onaholes and homemade sex dolls really are not safe. If you are fond of your penis, you should treat it well, and that includes not sticking it in potentially hazardous contraptions. Store-bought sex toys are produced from body-safe materials and designed with safety in mind — including the ability to clean the toy thoroughly so that you can steer clear of bacteria and other contaminants.
The Best of What’s Out There
If you’re still reading, you’re probably still interested in making your own onahole. We still think that you’re better off buying a toy from a reputable retailer, but we’ve drawn on personal experience and scoured the internet to bring you the least-bad suggestions.
Note: Any action that you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, as explained in our Terms of Service.
1. Rolled Towel Onahole (Fifi)
One advantage of using towels is that even if they are porous, they can go through the washer and dryer to ensure cleanliness. You can see this method in action in our YouTube video.
Materials:
- Clean hand towel
- Vinyl or nitrile glove
- Toothpaste tube or other appropriately sized cylinder (you want something a little slimmer than your penis)
- Rubber bands
Step-by-Step Guide
- Fold the towel in half lengthwise.
- Place the toothpaste tube inside the glove.
- Position the tube/glove on one edge of the towel so that the glove cuff hangs over the folded edge of the towel.
- Roll the towel around the tube twice. Fold the edge of the glove cuff over the towel. Keep rolling the towel, which will secure the glove cuff in place.
- Use the rubber bands to secure the towel roll. Remove the tube. You should be left with a cavity that fits your penis snugly.
2. Folded Towel Onahole
Here’s another way to make an onahole using a towel and a glove: the YouTube video is here.
Materials
- Clean hand towel
- Vinyl or nitrile glove
- Rubber bands
Step-by-Step Guide
- Fold the towel in half lengthwise (make it narrower).
- Place the glove on one end of the towel so that the glove cuff hangs off the end.
- Fold the narrow ends of the towel together, sandwiching the glove.
- Fold the cuff of the glove over the ends of the towel.
- Use the rubber bands to secure the towel sandwich.
3. Sock Onahole
Like towels, socks are easily available and can be laundered as needed. You can see how we create the sock onahole in the YouTube video here.
Materials:
- Three pairs of clean socks (they don’t have to match)
- Vinyl or nitrile glove
- Rubber band
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Stack two pairs of socks and place them side-by-side.
- Fold each pair, starting with the toes, and position them with the fold down.
- Lay the glove on one pair of socks with the cuff sticking out one to two inches.
- Place the other pair on top, creating a sock-glove-sock sandwich.
- Fold the cuff of the glove over the socks.
- Wrap the third pair of socks around the sock sandwich to adjust the tightness, and use the rubber band to secure it.
Pro Tip: Wedge the sock onahole between the couch cushions for a hands-free experience (and a possible vice-presidency).
4. Party Balloons
This won’t be easy to clean, but it’s inexpensive enough that you can discard it without any concerns. (You can also just discard the glove and put a new one in for the next round.)
Materials:
- Four latex balloons
- Vinyl or nitrile glove
- Cardboard tube at least 3” in diameter
- Duct tape
Step-by-Step Guide
- Inflate all four balloons very slightly and knot the ends; they should be puffy but still squishy.
- Place all four balloons inside the tube with the knots folded over the edge of the tube. Duct-tape the knots in place on the outside of the tube.
- Insert two fingers inside the glove and gently poke it down the center of the tube, between the balloons. Leave the cuff of the glove outside the tube.
- Fold the cuff of the glove over the edge of the tube and duct-tape it in place.
5. Toilet Paper Tube Onahole
This is another one that is inexpensive enough, and most households have a never-ending supply of empty toilet paper tubes anyhow, that it can just be tossed in the trash.
Materials:
- Toilet paper tube (note that “mega rolls” tend to have narrower tubes)
- Bubble wrap
- Vinyl or nitrile glove
- Duct tape
Step-by-Step Guide
- Line the inside of the tube with bubble wrap for texture, and tape it in place.
- Insert two fingers into the glove and gently push the glove into the tube. Leave the cuff of the glove outside the tube.
- Fold the cuff of the glove over the edge of the tube and duct-tape it in place.
6. Potato Starch
We can go back to the earliest days of the onahole (see above) when people made onaholes out of konjac root. In the Western world, potato starch is generally easier to find. You may be surprised by the realistic feel here. It should go without saying that this is a single-use onahole.
Note: It is relatively rare, but potato starch can cause skin irritation. If this is the case, you can wear a condom.
Materials
- Potato starch
- Warm water
- Cooking spray (like Pam)
- Bowl or mug
- Knife
Step-by-Step Guide
- Spray the bowl or mug with cooking spray.
- Mix potato starch and warm water to form a paste. Fill the bowl or mug.
- Let sit overnight or until completely dry (use the knife to test the center).
- Tip the potato paste out of the container, and use the knife to carve an appropriately sized hole in the molded paste.
