A Guide to Eating Ass: Tips, Tricks & Positions

Somewhere in the 2010s, eating ass went from taboo to “to do.” Ass was once a straight person’s forbidden fruit. Now, the booty is just groceries.

It’s hard to pinpoint the origins of the meteoric rise in ass eating. Did the first rumbles begin when the Sex And The City girls admitted to ass-to-mouth back in 2001? Or with a 2013 Playboy article that New York Magazine described as “canonical”? It’s tough to say. But eating ass, also called ‘rimming’ or ‘analingus’, has officially left the margins. It’s, dare we say, a straight bedroom standard. 

Whatever the reason, we’re fully on board for the pussification of the butt. And we’re here for you, an ass-piring rimming aficionado, to guide you on how to eat ass.  

Why Do People Eat Ass?

This is a borderline existential question. Why do people do anything in bed, right? They want to. They’re curious. They’re horny. Their partner asks for it... So let’s back our ass up.

Before analingus hit the mainstream, eating ass was a common sex act among gay men. In advance of penetrative anal sex, it is important to relax the b-hole. The sensation of a tongue on the back door can be just the ticket. Let’s just say two words on that: nerve endings! 

For all the bravado of telling someone to “kiss my ass!!!!”, there’s something very appealing about a partner literally doing it. And as more and more straights are inducted into joys of anal play, analingus is squarely on the straight sex table.

From a surprisingly honest Facebook comment section on this article, it sounds like straight men enjoy the intimacy and the taboo of eating ass, as well as its proximity to other acts. When you think about it, rimming is like a rainbow road connecting two dope sex acts: cunnilingus with anal sex. Just remember to start with the V – alternating between b-hole and v-hole can introduce butt bacteria where it doesn’t belong.

Now let’s move on to how to eat ass.

How To Prepare For Analingus

Whoever coined the phrase “cleanliness is next to Godliness” must have been talking about devouring booty. Pretty much the only rule of backdoor action (aside from consent, duh) is keeping it clean.

When you’re getting down to ass, you can ask your partner if their butthole is ready for your mouth, or if they want to freshen up. If you’re tossing your partner’s salad, a simple wash should suffice. 

It’s important to get rid of any residue from #2, since we’re super not supposed to eat poo. As a sex health expert Luna Matatas told Men’s Health, “Rimming can run the risk of transferring harmful gut bacteria, like E. coli or salmonella, from the person being rimmed (receiver) to the person doing the rimming (giver).” Better to play it safe! A little antibacterial soap and water straight to your starfish will do you well. 

If you’re planning to venture from licking into any type of penetration, you’re going to want to clean out your rectum. (Not to be confused with your colon, which is a far deeper cleanse.) That’s where your poop passes through when you do #2, so you’ll want to get rid of any residue. Anal douching will get you there, no prob. Douching is a super DIY-able practice that cleans out the rectum of residue poop.

What Are Good Ass-Eating Positions?

Doggy Style

This is how to eat ass 101 aka the missionary of anal. It’s tried and true, and a go-to for a reason. Doggy style angles the ass up, so cheek spreading isn’t really needed. You could do a modified doggy style with the receiver propped over a piece of furniture a la Allison Williams’ famous sex scene in HBO’s Girls. If this is hard on the giver’s neck, you can use a pillow to prop the hips and keep the giver’s head low. Bottom line, use props to get the angle right.

Spread Eagle

This one couldn’t be easier. Lay on your back, spread your legs, and allow your partner to spread your cheeks. The receiver can lift their legs, behind their head even (flexibility allowing). Again, use a pillow to prop up your pelvis. You want that b-hole tilted towards heaven, so the giver can feel like a God and feast like a king.

Face Sitting

If you like it for cunnilingus, you’re gonna love it for anal. This is the most challenging of our positions, but the rewards are many. Again, props are our friends. Feel free to use a pillow to prop the givers head up. The receiver can use the bed or wall to help with their balance. This position puts the receiver in more control over pressure and intensity, which can be nice for newbies. Chow down!

Reverse Face Sitting

Sit on that face but spin the booty 180 degrees to face away. This position is especially popular among givers who love to be smothered by heinie. Reverse face sitting is also a good pose to experiment with consensual breath play.

Sixty-Nine

Giver eats booty. Receiver performs oral sex. Everybody gets a face-full of fun.

What Are the Best Techniques & Tips for Eating Ass?

Learning how to eat ass doesn’t happen overnight. Like being a beginner in anything, give yourself time and grace.   

Numero Uno: Communicate

Why do you have two ears and only one mouth and one asshole? Because listening is more important than tossing salad. Or something. Communicating with your partner is rule number one here. Make sure you’re both comfortable with the idea, and that you’re checking routinely, especially throughout the first foray into this new type of foreplay. You can even ask your receiver to give you a signal when they enjoy something or want to slow down/stop.

Remember to Relax 

Sex is fun. As long as communication and cleanliness are in place, you can’t really go wrong here. Enjoy the journey of exploring a new sexual experience with curiosity and a general chill, if you’re able.

Practice Solo 

Obvi not with your own tongue. If you want a sneak cheek of the action, invest in a rimming butt plug. This not only gets you accustomed to anal play, it simulates what the sensation will be like for you/your partner.

Don’t Go Straight for the Butthole

Work your way up to booty groceries by responding to body language and paying attention to non-verbal cues. Try kissing or massaging the inner thigh, or squeezing the buttcheeks. Engaging in any standard foreplay or dirty talk will get the hormones flowing to get you both warmed up for the booty buffet.

Experiment with Tongue Techniques

A lot of the guidelines for traditional oral apply here. You’ll want to experiment with speed, direction and pleasure. Stick to a technique for a bit, then ask your receiver if they want it slower or harder or softer. You can use their feedback to adjust towards their pleasure.

You can also use more than your tongue -- applying pressure with your nose and chin, or using hands and toys to stimulate the surrounding areas. If you want more tips, we trust this guy who says he’s eating over 500 bussies. 

I’m Clean and Ready! What Should I Expect Rimming To Feel Like?

This depends entirely on your motivations. Physically, the anus is rocking a lot of sensitive nerve endings. What’s so cool about analingus is that everyone can participate no matter their gender or sexuality. 

Mentally, the excitement of one or both partners losing their minds over analingus can be a major turn on in itself, drawing blood flow to other key areas to heighten the rest of your experience.

If you have cleanliness, communication and curiosity in place, you simply can’t go wrong. And to keep your butt perennially rim-job-ready, count on a TUSHY bidet attachment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rimming?

Rimming/ass-eating/analingus is the act of “going down” on the backdoor during foreplay or to relax the booty for anal sex. You can use your mouth, tongue and lips when rimming your partner’s b-hind.

Is Eating Ass Safe? 

Yes, with a few caveats.

1. Ensure the eating-butthole is clean to wash away as much bacteria as possible (just hop in the shower or use your bidet). 
2. If you’re angling for some anal, you may want to douche to clean out the rectum.
3. Use a dental dam if you/your partner haven’t been tested for STIs. 
4. Want to tag-team with some oral sex? If your partner has a vagina, make that the appetizer. Alternating from the butt to the V can introduce foreign bacteria where it doesn’t belong.

Should I Use Lube?

Lube is only necessary when inserting something into the anus, given that the b-hole is not self-lubricating. You can always opt to use a flavored lube if you’re nervy for your first-time feast.