New to vaping? Here are some Dos and Don'ts [18 Vaping Tips]

Vaping helps smokers quit, but other people like to vape as a hobby. When you first start to vape, it might seem like there’s a lot to learn.

If you are a beginner or you just want a quick refresher, here is a quick guideline of vaping dos and don'ts. Following these 16 first-time vaping tips will give you a better vaping experience.

The "Dos"

Do Learn How to Hit a Vape Properly

One of the most important things to learn as a new vaper is that every device is designed for a specific inhalation style. The three ways to hit a vape are:

• Mouth to Lung (MTL): When you use this inhalation style, you draw the vapor from the device to your mouth before inhaling it. This is the way you inhale when smoking a cigarette. MTL inhaling works best with high-nicotine e-liquids.
• Direct to Lung (DTL): When you use this inhalation style, you inhale the vapor directly to your lungs. DTL inhaling works best with low-nicotine e-liquids.
• Restricted Direct to Lung (RDL): An RDL vape is designed for direct inhalation into the lungs, but it has slight airflow resistance to provide some of the benefits of both the MTL and DTL inhalation styles. RDL inhaling works best with medium-strength e-liquids.

As a smoker, you’ll likely prefer a small device such as a pod system or a disposable vape because these devices are typically designed for mouth-to-lung inhaling. It’s important to choose a device designed for your preferred inhaling style, although many devices have adjustable airflow to provide some flexibility.

Do Understand That Switching to Vaping May Not Be Easy

When some people switch from smoking to vaping, they find that they’re not entirely happy with the experience at first because they feel slightly unwell. That’s not a side effect of vaping – it’s actually entirely normal to feel strange at first when you switch to vaping if you also quit smoking at the same time.

Although vaping does replace the nicotine in cigarettes, nicotine is only one of the thousands of chemicals that you consume when you smoke. Nicotine is the main addictive component of cigarette smoke, but your body is used to receiving a constant supply of the other chemicals as well. Within a few days after switching to vaping, those chemicals will cycle out of your body. At that point, you’ll feel normal again.

Do Keep Your Vaping Device Clean

It goes without saying, this is the number one rule to have a better vaping experience. Your tank builds up residue that can affect the quality and flavor of your e-liquids.

Generally, you want to clean your tank whenever you are changing your e-juice. You should thoroughly clean it by emptying it and submerging it in warm water at least once a month.

If you are looking for a tank that is easy to clean, you should go for MTL atomizers with removable 510 mouthpiece and replaceable glass, like the Zenith Pro Tank that makes it easier for you to clean when changing your e-juice.

Do Properly Store Your E-Liquids

E-juices have a relatively long shelf life, but it doesn't mean you can leave them lying around. It is still perishable, and you should know how to properly store vape juice to maintain its flavor. Avoid exposing your e-juice to direct sunlight or leaving it in hot areas. The best place to out your vape juice is in a dark cool place.

Do Change Flavors Once in A While

One of the most common problems that vapers experience is what's called the "vaper's tongue." You might experience t when you cannot taste your vape juice anymore. This is when your taste buds and olfactory glands need a break.

There is generally nothing to worry about when your e-juice does not taste the same anymore. Vaper's tongue only lasts a couple of days and only affects your e-juice flavor, not actual foods. Furthermore, you can simply switch to another flavor to continue vaping.

Do Practice Proper Oral Hygiene

Proper oral hygiene goes without saying. But when you vape, you are more prone to experiencing problems if your mouth isn't clean. Brushing your teeth isn't enough, you should use mouth wash to fully clean your mouth.

Aside from brushing your teeth to remove residue, you should also brush your tongue thoroughly. This is especially true when you are using a sweetened e-juice flavor.

The good news is that vaping poses fewer oral health risks than smoking cigarettes. Since cigarettes contain a lot of toxic ingredients, vaping is a better choice for people looking for an alternative to smoking.

Do Experiment With PG/VG Ratio

Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG) are two of the few ingredients in e-juice. A ratio between these two ingredients can determine the intensity of flavor and thickness of the clouds. You can opt for a 50/50 ratio to get a balance between flavor and cloud thickness.

Do Wait for A While Before Puffing Again

One of the biggest mistakes a beginner can commit is chain vape. Your wicks need to get saturated before you hit another vape. Generally, 15 to 30 seconds are enough before you take another hit, but you can wait longer, especially if you are experiencing dry hits more often.

It can be hard to get used to, especially if you're previously a smoker which doesn't require you to wait for anything. You can switch to e-liquids with high nicotine content to help you adjust to vaping without resorting to chain vaping.

Do Gradually Decrease Nicotine Level If You Want to Quit Smoking

For many people, vaping is their way out of smoking. It's ok to use a high-level nicotine e-juice at first, but it should gradually decrease over time if you wish to quit smoking.

Not including nic salts, regular vape juice can have up to 24mg nicotine strength. You can start with this level using sub-ohm vaping devices like the GLIM Pod Kit. This device can give you a satisfying vaping experience that meets your nicotine needs.

You can continue using vape pods, but you should gradually switch to box mods or other vaping devices that allow you to vape e-liquids at a lower nicotine level.

