Help & Guidance — Purple Haze MK
How to Inhale a Vape Correctly
Draw vapour slowly into your mouth for 2 to 3 seconds, hold briefly, then inhale into your lungs and exhale. This mouth-to-lung (MTL) technique is best for beginners and closely mirrors the way people smoke cigarettes. Never pull hard or hold vapour in for more than 1 to 2 seconds.
There are two main vaping inhalation techniques: mouth-to-lung (MTL) and direct-to-lung (DTL). For beginners and for people switching from cigarettes, MTL is almost always the right starting point. You draw the vapour slowly into your mouth for 2 to 3 seconds (as if sipping through a straw), hold it briefly in your mouth, then open the airway and breathe it into your lungs. The most common beginner mistake is pulling too hard and too fast — vape devices work best with slow, steady draws. Holding vapour in the lungs for extended periods does not increase nicotine absorption and may cause irritation. One to two seconds in the lungs before exhaling is sufficient for good nicotine delivery.
The Two Inhalation Techniques
Mouth-to-Lung (MTL)
Recommended for beginners and ex-smokers- Draw vapour gently into your mouth for 2 to 3 seconds
- Close your mouth and hold the vapour there for 1 second
- Open the airway and inhale the vapour from your mouth into your lungs
- Exhale slowly and steadily
- Best suited to pod kits, vape pens and higher-resistance coils (0.8 ohm and above)
- Works well with 10mg to 20mg nicotine salt e-liquids
- Closely mimics cigarette technique — natural for ex-smokers
- Produces less visible vapour — more discreet
Direct-to-Lung (DTL)
For experienced vapers and sub-ohm devices- Open the airway fully and inhale vapour directly into the lungs in one continuous breath
- Like taking a deep breath through the mouth
- Exhale almost immediately
- Used with sub-ohm devices and low-resistance coils (below 0.8 ohm)
- Requires lower nicotine strength (3mg to 6mg freebase) — high strength will be overwhelming
- Produces large, dense vapour clouds
- Not recommended for beginners or those switching from smoking
- More airflow needed — open the airflow control on the device if adjustable
Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (MTL)
- Check your device is ready: charged, filled with e-liquid and with the coil primed if new. If it is a button-activated device, press the fire button five times quickly to unlock it.
- Place the mouthpiece loosely between your lips — do not seal it tightly as if through a straw. A slightly loose seal helps regulate airflow and prevents an overly dense draw.
- Press the fire button (if button-activated) and begin drawing very slowly. Think of it as sipping from a hot cup of tea rather than pulling on a straw. A slow, gentle draw over 2 to 3 seconds produces the best flavour and prevents flooding the coil.
- Hold the vapour in your mouth for just a moment — approximately 1 second. This allows some initial nicotine absorption through the mucous membranes, similar to the sublingual effect.
- Open your airway and breathe the vapour gently into your lungs. This should feel natural and smooth, not forced. If it feels harsh, your draw was too fast or your nicotine strength may be too high.
- Exhale slowly and steadily through your mouth. There is no need to hold the vapour in your lungs — 1 to 2 seconds is sufficient for nicotine absorption and holding longer does not improve delivery.
- Wait at least 20 to 30 seconds before your next puff to allow the wick to re-saturate with e-liquid. Puffing in rapid succession without breaks can cause dry hits and burnt taste.
Ideal MTL draw duration — slow and steady, like sipping from a straw, not the hard fast drag of a cigarette
Time to hold vapour in the lungs — any longer does not meaningfully increase nicotine absorption and may cause irritation
Mouth-to-lung is the right starting technique for virtually all new vapers — DTL is for experienced users with sub-ohm devices
Common Beginner Mistakes
Pulling too hard
The most common mistake. Drawing too forcefully floods the coil with e-liquid and produces gurgling, spitting or an unpleasant harsh hit. Vape devices respond to gentle, consistent negative pressure — not the strong drag of a cigarette. Slow down your draw significantly if you are experiencing gurgling or spitting from the mouthpiece.