7. Pringles Onahole
While it won’t be possible to clean this toy, you can keep the can and replace the sponge for each use. Be careful of sharp edges; you can duct-tape around the can opening if you are concerned.
Materials:
- Empty Pringles, Lay’s, or similar chip can
- Soft, thick sponge (not like a loofah or Scrub Daddy)
- Scrap towel
- Rubber bands
- Lube
- Knife
Step-by-Step Guide
- Wrap the scrap towel around the outside of the can and rubber-band it in place.
- Use the knife to cut a hole in the center of the sponge.
- Apply lube to the inside of the can and to the inside and outside of the sponge.
- Insert your penis into the hole in the sponge, and then insert it into the can.
8. Pool Noodle Onahole
Pool noodles are porous, but they are also waterproof so they can be scrubbed when needed. You can also line the noodle with a glove or wear a condom. Pool noodles come in different sizes; you may be able to find one that already has a suitably sized hollow center.
Materials:
- Section of pool noodle
- Knife
Step-by-Step Guide
- Cut a pool noodle to the appropriate length.
- Use the knife to cut a hole in the center or widen an already-existing hole if necessary.
9. Stuffed Toy Onahole
This will likely render the toy unusable, so please do not use a stuffie that you (or anyone else!) care about.
Materials:
- Stuffed toy
- Vinyl or nitrile glove, plastic bag, or condom
- Knife
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Cut a hole in the stuffie.
- Line the hole with the glove or bag, or wear a condom.
What Not to Do
As we wrote above, we’ve been all over the internet looking at ideas for homemade onaholes. Because we believe in the care and protection of penises, we’d like to call out the following as potentially dangerous and harmful.
- Unsafe Materials: Professionally made sex toys are produced from body-safe materials, and you should aim for the same at home. Do not use unsafe materials or chemicals when making your homemade onahole. For instance, a tube of toothpaste is likely to contain ingredients that can cause discomfort, irritation, or worse when they come in contact with the sensitive skin on your penis.
- Unsafe Structures: Your onahole will need to be able to tolerate repeated, energetic thrusting. If you choose a shell that can break or shatter, you are risking injury to your penis and/or testicles. Commercial sex toy manufacturers use shells and interiors that have been tested for durability.
Why Is It Better to Get a Real Onahole?
The most important reason to get a “real” (commercially produced) onahole is that it is far less likely to injure or damage your penis. We think that’s reason enough, but also:
- Hygiene: We don’t need to go into detail about why it’s important to be able to clean male masturbator toys thoroughly. Even tiny bits of organic material (bodily fluids and skin cells), lube, and lint and debris left to fester in a dark pocket create a breeding ground for bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. At best, it’ll be smelly and unpleasant. The best professionally produced sex toys are non-porous so they won’t harbor contaminants. This Ereshkigal Cherry is made from TPE, which can be cleaned with soap and water or specialized sex toy cleaner. It also offers lovely vagina and anus openings with stimulating textures and excellent suction in both orifices.
- Build Quality and Durability: A lot of these sex toys see frequent and vigorous use. That’s what they’re for, after all! But you will want an onahole that’s completely capable of taking all that you have to give, and the homemade versions might not be. Sex toy companies manufacture high-quality, durable products that are made to last. The breasts on this Holy Sister Oppai onahole toy will bounce back no matter how hard or how often you squeeze them!
- Variety and Customization: Folks say that they want to make their own sex toys so that they can customize them. We get that: sex and sex toys are very personal, so of course you want exactly what you want! But the truth is that if you’re making your own toys and gear, you are limited by technical and supply considerations. Most of us just don’t have access to medical-grade silicone, custom molds, or the rest of the components and machinery necessary to produce truly customized toys.
We think that you’re more likely to get what you want if you spend your energy and money shopping selectively. There are a lot of excellent and creative toy makers out there these days. For instance, we have reviewed La Bocca Della Verita by Magic Eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the advantages of making homemade sex toys?
We’re going to be honest: we really don’t see any advantages to making homemade sex toys or gear like penis pumps. People think that they will save money, but that is rarely the case. As it turns out, sex toys that are expensive for sex toy manufacturers to make (and expensive for consumers to buy) are also expensive for people to make at home! People also want to customize their sex toys, which is understandable, but home workshops don’t usually have the equipment or supplies to create anything but the most basic items.
What’s the difference between a homemade onahole vs. a homemade pocket pussy vs. a Fleshlight?
When people make their own sex toys, the lines sometimes blur. We think that homemade onaholes and homemade pocket pussies are pretty interchangeable, especially when the creators customize the toys to their own preferences (as they should!). However, there are noticeable differences between homemade toys and an authentic Fleshlight. The Fleshlight will have a custom hard-shell case and a highly textured interior, both of which are difficult to replicate in home workshops.
Tim
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