Dating

Into poppers?

Navigating online dating apps when you want to goon with your hook-up

Gaydar

07 Jun 2025 — 4 min read

We’re at our most vulnerable when we’re searching for intimacy. One of the biggest challenges can be connecting with guys who are into what you’re into.

A good strategy is to be as upfront as possible. For example, if you’re into poppers and you’re looking for a guy who you can goon out with, it’s best to lead with that so you’re not wasting time with dudes who aren’t interested in getting into that head-space with you.

But how do you have that conversation? How do you put poppers on the agenda without making it weird? Let’s get into it.

Put the technology to work

While old-school cruising is awesome, the reality of our modern lives is that the most efficient way to connect with other guys is to fire up the hook-up apps on your phone.

But there’s more to an app than just the geo-location functionality that helps you map out how far you’re going to have to travel for dick.

Use your profile on the app to help get the attention of the guys that you’re interested in. Most hook-up apps will let you put in some text or select various fields about what you’re into and the kind of sex that you’re looking for. Make sure that your profile clearly mentions poppers somewhere.

Hook-up apps also have various search filters to help you narrow down the guys that you’re messaging and boost your chances of success. See if you can filter so that you’re searching for guys who are also into using poppers to heighten masturbation sessions or using poppers for anal sex.

Don’t take it personally

If you connect with a guy on a hook-up app and you make it clear that you’re into using poppers for sex, don’t assume that you’re going to get a positive response.

Not everyone is into what you’re into.

That might feel like a rejection but don’t take it personally - it’s just part of communicating your sexual needs and kinks.

You’ve got the choice to either keep the conversation so that you can try and figure out if you’re sexually compatible in other ways, or you can end the conversation and continue to search for someone who wants to have the same kind of sexual encounter as you.

No one should feel pressured into doing something that they’re not into.

Be a coach and mentor

You might connect with someone who is interested in exploring poppers with you but hasn’t had much experience in how to enhance sex with poppers.

Offer to coach and mentor them through the experience. You can suggest that you know where to buy poppers and you can help guide them through using poppers for the first time so that they can feel safe and confident as you explore that experience together.

If someone is using poppers for the first time, remember that it’s best to start slowly - encourage them to inhale the poppers lightly so that they can get used to the sensations and enjoy how it makes their body feel.

Become the expert

If you’re an enthusiastic user of poppers, you should know all of the essential information about poppers. This not only helps you coach and mentor guys that are trying poppers for the first time, but also helps you to find the best poppers and maximise your sexual pleasure.

What are poppers?

A chemical compound, poppers are an alkyl nitrite.

How do you use poppers?

Sold in small glass bottles, you use poppers by taking the lid off the bottle and inhaling the fumes.

Why do you take poppers?

Poppers act as a vasodilator - widening blood vessels by relaxing the muscles. This will usually enable the user to feel a head-rush, and can also make it easier to receive anal sex.

How long do poppers last?

The effects of poppers have a rapid onset and are short-acting. When you inhale the fumes, you should feel the rush and the relaxation almost immediately. As the effects wear off, you may want to inhale again to continue the experience.

Are there any negative side effects from using poppers?

Some people can experience headaches or nausea when using poppers. If you have issues with blood pressure, you should probably avoid poppers.

Where can I buy poppers?

There’s a range of online retailers that will deliver a bottle of poppers to your door.

It might be worth buying a few different brands to find out which poppers are right for you and you’ll be all set to hit the hook-up apps and line up your next sexual encounter.