Your Guide to Steamy, Slip-Free Shower Sex

Shower sex: Some people can’t get enough of it, while many others have tried and failed to see the appeal. Between the awkward angles, slippery surfaces and the risk of leaving your partner out in the cold (literally), shower sex is a textbook example of something that often looks much hotter on screen than it feels in real life. When done sloppily, it can spiritually feel like two seals going at it; When done intentionally, shower sex can create erotic sensory experiences that are impossible to replicate in the bedroom. Once you let go of expectations and learn how to work with the shower rather than against it, sex in the shower can bring a whole new level of pleasure into your life.Here’s how to make shower sex safer, easier and much more satisfying, according to sex experts and some people who love it.It’s all about the sensory layeringMany people find shower sex satisfying because of the arousing possibility of having many different sensory inputs at once. “You have the sensation of the water as an added somatic element that can add heat or cold, pressure and texture, all of which feel exciting and novel,” Jenn Kennedy, a queer therapist, tells Them. “By contrast, the bed is soft, dry and familiar. The mind loves something new and time limited,” i.e. hot water will eventually run out, or if you live with roomies, you can’t be in there forever. One of the best ways to create sensory contrasts is via steam. Before shower sex, “close the doors of the bathroom and start the water running. This will warm the room, fill it with steam, and allow all parties to stay warm,” Rebecca Blanton, a queer sex educator, tells Them. You don’t technically have to have the water hitting you at all if you create your own DIY steam room. “If you want to keep the steam heavy, but don’t want to be in the stream of water, adjust the shower head to flow away from your bodies, to allow the steam to fill up the shower and the bathroom,” Tyomi Morgan, a certifie