What Is Dry Humping? 4 Tips to Improve Your Dry Humping

Dry humping, also known as outercourse, frottage, or dry sex, is a non-penetrative sexual activity in which a person grinds against another person or object to elicit pleasure. The sexual activity serves multiple functions: an alternative to penetrative sex, a form of masturbation, and a foreplay option. For penis owners, dry humping offers pleasurable friction, while vulva owners receive clitoral stimulation from the grinding motion. While straddling is the most prominent dry humping position, you can perform the activity using various positions and angles.

Dry humping is a non-penetrative sexual technique that anyone can perform, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of outercourse:

1. 1. Wear the right garments. For vulva owners, the thinner the barrier between the clitoris and the external stimulus (like a partner’s body or a vibrator), the stronger the sensation. If you’re anticipating a dry humping session, wear thinner fabrics on either end of the compression spectrum, from silk to spandex. For penis owners, the friction from the sexual activity heightens pleasure, so wear jeans or bottoms made from thicker materials for your session.
   
2. 2. Incorporate foreplay. Foreplay and dry humping can be a powerful duo, especially if your goal is to achieve orgasm. Before you begin your dry humping session, set the mood by lighting candles, and playing sexy music. A sensual environment makes you and your partner more comfortable to explore other forms of foreplay. Enjoy a long makeout session; kissing triggers the release of chemicals in your brain like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, giving you a sense of euphoria.
3. 3. Practice safe dry humping. Exchanging bodily fluids (secretions or ejaculate) is still possible when dry humping, depending on your state of undress. If you’re trying dry humping with a new partner, discuss using prophylactics before your session to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or even pregnancy (ejaculation can seep through some materials).
4. 4. Try different positions. While the straddle position is the most commonly associated with dry humping, you can perform the sexual activity in various positions, including standing, missionary, and scissoring. For vulva owners, the optimal dry humping position capitalizes on clitoral stimulation. For penis owners, friction is key, so grinding in the opposite direction of your partner is a great way to heighten pleasure. Get creative with different angles, speed, and pressure to find the most effective position.

Dry humping can be a highly effective path to sexual pleasure and orgasm. Here are a few of the most common positions for outercourse:

1. 1. Straddle: By straddling a partner, piece of furniture, or a sex toy like a vibrator, vulva owners can control the speed and intensity of the pressure on the clitoris and better direct sensations across the entire vulva. Reverse the position to better free up your hands for fingering, massaging, or light touching.
2. 2. Missionary: The missionary position is commonly associated with penetrative sex, but it can also elicit maximum pleasure when dry humping. For this position, one partner lies on their back while the other situates themselves on top, facing their partner. This position also makes for an easy transition from dry humping to oral sex, if both parties consent.
3. 3. Standing: A standing dry hump is perfect for fans of doggy style, a position in which one partner rests on their hands and knees (or elbows) while the other partner is positioned behind them. For the standing position, choose a wall or surface for your partner to lean against, then begin rubbing into them, using different angles and pacing. While in this position, kissing your partner’s neck, shoulders, or earlobes can induce pleasure.
4. 4. Scissoring: Scissoring refers to a sexual technique in which a vulva owner rubs their vulva against their partner’s body for sexual pleasure. While scissoring is typically associated with queer women or lesbian relationships, anyone can practice the technique, regardless of their genitalia, gender identity, or sexual preferences. In the scissoring position, partners lie side-by-side and intertwine their limbs as they grind—perfect for applying pressure to either genital area.
   

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