Dabbing Etiquette

Nothing’s worse than looking like a newb. But, no worries, we’re here to help you stay relevant and respectful with dabbing etiquette that will elevate your sesh, and everyone involved. 

Dabbing is a great way to build friendships and strengthen relationships. There’s a good reason why people have passed the peace pipe for centuries. It’s a way to bond, kick back, and spark up a conversation. Follow our tips to keep your dab sessions up to par and friends returning to your rotation.

1. Make sure you know what to expect when dabbing

If this is your first time dabbing, get educated and prepared before your first sesh. Even if you’ve spent decades smoking flower, dabbing is a whole new world. The process and outcome are much more complex than packing a bowl or rolling a joint. Smoking dabs is much more technical, and the potency of wax surprises many first-timers. Avoid doing it wrong and getting too high. Make sure you fully understand how to dab and what to expect before trying it out.

If you’re a daily dabber, show some courtesy to any first-timers sitting at your dab station. Before you pass the rig, make sure to let them know what to expect. Show some serious chivalry by manning the torch and heat-up process for them to take the pressure off their first experience. And keep an eye on that dabber. Make sure newbies don’t load it up and take on too much. It’s not cool to let someone worry about looking cool to the point that they end up with the dab sweats and a heaping load of anxiety. Instead, offer to get their dab ready for them and have them swoop in when it’s time to take their first hit. That will really take the pressure off.

2. Let the ladies be the first to dab.

Forget passing it to the left, let all the ladies in your group go first. Just like we talked about above, even consider kicking it up a notch and heating up the banger or loading the dabber if they aren’t totally comfortable with the process but still want to dab. We’re not trying to be sexist here, #girlswhodab is one of our favorite hashtags to follow on Instagram. We’re just trying to make sure you get yours, girl.

3. Keep your dab tools and accessories clean.

The cleanliness of your tools and accessories directly influences the quality of your dab. So, keep your shit clean. Give your rig and banger a monthly deep clean by soaking them in an isopropyl alcohol and water mixture or a 420 solution, swab your banger with a Q-tip after every use, and wipe your dabber clean after each dab. Keeping your glass clean will let the taste of your concentrates shine, and a clean dabber will make sure you don’t accidentally take a hot lint dab.

4. Be safe when dabbing (AKA, never touch a hot nail.)

Above all, keep everyone safe. Dabbing is a bit more complicated than smoking flower and requires high heat to get the job done. This ties in with our first point, but, we can’t stress it enough: make sure everyone knows how to dab or feels comfortable asking for help. The fluidity of your dab sesh will reduce the chance of mishaps that could result in serious burns.

A dabbing connoisseur knows to never touch a hot nail, but someone who has only smoked flower is probably used to removing a bowl with their hands to clear the bong. It’s a habit, really. So, if you’re dabbing with first-timers stress that point, and really drive that difference home.

Bottom line: Never, ever touch a hot nail or coil. Be cautious with open flames, and always remove the carb cap right after use because heat can transfer from the banger and burn whoever is next in the rotation.

5. Put the dabber down in a good spot.

After you dab, don’t just set the hot dabber down on the table. The tool will likely be a little hot and super sticky. Melted wax can easily transfer from the dabber to the tabletop creating a mess or even ruining some surfaces. That’s why dab stations are often equipped with silicone mats or stands and ashtrays. Put the dabber there.

6. Keep extra dabbing supplies stocked.

What’s worse than going to take a dab only to have the torch go dead? Nothing. Literally, nothing. If you’re not using an enail, keep an extra can or two of butane around. Because without it, you’ll have to use an alternate method or get creative. Bonus points if you’re also stocked up on iso or alcohol wipes, cold water and snacks, and… of course, lots of wax.

7. Don’t waste concentrates.

This can happen in various ways. If the banger is too hot when you take the dab you will burn up cannabinoids and terpenes before they hit your lung, essentially wasting expensive extracts. Or, if you take too big of a dab and can’t clear it all, that’s a waste (although you could have someone swoop in and finish it off for you if ya’ll are really tight like that). If you don’t heat the banger up enough that could be considered a waste, but you can do a cold start or ‘reverse dab’ to salvage the situation. *Pro tip*.

8. Contribute to the dab session when you can.

Dabs are pretty expensive, and your friend is hella cool for smoking you out. Don’t take advantage of this generosity, or you’ll find yourself being left out of group seshes and text messages. Nobody likes a freeloader, so be sure to contribute. Show up to your friend’s house with your own extracts to share or throw them some cash when they smoke you out. Or, invite everyone over to your place to enjoy some of the fire rosin you just picked up, pizza delivery included.

9. Don’t over-dab.

Yeah, dabbing too much is possible and it’s not pretty. Before you blast off into an anxiety attack from hell, make sure you know your limits. If you’re a first-time dabber only take really, really small dabs. Remember: you can always dab more, but you can’t dab less. No one wants to kick it with someone who coughs till they pass out, or suffers from serious dab sweats. If you want to be invited back to the smoke circle, play it cool and don’t dab like a fool.

If you’re the host, spread the word. Your guests might feel nervous or insecure about looking like a ‘newb’ during their first dab out in public, but if you keep it cool and helpful they likely won’t feel pressured to impress, which will probably eliminate the chances that they take too big of a dab. You don’t want to be a jerk or end up babysitting. So, be humble and helpful.

10. Don’t get handsy with other people’s extracts.

Simple rule: if it’s not your wax, don’t touch it (with your hands.) Some people feel comfortable handling their concentrates without a dabber, but the general rule of thumb is to use one. If you’re dabbing at your best friend’s house, you probably feel comfortable picking up their silicone container and checking out their stuff. But, if this is your first time dabbing with a new friend, be respectful and ask permission to look at or handle their concentrates. And, don’t just assume they’re going to smoke you out.