How to Vape: A Beginner’s Guide to Inhaling
With hundreds of e-liquids and e-cigarette devices to choose from, the transition from smoking to vaping can be an overwhelming and confusing process to get to grips with. With no one size fits all solution, cutting through the complicated jargon and learning to vape properly and safely is an important first step towards kicking the habit for good.
Smoke vs Vape: What’s the Difference?
Cigarette Smoke
Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco. Like anything that’s burnt, the chemical composition is altered to produce visible particles of carbon and other by-products of combustion. Almost all of these particles and by-products are harmful to inhale and at least 70 are known to cause cancer.
E-Cig Vapour
Although the concept of inhaling is somewhat similar to that of inhaling cigarette smoke, there is no tobacco and no combustion involved in the vaping process. Instead of burning tobacco, e-cigarettes heat e-liquid until it dissipates into a vapour. Since these particles are liquids and not solids, they don’t carry the same risks as cigarette smoke when inhaled.
Vape Inhalation Techniques
With a wide variety of devices, liquids and vape consumables available to use, there is more than one way to inhale e-cig vapour. If you’ve been trying to find your way around the vape market, you may have come across many people asking how to smoke a vape. The answer depends on multiple factors including experience, vape kit, e-liquids, nicotine strength and more.
Nevertheless, vaping for the first time doesn’t have to be a complex ordeal. So long as you know the basics, you’re all set to make the switch to a less harmful alternative to smoking.
How to Vape for the First Time
Once you understand the process and techniques, learning how to vape safely is simple. There are two main vape inhalation techniques you need to know about: mouth-to-lung (MTL) and direct-to-lung (DTL).
Mouth-To-Lung Vaping
MTL vaping is the preferred vaping method for new vapers. A MTL draw involves slowly inhaling the vapour into your mouth and holding it there for a second or two before opening your mouth, breathing the vapour into your lungs and exhaling.
MTL inhalation is best-suited to devices that offer a tighter draw and therefore deliver higher nicotine levels with a stronger throat hit. Since this style of vaping most closely resembles the way people smoke a cigarette, it is best suited to beginners.
The best vape kits for MTL vaping are starter kits like cigalike devices and vape pens - or even disposable cigalikes.
Direct-To-Lung Vaping
DTL vaping is commonly referred to as sub-ohm vaping. For a DTL hit, vapers inhale the vapour directly into the lungs – much like taking a normal breath. This bypasses the step of holding the vapour in the mouth to maximize the density of the vapour.
Sub-ohm vaping can only be achieved with a combination of low-resistance coils and high-powered devices. As this vaping style is different to inhaling cigarette smoke, it can take some getting used to and is usually preferred by experienced vapers.
The best vape kits for MTL vaping are sub-ohm kits such as pod and box mods.
How to do Vape Tricks for Beginners
Many vapers use the sub ohm inhale to expel large amounts of vapour and perform tricks such as the Ghost Vape, French Inhale and many more.
How to Exhale Vape Through Your Nose
Since many tricks involve exhaling vape through your nose, the first step to learning any trick is to master this technique. The key to exhaling through your nose is to vape without inhaling into the lungs. Here’s what to do:
- Start by inhaling the vapour into your mouth.
- Close your mouth and press your tongue against the roof of your mouth to direct smoke towards your nasal passage.
- Exhale through your nose and allow the vapour to flow freely.
How to Ghost Vape
Resembling a disappearing ghost, the Ghost Vape trick is one of the easiest tricks to learn for those new to vaping. You can learn the trick by following these simple steps:
- Take a mouth-to-lung drag and allow it to linger in your mouth.
- Hold your breath for a second as you form an O-shape vapour ball with your open mouth.
- Now close your mouth quickly to dissipate the vapour like a disappearing ghost.
How to do a French Inhale
The French Inhale is another simple trick to learn. Also known as the Bane trick, the French Inhale resembles one of Batman’s many masked nemeses. To French Inhale, follow these simple steps:
- Take a mouth-to-lung drag and let the vapour settle in your mouth.
- Clench your teeth to create the barred effect of Bane’s mask.
- Whilst clenching, gently open your mouth and allow the vapour to exit.
How to Inhale Vape
There is more than one way to inhale vapour and the best method for you depends on a variety of factors including your preferred vaping style, experience, chosen e-liquid and more.
If you’re struggling to get to grips with vaping, get in touch with our customer support team for advice and support on choosing the best vape kit to suit you.
