Complete Guide to Vaping for Beginners

Vaping is an amazing delivery system for nicotine. Its popularity has exploded in recent years as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. So whether you’re new to vaping because you’re quitting cigarettes but don’t want to give up nicotine or you’re starting with vapes instead of another form of nicotine, there’s plenty to learn.

Vaping is different from smoking cigarettes. Don’t assume it’s going to translate exactly the same. That being said, the ritual, the sensations in your lungs and mouth, and the fantastic, instant effect of nicotine are reminiscent of cigarettes. Read on to school yourself on vaping for beginners.

Difference Between Vaping and Smoking

To understand the difference between vaping and smoking, let’s start at the beginning – what exactly is vaping? This beginner’s guide to vaping will walk you through everything you need to know.

Vaping is the inhalation and exhalation of an aerosol (not actually a water vapor) created by superheating an e-liquid, which usually contains nicotine and flavoring. Yes, both vapes and cigarettes contain nicotine that is inhaled. However, that’s pretty much where the similarity ends.

Smoking a cigarette involves the burning of tobacco and inhaling that into your body. And sure, you also get nicotine this way. But you also get tar and 4,000+ other chemicals. Yikes! With a vape, there’s no tobacco, no burning, no tar, and fewer chemicals.

Understanding Vape Devices

Cigarettes are pretty easy to understand – paper, tobacco, filter. But what makes up a vape device and how do they actually work? And even once you understand how they work, how do you choose the right vape pen?

A vape device, whether pen, mod box, or e-cigarette, all have the same basic components. A battery is necessary to heat the coil. The coil is the heating element and is in contact with the wick. The wick draws the e-liquid (held in a separate tank) to the coil. The coil superheats the e-liquid and atomizes it, turning it into an inhalable vapor. Finally, there’s the mouthpiece through which you draw the resulting vape.

There are a few different kinds of vape devices, but the primary distinctions are disposable versus refillable. (Refillables may also be called reusables.) You just have to decide what matters most – ease of use or the longevity of a singular device.

How to Vape: Vaping Basics

Now that you understand the device, how do you actually vape? Let’s run through some vaping basics. As stated earlier, it’s not the same as smoking, although there are similarities. One of the most common questions about how to vape is whether or not you inhale. The answer is “yes.” You can inhale (there’s two different ways), or you can still get nicotine through the no-inhale method. Let’s break it down.

Inhale Method 1: Mouth-to-Lung

The mouth-to-lung method feels the most similar to smoking a cigarette and is probably the most common. Many users equate it to sucking air through a coffee straw – the draw on the mouthpiece feels tight. 

• Draw the vapor into the mouth for a few seconds
• Hold in the mouth
• Open the mouth and inhale the vapor down into the lungs
• Exhale

Inhale Method 2: Direct-to-Lung

The direct-to-lung technique is simply to inhale into the lungs without holding it in the mouth, then exhale almost immediately.

No Inhale Method

It’s easy to enjoy the effects of nicotine through a vaping device without inhaling at all. Nicotine can be absorbed by the soft tissue of the mouth and enter the bloodstream. (This is the same way people absorb nicotine using smokeless tobacco products like dip or chew.) In this method, simply draw the vapor into your mouth, hold for a few seconds, then exhale without ever drawing it down into the lungs.

Vape Guide to Best Beginner Products

Now you know the basics of vaping – how vapes work, how to use them, and the different vaping device options. But what’s the best vape product to start with?

When you’re just beginning to explore vaping, it’s easiest to start with a disposable vape pen. It’s a LOT simpler than buying a kit and trying to charge the battery, fill the tank, and assemble everything. More importantly, it’s a more affordable initial investment. Just remember, less expensive doesn’t have to mean lower quality!

It’s also probably a good idea to start with a vape pen with a low puff count. This lets you figure out how long the vape pen will last you and gives you the freedom to explore and test many different flavors for less cost. Once you find your favorite or know how much you’ll use the vape pen, you can upgrade to a longer-lasting, higher puff count pen. 

That’s it. You’ve finished our vaping guide for beginners. When you are ready to find a quality disposable vape for a luxury vaping experience, don’t settle. Don’t compromise. IGNITE your life.