So, you’re ready to graduate to dabs? That deserves a celebration (starting with a dab hit).

Dabbing is a totally different ride compared to your typical joint. If smoking a joint is like lighting a candle, dabbing is more like setting off a firecracker. It involves vaping cannabis concentrates like wax, shatter, or live resin, which will get you a lot more stoned than some regular ‘ol bud.

Taking your first dab hit might sound intimidating, but it’s actually easier than it seems. With just a few steps and some handy tips, you’ll be dabbing like a pro in no time.

Check out our step-by-step guide below, plus five common things every first-time dabber should know.

• Dab rig – a type of water pipe that is designed for vaporizing cannabis concentrates like wax and shatter.
• Nail or banger – Part of the rig that you heat up. Nails can be made of glass, quartz, titanium or ceramic. Most go for a quartz banger since they’re great at retaining heat and distributing it evenly, which gives smoother, more flavorful hits.
• Torch – A butane torch is used to heat the nail or banger to the right temperature. And, yes, a torch is absolutely needed in most cases. A regular lighter can’t give the same amount of concentrated heat as a torch.
• Dabber tool – A small tool (metal or glass) to handle the sticky concentrate and apply it to the hot nail.
• Carb cap – A small cap that covers the banger after you’ve applied the concentrate. It helps trap heat and vapor, giving you a smoother hit.
• Cannabis concentrate – Wax, shatter, and live resin are popular dabbing choices.
• Isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs – To clean your banger after your dab for a fresh next sesh.

Make sure your dab rig is clean and filled with water. The water should sit just above the bottom of the downstem (the part of the rig that brings air into the water chamber).

Set up your rig on a stable, flat surface.

Heat the bottom of the banger or nail using your butane torch until it starts to glow red hot. This should take about 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on your torch and the material of the banger.

After heating, turn off the torch and let the nail cool for about 30-45 seconds. This is important because if the banger is too hot, it can burn your concentrate and make the hit harsh.

Using your dabber tool, grab a small piece of concentrate (start small for your first time, about the size of a grain of rice).

Once the banger has cooled a bit, place the concentrate into the banger using the dabber tool, and begin to inhale slowly. Be steady with your pull, just like you would when hitting a bong.

As soon as you apply the concentrate, place the carb cap over the banger. The cap traps heat and vaporizes the concentrate more efficiently, giving you a smoother hit.

Continue to inhale as you move the carb cap around to regulate airflow. Inhale slowly and steadily to avoid coughing.

Once you’ve taken in the vapor, exhale and feel the effects settle in. Dabbing hits fast, so take your time between dabs and see how you feel.

After each dab, it’s important to clean the banger to keep it tasting fresh for your next hit. Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to wipe away any leftover concentrate while the banger is still warm.

Because if the first-time dabber is an experienced smoker, they think that they can stack it on the way they do with flowers in their joint. Wrong!

Dabs are a concentrated hit of THC, and first-time dabbers have to dose carefully. Otherwise, it results in the ever prevalent dab overdose, making out with the toilet bowl and praying for mercy.

So size up your dabs carefully if you’re a first-time dabber. You can always dabble a little more if you choose.

Everyone who has dabbed knows. That cough, where you feel like your lungs are shrinking inside your chest. Then you exhale, and it’s like you’re coughing your lungs right out of your chest.

It can last for hours! Then you go to drink some water, and you’re still coughing so hard it comes erupting out of your mouth like a volcano.

Don’t worry; it gets easier the more you do it!

Is it the dab or the excessive coughing that causes the profuse sweating? It’s probably a combination of both.

It’s that feeling of having run an entire marathon without having to leave the couch. And then, if you want another one, you have to hold a hot torch in your hand to light up the next one!

No way to avoid the sweats with dabs!

Inhaling the concentrated vapor of THC from a dab has a completely different flavor to smoking a joint. It’s like the equivalent of diluting your mango nectar in water.

The flavor is like that of nothing else you’ve ever smoked, and burning at a lower temperature produces better results and better flavors.

This is where all first-time dabbers end up—and no, not just on the couch. We’re talking about that point where it’s hard to tell where your body ends and the couch begins.

A solid tip for first-time dabbers: Make sure everything you’ll need for the next couple of hours is within arm’s reach, because let’s be honest, once you’ve become the couch, moving is a whole other challenge.