Do Find the Right Vaping Device

As mentioned above, there are specific vape devices dependent on your needs. You can choose from different options when it comes to buying your first vaping device. Whether you just want to vape as a hobby or you want to quit smoking, there is a specific device that can suit your needs.

If you want to smoke nic salt juices, you can try pod systems like the EQ FLTR Pod, a soft-tip device that gives you the familiar feeling of a cigarette. This is perfect for people who just got started switching.

For people who want thicker clouds for that satisfying vape feel, the legendary MVP5 AJAX 120W vape starter kit is the best for you. It has a maximum of 120W which is higher than most of the other box mods available in the market. This allows you to vape with thicker clouds. 

Do Find the Device That Suits Your Aesthetics

Innokin Sceptre by Innokin

Your vaping device should be something that you want. There's a lot of options available in the market, but chances are some box mods or vape pods might not fit your style.

Aside from deciding between a pod system or a vape box mod, you should also choose a device based on how it looks like. Lucky for you, it's easy to filter vaping kits on the Innokin Store. You can find the right device in the color that you prefer with its convenient filter system.

Do Switch and Experiment Between Vaping Devices

Vaping offers you the ability to mix and match tanks, mods, coils, and juices. To find your perfect vaping system, you can experiment. 

You can start with an MTL vape device and then switch to a DTL vape device. For example, if you have been vaping pods for a long time, you can try a vape mod to see if vaping thicker clouds gives you the same satisfaction.

You can also try out different tanks. There are generally three types of tanks, refillable pods, RDA, and RTA. Depending on your style, you can pick one of these three. If you want to experiment, it's also advisable to have more than one tank.

Avoid these "Don'ts"

Don't Vape Without Permission

If you are visiting a friend's house or another establishment, you should ask for permission from the owner before you vape. Even if you are vaping 0% nicotine, people still don't like their places being clouded up by vapor. It is common courtesy to ask people around you if it is okay to vape.

Don't Disobey Smoking Rules

Speaking of smoking rules, some establishments provide a space for people to smoke cigarettes. However, these places might still have restrictions about vapers.

Since vape devices fire off thicker clouds, it is a bad idea to vape in closed spaces. If you frequent places with a closed smoking area, you can get a mini vape pod like the I.O Pod Vape Kit that allows you to vape stealthily. It is capable of giving you strong flavors from your e-juice and is perfect for nic salts.

Vape shops also allow people to smoke in enclosed spaces, but they are sensitive to people who are smoking cigarettes. Since there's a large number of ex-smokers who use vapes to quit smoking, it can be hard for them to be surrounded by people smoking cigarettes.

Don't Charge Your Device Overnight

One of the common mistakes of beginners is assuming that it is all right to charge their devices overnight. Doing so can easily wear out its battery. Aside from ruining your battery, you might also run the risk of destroying your device if you keep it charging overnight.

You can buy vape kits with overcharge protection to prevent damage to the device. The Adept & Zilde Starter Vape Kit is popular for its overcharge protection, among other safety protections, which makes it more durable than other vape kits.

You can also use a vaping device that charges faster, like the GoMax Tube that has a 3000mAh battery capacity but only takes 2.5 hours to charge fully. With GoMax, you don't have to wait long periods of time before vaping.

Don't Forget to Hydrate

If you vape often, you might experience your mouth getting dry. When you are hydrated, you are less likely to experience a vaper's tongue.

Vaping can be dehydrating since Propylene Glycol is one of the main ingredients of an e-liquid. It easily absorbs water molecules that can deprive your body of the water it needs. That's why you need to drink more water than you usually.

Don't wait until you get dehydrated or thirsty before you drink water. Vaping dehydration is common amongst beginners. With time you will remember to stay hydrated while you vape.

Don't Chain Vape

People who want to quit smoking and have switched to vaping are prone to chain vaping or puffing multiple drags in a short span of time. This can burn your coils faster and could also cause dry hits. This can also harm your device if you continue to chain vape even when you feel your vape device heating up.

You must let your wicks saturate to reduce the possibility of a dry hit. The general rule is to wait 15 to 30 seconds before puffing again.

For people who are trying to quit smoking, 30 seconds can be a long wait. In this case, you can buy e-juice with a higher nicotine level. This will give you a satisfying and strong nicotine supply in your body so that you will not be tempted to take another hit before 30 seconds is up.

Don't Go Back to Smoking

If your goal is to quit, don't go back to smoking as long as you are vaping. Smoking has a lot more side effects and toxic ingredients compared to vape juices. Switching back and forth from vaping and smoking cigarettes defeats the purpose of using a vape device to quit smoking.

If you are missing the nicotine high that a cigarette can bring you, simply switch your e-liquid to one with a higher nicotine strength. This will allow you to experience the same nicotine high, without going back to smoking.

You can gradually decrease the nicotine level of your vape juice until you are no longer addicted to nicotine. This has proven to be one of the most effective ways of quitting smoking, but it takes time and patience to achieve, especially if you have been smoking for a long time.

Conclusion

It can be a little daunting for a beginner to try vaping. But I hope with this guide, you can get a better vaping experience no matter you're just getting started or you've been vaping for a while. In summary, you need to ensure that you are using the proper vaping device, take care of your device, and lastly, be considerate of other people. Ultimately, the do's and don'ts of vaping are focused on common sense and courtesy.