Despite the growing popularity of vaping, it’s surprising how little the average Joe knows about this hobby.
Don’t worry, though, because although vaping isn’t as simple as buying and smoking a cigarette outside the convenience store, this guide will give you all the info you need to know to enjoy your first steps into the world of vaping.
- It’s normal if you cough the first time.
According to a survey of 600 vapers, 57% of them reported having coughed the first time they vaped. The good news is that this is a temporary effect. The science isn’t clear on why people cough the first time they vape — although being sensible to Propylene Glycol (PG) and poor technique are common causes — but statistics show that 93% of vapers stopped coughing eventually, so you have nothing to worry about.
- You will feel dehydrated pretty quickly.
Vaping tends to make people dehydrate more quickly than usual. This is especially common with e-juices that have a high amount of Propylene Glycol as PG molecules can attach themselves to the water in your saliva and surrounding tissues and drag it away from your mouth.
Drink plenty of water and avoid drinking sugary drinks, coffee, tea, or other substitutes, since these won’t hydrate you as much as water and can cause headaches, nausea, or muscle spasms when combined with vapes.
- You can choose any flavor you want.
Each vaper has his favorite flavors, so it’s up to you to experiment and find out yours. However, before you switch between e-juices, make sure you stick to closely-related flavors and thoroughly clean your device before trying a new juice to avoid unpleasant mixes or left-over flavors from ruining your experience.
- Don’t mess with the batteries until you know what you’re doing.
Removable batteries are sensible, so mishandling them could damage or even destroy your vaping device. To avoid this possibility, make sure you only buy your batteries from a reliable supplier. Use a carry case instead of carrying them loose in your pocket; keep an eye for signs of wear and tear, and wait until you understand Ohm laws before you start customizing your device.
- You’ll need to replace your coils frequently.
Vape coils are the heating elements used to atomize the e-juice. However, their shelf life is relatively short so if your vape starts having a burnt taste, it’s probably time to replace your coils. The good news is that they are really easy to find and they are not that expensive, so you will have no trouble to buy them by the dozens if you prefer to save yourself a few trips to the vape shop.
- The VG/PG ratio affects how a vape juice tastes.
While most e-juices are made by mixing Vegetable Glycerin (VG) and Propylene Glycol (PG), the two main ingredients used in vapes, in a 50/50 ratio, others use different blends to alter the juice’s thickness and flavor.
VG-heavy juices take longer to heat, which is why they need a cumbersome box-shaped device to work. However, while VG vapes tend to have less nicotine, PG vapes give a stronger taste of nicotine in the throat which is highly appreciated by smokers.
The best advice you could follow is: have fun! Despite what some scaremongers might claim, vaping is actually a safe hobby — at least, much safer than smoking. So go out there, find the wildest e-juice flavor you can get, and have fun experimenting and making new friends among the crazy, fun-loving vaping community!
