DIY Anal Dildo Guide: Before You Reach for a Hairbrush
I understand why you might search for a DIY anal dildo. Maybe you want to try a shape before spending money, or you want to make something that feels personal. But online advice tends to mix up two different projects: using an object straight from the house and casting a new one in silicone. Those routes don't solve the same problems.
I'm Roger, JockTribe's co-founder and lead designer. When I look at either idea, I don't start with “Does it look like a dildo?” I start with the finished object: what is it made of, what could fail, and what keeps it from going all the way in? Let's put the familiar household ideas through those questions first. Then we'll see what making a silicone copy actually changes.
What people use as homemade anal dildo substitutes
A cucumber has the shape. A hairbrush has a handle. I can see why either comes to mind when you don't have a toy. DIY lists from Anesidora and The Chastity Cages repeat plenty of similar suggestions. I've grouped them below because the same questions keep getting skipped. This is not our list of things to insert.
| Common online suggestion | Why it looks workable | What the suggestion leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Cucumber, carrot, banana, or eggplant | Familiar shape, easy to find. | Whether it will hold together and whether its shape can reliably prevent full insertion. |
| Hairbrush, wooden-spoon, or toothbrush handle | A long handle and a wider-looking end. | Seams, edges, the strength of the join, and whether that other end is actually a dependable stop. |
| Bottle or other container | Some look smooth, broad, and sturdy. | Lids, hollow construction, breakage, and how the object could be retrieved. |
| Candle, ice, or electronic device | Shape, temperature, or vibration. | A changing shape, or a device made for external contact, is not a design for insertion. |
The advice usually adds a quick fix: wash it, put a condom on it, use lubricant. Those things have their own purposes. None strengthens a weak join or builds a reliable stop onto the bottom of an object. I wouldn't mistake “I've covered it” for “I've checked the design.”
A closer look at the hairbrush-handle idea
Take the hairbrush. In one Reddit discussion, a commenter suggested using the handle, covering it with a condom, and leaving the brush head outside. I understand the logic: the head looks like a built-in stop. In another discussion, someone asking about hairbrushes was warned about seams on molded plastic handles. These are people exchanging ideas, not testing a product or reaching a safety consensus.
(How to more safely prepare a hairbrush handle as a temporary option in three steps.)
Now look at what that idea depends on. Is the handle smooth and intact? Will the head stay attached? More importantly, will it reliably prevent the whole object from slipping in, or does it only look easy to grip? A condom cannot answer those questions. “Hairbrush” tells me almost nothing about the particular object in your hand.
What happened when household objects were used directly
I don't use a case report to tell you how likely an accident is; it cannot do that. I use it to check an assumption. The three reports below involve household objects used directly, not silicone copies, and each shows a different way the “quick fix” reasoning can fail.
| The assumption | The reported case | The point it illustrates |
|---|---|---|
| A covering and lubricant will make it retrievable. | In a 2017 case report, a glass bottle covered with a glove and used with lubricating gel was retained and required surgery. The report found no perforation. | The covering and lubricant did not prevent retention in that case. The paper says glove, not condom. |
| A smooth vegetable will be easy to remove. | A 2020 report describes a whole eggplant that needed medical assistance to remove. The authors found no injury to the rectal or sigmoid lining afterward. | A smooth, broad-looking surface did not ensure easy retrieval. This case was not a report of tearing. |
| A hard bottle cannot change shape. | In another 2020 report, a glass bottle containing soda water shattered during movement and caused rectal injury and perforation. | Breakage is a separate failure from retention. This specific event does not mean every glass bottle will shatter. |
(Real medical cases of household items (including a glass soda bottle) used anally that required surgical removal. Images compiled from published case reports available on PubMed Central (PMC).)
None of these reports means the next person will have the same outcome. They do show why I wouldn't judge an object by one reassuring feature—a smooth surface, a covering, or a material that looks sturdy. If an object is retained, breaks, or causes significant pain or bleeding, seek prompt medical care. Don't try to retrieve it with another household object.
