Luna beads noir - exerciser for vaginal muscles by LELO - review by Pumpk1nPatch

The Luna mini pleasure bead system by LELO Noir is an alternative version of the classic and mini Luna beads. The Noir beads are almost exactly the same as the mini set. They're they same size, weight and shape. The differences between these two sets and the classic are the size of the beads themselves. The Noir is the same weight as the heaviest pairing of the other two sets. So they're the equivalent of the two blue beads from the mini and classic.

The pleasure beads are designed for arousal, and most of all, Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises are also known as pelvic floor exercises. Kegel exercises consists of repeatedly contracting the pelvic floor muscles; it's the same as any other weight lifting, except it's in your vagina! Kegel exercising can help prevent urinary incontinence, as well as the prolapse of the pelvic organs. One of the best benefits of Kegel exercises is the sexual function. Using them can create arousal while you're wearing them, but it can also help you achieve better orgasms through long term use. They can also help you feel tighter to your partner. They can be worn for a matter of minutes or hours.

These are meant to be inserted vaginally. When you move about, the motion causes the inner balls to move, creating a vibrating sensation that stimulates the vaginal muscles. While they're in there, you have to squeeze those muscles to prevent them from falling out. Some people might not have any trouble keeping them in, but the high amount of rumble to the beads will surely remind you to start squeezing. There's a cord on this set, which helps you take them out easily. These shouldn't be used anally, however, because they can easily get lost in there!

In the fifties, Dr. Kegel reported that the women doing his exercises were orgasming more frequently, intensely, and more easily! Imagine if they were using weights like Luna beads!

With the Luna Beads, we're working with a few different materials: silicone, plastic and nylon.

The harness that the beads lie in is made of pure silicone. Silicone is a 10/10 on the safety scale. LELO always uses the highest quality silicone with their products. The harness is very soft and flexible, which makes for easy insertion of the beads and easy insertion into your vagina! Although it's pliable, it surrounds the beads quite tightly, so you never have to worry about them coming loose.

Both beads are made of ABS plastic, which rates as an 8/10 on the safety scale. The beads are very hard and smooth, except where there is a seam. There are weights inside of each ball. It seems like the balls encased inside the plastic are metal. I think that they're surrounded by a rubber-like material.

The retrieval cord is made from nylon. Nylon is hypoallergenic, and it offers a good resistance to oils, greases, and solvents. The cord is extremely strong; it's secured very well to the beads.
The set is completely tasteless and odorless.

I love the design of the Luna Beads; so much so that I have every set. Unlike the classic and the mini, this set only has two beads. The beads in this set are the same weight as the two blue balls in the other Luna sets. I'm completely okay with the beads being made of plastic rather than silicone, because it's clearly effective with what it's supposed to do. The thin plastic shell is what makes the difference with these. Some of my other sets are just too big or too thick, and the rumble of the inner ball is just lost through the material. Knock on a piece of rubber, then a piece of plastic. Same thing. The beads and harness are exactly the same size as the mini set.

Each bead is the same size. 29mm (1 inch) in diameter and 3.5 inches in circumference.
The retrieval cord is 3.25 inches long.
The harness is 3 inches in length.
Length from end of harness to cord is 6 inches.
Each bead is 37 grams (1.3 oz) each (same as blue beads from previous sets).

Even though there are only two beads, it's still versatile and great for people just starting out because you can start with one bead. Just insert the one with the string without the harness!

One of the changes with the Noir is that the retrieval cord is an inch longer than the mini and classic. This makes it much easier to remove from your body. I did have a little trouble taking the mini out because the cord was a bit too short, so this is a good improvement.

They are quite discreet and can be worn anywhere. I've read lots of reviews about some people not wearing the mini set out because they were so rumbly that they could be heard. These are a great alternative for the people concerned about sound because the Noir is very muffled compared to the mini. It seems the inner balls have thicker coating of rubber around them. While they are louder than other sets I've worn, the only time anyone has heard them was when I was in a quiet room making someone listen. I wear them to work every day, and no one has heard them. My co-workers and I have quite an open relationship, so it's quite likely that they'd tell me if they heard sounds coming from my vagina! I have noticed that the farther they travel upward, the more muffled the sound becomes. So, in my opinion, the sound is nothing to worry about.
They're less rumbly than the mini, but they still pack more punch for me than the Smartballs, Emigis, and Ben Wa balls. I've never had any trouble keeping any set in, so the rumble factor is very important to me. I can feel these ones with even minimal movement.

I never need lube to insert these; they have no drag whatsoever for me. That might not be the case with everyone, so a dab water-based lube should do the trick. It's convenient that they supply us with a sample of their lube. Since you only need a little, it should last a good amount of uses. LELO advises against using silicone in their manual, as it can make the harness permanently tacky. However, if you are only using the beads without the harness, silicone lube would be fine. Be sure to insert the crown bead first, allowing the string to hang out. It should be inserted so that it rests in the same area that a tampon would.

The harness can be fully sterilized by boiling it, but the rest of the set can't be boiled. The beads do have a seam, so I'd suggest making sure you line the seam up with the harness so it prevents anything from getting trapped in it. The set can be cleaned with a mild soap and water, or with a toy cleaner. I use my favorite California Exotics toy cleaner on these. The beads should be separated from the harness, so that everything can be cleaned individually. I saturate it in a cleaner and let it sit for about 30 seconds, then I rinse them with warm water before air drying or patting them dry with a chamois towel. Never use cleansers that contain alcohol, petrol, or acetone! They can be stored in the great black box they came in. The box has a velvet insert, so they can lay nestled inside. The box is only 6” x 3.5” x 1.5”, so it's small enough to fit most anywhere. The box is solid white with no wording on it, so it goes unnoticed.

If you don't want to use the box, or if you're traveling, LELO supplies our beads with a little 3" x 5" black pouch! I think that this is awesome; it allows me to just toss them in the pouch if I want to remove them while I'm out and about, rather than carrying around a box. They should never be stored in direct sunlight or extreme heat.

Overall, the Luna beads are very low maintenance.

One of my favorite things about LELO is that you can register the product and get a warranty on it for a year. After the first year, if something happens to them, they can be replaced for 50% off the cost.

I would definitely recommend the Noir set for people that:
Thought the Classic set, Smartballs, or Gymballs were too big
Thought the cord on the mini was too small
Don't have trouble keeping balls in, but need the rumble factor like I do
Thought the Mini set was too noisy
Love the mini and want a sleeker looking set
Experienced users that wanted the highest weight for a lesser price

I'm easily giving these 5 stars because of their performance, size, and safe materials. I feel like my muscles get an actual workout with these. I've been using Kegel exercisers for about 5 years now and this is my 9th set; they're in my top 3 favorites. I don't love them as much as the mini, but they're close!

Remember, to really see results with these, you have to keep up with it. It's important to incorporate it into your daily routine and stick to a regular program. I recommend using them for at least 30 minutes a day. I wear mine for about 8-10 hours, though.