This Founder Wants You to Have Fearless Oral Sex

The founder of oral sex panty brand Lorals shares her story from writing legal briefs to designing briefs for pleasure.

Here’s the thing. “Is my vagina normal?” is a far too commonly asked question. In fact, Refinery29 recently surveyed its millennial female audience and found that nearly half (48%) had concerns about the appearance of their vulvas. There are a lot of myths about vulvas and vaginas that make the people who have them feel unnecessary shame. Not only is this causing people to inherent intense (and completely unnecessary) insecurities, but it has resulted in an overwhelming oral sex deficit for the people with these parts. We’re not about that shame and stigma life, so I was thrilled to learn about an entrepreneur tackling this very problem: Melanie Cristol, Founder & CEO of Lorals, an oral sex panty brand. You might be thinking, “What are oral sex panties?” So I went to Melanie to find out!

For starters, what exactly are Lorals and how do you use them?

Lorals are panties that can be worn during oral sex and rimming. They’re made of silky natural latex that’s ultra-thin and stretchy to allow sensations to pass through, and they’re non-porous to block fluids, a partner’s scratchy facial hair, self-consciousness, or whatever is holding the receiver back from pleasure. Our company is also pursuing FDA clearance of our products as STI-prevention devices — hands-free, beautiful alternatives to dental dams to make oral sex more accessible to everyone.

Lorals Bikinis | SOURCE: Lorals Website

What is the inspiration behind Lorals? What problem(s) are you addressing and how are you solving them?

I came up with the idea for Lorals when I was on a vacation and needed a dental dam. I knew it would be impossible to buy one, since they’re not popular enough to be sold in most stores (particularly on the coast of Mexico!). But even if we’d been able to get one, the idea of using it felt like a bummer. I wanted to feel sexy and confident and have a wonderful and easy intimate experience, and dental dams just didn’t fit the bill. After the trip I went back to my job as a lawyer, but instead of thinking about writing briefs I kept thinking about oral sex!

I started having conversations with dozens of friends about their oral sex experiences, and I heard over and over again that they said no to oral for a variety of reasons, even when they wanted to be saying yes. Some said no because they were concerned about STIs, others because they felt self-conscious, others because they’d been through sexual trauma and the experience felt too intimate, and others because their partners had beards or chapped lips and oral sex physically hurt. I realized that stylish and thin latex panties could help so many people say yes to oral sex more often, and I quit my law job to create them.

Some people might argue that the concept of Lorals reinforces the idea that vulvas & vaginas are gross by concealing them behind latex underwear for oral sex. What are your thoughts on this?

Our goal is to help people have more oral sex, not less! Everyone has different opinions about what they like and don’t like during intimacy. There are so many people who love the idea of oral sex and rimming – they want the sensation of a person’s tongue exploring their body. But when it comes to reality, the actual skin-to-skin contact is a turn-off, or it feels physically uncomfortable, or emotional barriers come up, and so they say no. Lorals provide an option in-between saying no and having full skin-to-skin contact.

What is your number one tip for building sexual confidence?

Focus on what feels good. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable or is triggering for you, be vocal about it and switch things up as soon as possible. And when you find a position or an activity that makes your body feel good and makes your mind happy, focus on those mental and physical sensations. Take it all in and enjoy every moment. If you’re having trouble focusing even when you’re feeling good, check out mindfulness meditation as a way of training yourself to focus on the present moment.

“Focus on what feels good. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable or is triggering for you, be vocal about it and switch things up as soon as possible.”

Do you face any stigma (from friends, family, other business owners) as a founder in this space?

I think oral sex – especially oral sex for women’s pleasure – is taboo in the US and many places around the world, and one of my goals with Lorals is to try to change that. While most other business owners have been enthusiastic about Lorals, when we do face stigma it reinvigorates me to continue working to destigmatize oral sex and women’s pleasure. My family is pretty quiet about sex, so the business was initially an adjustment. I’m so grateful that they’re now very supportive – my parents listen to my podcast episodes and my 94-year-old grandmother googles Lorals to read our press coverage (hi Grandma!).

