Black For Lovin’?

Here’s something that just occurred to me. Does the colour of a sex toy dictate how effective it will be?

I don’t think that’s as silly a question as it first sounds. Think about it. When you’re indulging in foreplay with your partner colour plays a huge role, well it does for me at least. I’m not just talking here about my synaesthesia, I’m talking about the colours that everyone sees.

Take this as a scenario. You’ve taken your partner out for an intimate meal, you wine and dine them, the rich ruby red of the Cabernet Sauvignon contrasting with the ivory of her skin. The dancing yellow-white candlelight is reflected in her blue-green eyes. The single diamond resting on her chest on it’s gossamer thin chain refracts the light into a million colours.

When you get home she removed her red satin dress, the fabric flowing from her body like a red river of light to reveal a black basque and stockings. Her cheeks flush pink as you take her into your arms, her chestnut hair is released from its ponytail and you guide her to the waiting, clean, white bedsheets …

As I said colour is very important to me.

So although the sensory experience of using a sex toy might at first be thought of as tactile there are other senses involved. Not least of these is sight.

The shape of a toy is important and an elegant toys is far more appealing than one that looks like something out of an Argos catalogue’s kitchen appliance section. However the shape of a toy can be determined by touch too so two senses are involved. Colour can only be seen.

Toys can be fun and/or functional, realistic or abstract in form, and colour plays a huge role in defining how you think of a toy. For example a cock-shaped dildo is pretty mundane and maybe a bit daunting to some women, even a bit too literal in its shape, but make it a bright colour and to many people it becomes a more friendly, approachable item.

There are some generic toys available in high street stores in the UK that are manufactured in semi-abstract phallic forms and pinkish PVC. These fall between the two camps of fun and functional and I think fail to deliver to either potential customer, they are boring and way too conventional when there are so many innovative and arousing shapes out there.

While brightly coloured toys are not everyone’s cup of tea, manufacturers like Fun Factory make some bright and friendly looking toys which I suppose are targeted at the first time user. Toys are about indulgence too, and when it comes to style, neutral and secondary colours seem to me to be the best at conveying this.

White, for some might be clinical, but to others look clean and bright, greys and blacks always look a little more classy, signalling that you’re about to indulge your sense in a selfish and decadent way. Purple (like the Fun Factory Curve) looks opulent.

The toy pictured is the Tuyo Vibromasseur, reviewed here by Suze.

Tags: Synaesthesia, colour and sexuality, colour and sexual attraction, Tuyo Vibromasseur, Fun Factory Curve, sex toy design, sex toys