Shallowing – A Simple Way to Improve Vaginal Pleasure

Last Updated on July 21, 2025 by Lexi Kisses

Shallowing might be just the thing you need to improve your sex life. I know it was for me. 

Shallowing is a penetration technique that caters to the vaginal anatomy by keeping the stimulation near the outer entrance of the vulva and vagina.

With the option of slight entry into the vagina (a maximum of 1-inch in).

This strategy can help ease discomfort during penetration and maximize arousal by catering to how the vagina naturally works. 

What Makes Shallowing Effective? 

Shallowing is effective for a couple of reasons.

For one, the entrance of the vagina houses 90% of its nerve endings. This makes it one of the most sensitive parts to play with.¹

The only other part that ranks close to this sensitivity is the clit. 

Secondly, shallowing can increase the amount of natural lubrication the vagina produces by stimulating the Bartholin glands.²

These glands are located on either side of the bottom opening of the vagina and respond to stimuli & arousal by releasing lubricant. 

This lubricant eases friction and makes sex more pleasurable. 

How to Shallow?

1. Choose what you’re going to use
   1. Fingers
   2. Toys 
   3. A penis 
2. Rim around/near the outside entrance of the vulva with your chosen item.
   1. Use gentle touch to massage the outside entrance 
   2. Rub inner walls of the labia 
   3. Brush past the clit 
   4. Flick the tip of your finger around the opening
      1. Or Rub a toy back and forth across the entrance. Finding spots that are sensitive to you. 
3. Rock, rub, or undulate the item in a way that is the most pleasurable to you.
   1. This can be the last step until you’re satisfied or you can incorporate more. 
4. Insertion (optional)
   1. Go no deeper than 1 inch into the vagina.
   2. Use light touch to avoid pushing past the amount you want.
      1. For larger objects, using your hand as a buffer to control the length can also be helpful.* 
   3. Wiggle the item around inside to find the most erogenous spots. 
   4. Play around with these spots for a while. 
5. Play until You Feel Done
   1. Don’t push yourself past your wants. It’s ok not to cum if you feel finished. 

Tips

• Take as long as you need for each step.
  • Do whatever steps are comfortable, and feel free to skip some. 
• Be slow, careful and patient with yourself.
• Try to get rid of the expectation of penetration.
  • (If doing step 3) Don’t be in a rush to get penetrated. Try to enjoy each sensation that comes before it. 

Final Thoughts 

Shallowing is a simple yet effective way to enjoy sex. It uses science to produce pleasure, and the results prove the data correct if you ask me. 

This technique has changed how I approach sex with both myself and my partner. And, I couldn’t love it more. 

Have you tried shallowing? If you haven’t, I recommend you do. 

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1. “26.5E: Vagina.” Medicine LibreTexts, 24 July 2018, med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Anatomy_and_Physiology_(Boundless)/26%3A_The_Reproductive_System/26.5%3A_The_Female_Reproductive_System/26.5E%3A_Vagina. ↩︎
2. Quaresma, Catarina, and Paul B. Sparzak. “Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Bartholin Gland.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557803/. ↩︎