How do you maintain your mental health as an entrepreneur?

For me, the toughest mental health challenge has been to not self-isolate during these early stages before Lorals has full-time LA-based employees. I’ve tried really hard to keep lots of positive influences in my life, from friends and family to colleagues. My team is remote, and so I try to spend workdays with support systems in LA, like a three-month accelerator program I did with the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, or simply coworking with other entrepreneurs. And I have people I can confide in when times are tough, like when I got food poisoning on a solo sourcing trip on the other side of the world, and my amazing colleague was just a phone call away.

Oral Sex Undies by Lorals

Do you ever want oral sex but also you like, don’t quite want someone all up in your vulva like that? Whether you just worked out, you’re on your period, or you’re simply not feelin’ it, Lorals is here to help you seek pleasure on your terms. We never want you to feel self-conscious about your beautiful, wonderful vulva, but in times that you might, we still want you to get your pleasure on. Lorals are single-use, natural latex panties specifically designed for oral sex and rimming. So go ahead…and get some head!

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To learn tips and tricks for better oral sex, check out our guide!

Must be looooooove on the braaaaain 🧠. Or was that s£x? 👀🤭 Our brains are our largest s£x organs and sometimes they get a little sad, hyperactive, anxious, or overwhelmed. You won’t always be in the mood for s£x and that’s okay! Keep communication with your partner open and ongoing, check in with yourself and your mental health, and lean on the support of a trusted therapist or doctor if you need some extra guidance. 🫶🏽 Anything you would add?

I mean 😏

It is not wrong nor should it feel shameful to ✨seek pleasure.✨ I think those of us who grew up more religious were taught that you should always be in service of others and giving of yourself rather than concerned with our own needs or passions. While it is wonderful to be generous with giving (and can in fact be a source of pleasure), it should be equally encouraged to pursue your own pleasure — it whatever form it may take! It may feel self-indulgent, but why is that a bad thing? Pleasure boosts our mental health. It helps us cope with a difficult world, with anxiety, depression, and stress. It makes us feel good! It gives us something to look forward to. Pleasure helps us connect with others and with ourselves. Pleasure (as long as it is not at the expense of someone else’s safety or well-being) should be a priority, for our joy and for our health. It really is so important! Where do you find pleasure? I personally love a good massage… 💆🏽‍♀️

It’s time for a talk, friend. Let’s be clear, you nor your partner ever has to do *anything* you’re not comfortable with. That said, if it’s something you enjoy and that’s pleasurable to you, it’s okay to ask your partner for it! They can say no, but if they invalidate your pleasure, much less expect you to do something they won’t do?? The ball is then in your court to decide if this is the partner for you. You deserve someone who cares about and prioritizes your pleasure. Who is thrilled to be acquainted with your body, all of it! S-x can be vulnerable to talk about, but when you do…it’s so much better. 👅 included. Ask your partner what their hesitations are and have a *conversation.* Maybe they’re nervous, intimidated, or struggling with shame. Maybe they’re down to try other things you would enjoy and build up to it. The point is, it shouldn’t just be automatically dismissed. You can decide what’s right for you and what makes you feel aroused, validated, and appreciated. Whatever you do, don’t internalize their rejection. Your body is beautiful, desirable, and definitely worthy of pleasure. 😋🥰

A UK study published in the International Urogynecology Journal found that only 46% of participants correctly identified that a female has 3 holes in the external genitalia. 😬 Not great. We’re taught so desperately little about our bodies and so discouraged from exploring them that we don’t even know what we’ve got going on down there! Understanding your own anatomy (and getting educated on your partner’s anatomy) can boost pleasure 1000x!! So take a mirror, use your hands, and get comfy exploring! 🪞🕵🏽‍♀️ And if you really want to get informed (and inspired 😉), head to our website for our basics on pleasure and anatomy. What do you think? Could YOU correctly label a diagram of what lies beneath?

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