How To Inhale a Vape: A Guide To Vaping Properly

If you’ve recently switched to vaping, you might still have some questions about how to get the most from your device. Indeed, vaping is different from smoking cigarettes in many ways. Just because you used to smoke doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pick up vaping easily.

But, if you are struggling with vaping, you won’t for much longer. Here at RELX, we appreciate it can be tricky, so we’ve put together this handy guide that will take you through the whole process. Read on to find out everything you need to know about how to inhale and how to vape properly.

What Is a Vape?

Before we get into how to inhale a vape and how to vape properly, we should first discuss exactly what a vape device is. There are many misconceptions in the media and news about vape devices and vaping, so it’s best to set the record straight before we get into anything else.

According to the Government of Canada, vaping involves inhaling and exhaling an aerosol that a vaping product has produced. A vaping product is described as being one of many products that heats a substance that, in turn, evaporates to become an aerosol. It is this aerosol that is known in the vaping community as the ‘cloud.’

There are many vape devices on the market, and they range in size, power, and capacity. For example, disposable vapes are small, fully contained devices that cannot be refilled. They have one flavour, and once the user has finished the vape, they’ll have to buy another device to continue.

Alternatively, there are pens and mods that can be recharged, refilled, and customized to the user's preferences. With these devices, a user can replace parts such as the coil (which heats the substance - referred to as an e-liquid or juice) and replace the juice for different flavours.

How to Vape Properly

So, now that you’re fully clued up on what a vape is, it’s time to get onto the main topic at hand: how to vape.

Whether you’ve recently made the switch or you’ve been vaping for a while and want to see if you can improve your process, you’ve come to the right place.

Luckily, you have the first step sorted. You could even say you are an expert already. That’s because the first step to vaping is knowing how to breathe and inhale. From there, it’s about refining that process to get the most out of the vapour you inhale.

There are two main methods vape users opt to use when vaping. Each requires specific techniques that you might need to practice before it becomes a habit. Regarding which approach you adopt, it is entirely up to you. We would suggest trying both and seeing which you prefer. You might find that one option simply comes more naturally to you.

Either way, we’re sure you’ll be a pro in no time.

How Does a Vape Work?

How vape devices work depends entirely on the type of device you have. As mentioned previously, there are a few types of devices. The most common types are the disposable option, pens, and mods.

A disposable vape device does what it says on the tin. It is a pre-filled device with one flavour of juice that cannot be refilled, recharged, or changed in any way. How long these devices last depends entirely on the product you buy and how much you use it. One device can last up to a week if the user is vaping sparingly.

The pens and mods last a lot longer as they can be recharged, and parts can be replaced if needed. Unlike the disposable option, once you buy a pen or mod, you’ll likely keep hold of it for a long time and use that as your primary source of vaping.

Regardless of the differences in how the devices are set up, they all have one thing in common: how they work.

As described by the Texas Department of State Health Services, within each device, there is a tank containing the e-liquid/juice. Next, placed in that tank of e-liquid is a coil - but to turn the e-liquid into vapour, the coil must be heated. This is activated either by a button the user will press just before inhaling or by the act of inhalation itself.

When the coil heats up, the e-liquid is evaporated, and the released vapour is what the user will inhale and exhale.

How Are Vapes Powered?

A battery powers most vape devices. The kind of battery that is used depends on the type of vape device you are using. The two options for the type of battery used are either non-rechargeable batteries or rechargeable batteries.

When the battery is turned on in the vape device, it heats the coil, which is situated in the tank of e-liquid. The hot coil heats the e-liquid, which evaporates and becomes the vapour that users inhale and exhale.

But how do batteries work? It’s all about electrons. According to the Energy Information Administration, a battery comprises two metals and an electrolyte. A chemical reaction within the battery releases electrons - one of the metals will have more electrons released, and the other will have less. The one with more will have a positive charge, and the one with less a negative one.

If a conductor, such as a wire, is placed between the two metals, the electrons will flow through the wire to balance out each metal. However, when an electrical load - e.g. the coil within a vape device - is placed along the wire, it will be powered.

In non-rechargeable batteries, the electrons can only travel in one direction - from the metal with more to the metal with less. However, in are chargeable battery, they can travel in both directions, as the chemical reaction can be reversed. That’s why some vape devices can be recharged and used many times, while others can't.

What Is the Vapour Source?

The vapour produced by vape devices inhaled and exhaled by users comes from the substance found in the tank. This is colloquially referred to as e-liquid or juice. It’s this substance that can be altered in flavour and with other chemical compounds, such as nicotine.

For this liquid substance to become vapour, the device heats a coil, which evaporates the substance - as discussed previously in this article. But what is the substance made up of?

E-liquids comprise many ingredients, but the main chemicals used are vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG). The chemicals used for flavour and other variations, such as nicotine, are added to these base ingredients.

When most people think of vaping, they think of big clouds of sweetly-flavoured vape, and that visible cloud is all down to vegetable glycerin. Unlike propylene glycol, which is virtually transparent, vegetable glycerin is what makes those infamous clouds.

Mouth-To-Lung (Mtl)

Starting with the easiest method first, we present the mouth-to-lung method. The pros of this method are that it won’t overwhelm your lungs too much, and you’ll also get to fully appreciate the flavours of the vape. The main con is that you won’t receive the same strength of satisfaction that you might feel with the alternative method.

But how do you do this method? It’s very simple. Breathe the vapour into your mouth as you would through a straw and then hold for a few moments - it’s here you’ll experience the full flavour. Then, open your mouth slightly and inhale into your lungs slowly. When you exhale, you’ll see a small cloud of vapour.

Direct-To-Lung (Dtl)

The alternative method is direct-to-lung. As you can imagine, this option is a little more advanced. However, the extra effort it requires will come with additional benefits. This method is known for a much stronger and faster vaping experience.

Unlike the previous method, this time, you will take a long and slow inhale. Take the vapour back straight into your lungs, completely bypassing your mouth. Hold there momentarily before exhaling, when you will achieve a much bigger cloud.

This method might cause coughing in those not used to it yet, but after some practice, that should subside.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Inhale More Smoke When Vaping?

The best way to inhale more smoke when vaping is to use the direct-to-lung method of vaping. This method involves taking one big breath of vapour and taking it all the way back to your lungs, bypassing your mouth. While you won't get the full flavour impact, you will receive a stronger satisfaction.

How Long Should You Hold Vape in Your Lungs?

You should only hold vapour in your lungs briefly before exhaling. Any more than that, and you will likely cough. That's because your body needs more oxygen after this time. Holding any longer in your lungs will not increase the strength of feeling, so there is no need to hold longer than a moment.

Final Thoughts

Vaping requires a skill and technique that can take a while to learn. However, once you master those abilities, you'll find an improved experience and enhanced flavour and strength from your vapes.

Check out RELX's vape collection now.