Can you cast a household object in silicone?
Yes. If what you actually want is to make something, a molding kit is a different route from using the original item directly. It doesn't have to copy a penis, either: a kit manufacturer's examples include produce and other non-genital objects. The result is a silicone replica of the shape you chose. Whether that replica is suitable for anal use is a second question, not a reward for completing the craft project.
The broad sequence is original shape, mold, silicone cast, cure, and inspection. The actual materials and timing belong to the kit you use; don't borrow a ratio or cure time from a different brand. I like the idea of making a shape that's yours. I wouldn't let a successful cast distract me from what it copied. A poor base or an unmanageable size survives a faithful replica.
What a silicone copy changes—and what it doesn't
This is the part I would check before calling the project finished. If you cast a vegetable or a hairbrush handle in suitable silicone and it cures properly, you no longer have vegetable tissue or the brush's handle-to-head joint. That's a real improvement over those particular originals. But “now it's silicone” still doesn't mean “now it's an anal dildo.”
| Problem with the original | What a silicone copy may change | What still needs checking |
|---|---|---|
| Spoilage, glass breakage, or an assembled join | The cast replaces that particular material or construction. | Silicone can tear. Thin spots, bubbles, rough seams, or incomplete cure can leave a flawed cast. |
| Unclear material and surface care | A documented casting material may make its composition and care easier to check. | A kit label alone does not prove that your finished cast was made and cured correctly. |
| No dependable stop at the base | Nothing, if you simply copy the same outline. | An undersized base remains undersized. A wide-looking end is not automatically a reliable stop. |
| Too much size or an awkward shape | The material may feel different. | The dimensions and geometry remain unless the design is changed and the result is evaluated. |
Planned Parenthood advises that an item used inside the anus needs a flared base or another reliable way to prevent it from slipping all the way in. Copying an eggplant, handle, or penis in silicone does not add that feature. Nor should you assume that a small pedestal or suction attachment serves the same purpose unless the finished design is actually intended for anal use.
I would separate the two decisions. Did you make a sound silicone cast? And did you make a shape that is actually intended for anal use? Getting the first one right does not answer the second. Check the kit maker's intended use and the finished item. If you can't establish both, don't treat it as an anal toy.
Which path makes sense for you?
JockTribe sells dildos, so I don't want “just buy one” to be the only answer you get from us. Your reason for looking at DIY matters. Here is how I'd sort the three most common situations:
| What you want | What you've learned | A useful next step |
|---|---|---|
| A shape you made yourself | A casting kit can produce a replica, including a copy of some household objects. The copied base and size still matter. | Read the kit's material and intended-use instructions. Judge the cured, finished object—not just the word “silicone.” |
| A lower-cost way to explore | A household object may cost less, but its construction and ability to prevent full insertion are often unknown. | Compare products made for anal use by base, dimensions, material, and care instructions. Our dildo size guide explains the measurements; you can check individual options in our analdildo collection. |
| Something available tonight | An online anecdote does not verify your particular object, and casting is not an instant fix. | If you cannot check the design, choose non-insertive play or wait for an item whose intended use and specifications are clear. |
I'm all for choosing a shape that excites you. I just want the design to answer the less exciting questions too: what it is made of, what keeps it intact, and what keeps it from going too far.
FAQ
Does a condom make a household substitute suitable for anal use?
No. A condom can provide a barrier over the surface. It cannot strengthen an object or create a reliable base.
Is a silicone copy easier to care for than the original household object?
It may be, if the casting material is documented, fully cured, and cared for according to its maker's instructions. That says nothing by itself about the copy's shape or suitability for anal use.
What if an object gets stuck or causes bleeding?
Stop and seek prompt medical care. Tell the clinician what the object is, especially if it might break or has sharp parts. Clear information helps them assess the situation.
Article editor: Roger, Co-Founder & Lead Designer