Holding vapour in too long
Many beginners hold vapour in the lungs expecting more nicotine absorption. Nicotine is absorbed very rapidly on first contact with lung tissue — holding vapour for more than 1 to 2 seconds provides no additional benefit and can cause coughing, dizziness and throat irritation. Exhale normally after a brief hold.
Chain vaping without breaks
Taking rapid successive puffs does not give the cotton wick time to re-saturate between draws. The result is a dry, burnt hit as the dry wick scorches. Space puffs at least 20 to 30 seconds apart, more if using a higher-wattage device or thicker e-liquid. This also gives your body time to register the nicotine before taking another puff.
Using DTL technique on a MTL device
Trying to inhale directly to the lungs on a tight-draw pod kit or vape pen produces resistance that can feel uncomfortable and does not deliver vapour efficiently. These devices are designed for MTL technique. Conversely, using a loose sub-ohm device with a MTL approach at high nicotine strength is an easy way to take in too much nicotine too fast.
Why You Might Be Coughing and How to Fix It
Nicotine strength too high
The throat hit from freebase nicotine at 18 to 20mg can be harsh for new users. Try nicotine salt e-liquid at the same strength — nic salts are specifically formulated for a smoother throat hit at high strengths. If using nic salts and still coughing, step down one strength level.
Drawing too fast
A sharp, fast draw creates excess vapour concentration and a harsh hit. Deliberately slow your draw to the pace of a long sip. This should produce a smooth, flavourful draw rather than a harsh one. Most coughing problems resolve with a slower draw technique alone.
High PG e-liquid sensitivity
Propylene glycol (PG) produces the throat hit in e-liquids. Some people are mildly sensitive to PG and find it causes coughing. Try a higher VG e-liquid (70VG/30PG or above) for a smoother experience. All major e-liquid brands offer high-VG options at most nicotine strengths.
Dehydration
Vaping can be mildly dehydrating as the PG and VG in e-liquid absorb moisture. A dry throat is more sensitive and more prone to coughing. Drinking more water throughout the day reduces coughing for many new vapers, particularly in the first few weeks of switching from cigarettes.
For device recommendations and e-liquid advice tailored to your experience level, visit Purple Haze MK at Stall 109, Milton Keynes Market.
If you are switching from smoking and finding the vaping experience unsatisfying even with correct technique, the most likely cause is nicotine strength rather than inhalation method. Many people switching from cigarettes underdose on nicotine and then compensate by vaping more frequently. A 20-a-day smoker who finds 6mg unsatisfying should try 10mg to 20mg nicotine salt e-liquid before concluding that vaping does not work for them as a cigarette substitute. Getting the strength right solves many technique issues because you are no longer trying to compensate for insufficient nicotine through altered draw behaviour.
Part of Our Guide
Help & Guidance Centre
This article is part of the Purple Haze MK Help and Guidance Centre, covering vaping technique, devices and practical guidance. Browse all topics in the Help and Guidance Centre for clear, practical information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you inhale a vape into your lungs?
Yes, for proper nicotine absorption you should inhale vapour into your lungs rather than just holding it in your mouth. Nicotine is primarily absorbed through the lung tissue rather than the mouth. Using the MTL technique — drawing into the mouth first, then inhaling to the lungs — is the most effective method for nicotine delivery from a pod kit or beginner device. Simply puffing and exhaling without lung inhalation delivers far less nicotine per puff.
How long should I hold vape in my lungs?
One to two seconds is sufficient. Nicotine absorption through the lung alveoli happens almost instantly on contact. Holding vapour for longer does not meaningfully increase nicotine delivery and puts unnecessary prolonged exposure of the lung tissue to vapour components. Exhale normally after a brief, natural hold rather than trying to hold for as long as possible.
Is it normal to cough when you first start vaping?
Yes, mild coughing when first starting is common, particularly for non-smokers and for people using higher nicotine strengths with freebase nicotine. The throat hit from e-liquid is different from smoke and the airway needs a brief adjustment period. Most people find the coughing reduces or stops within a few days as their technique improves (slower draws) and the throat adjusts. Persistent coughing after the first few days suggests the nicotine strength is too high, the PG content is too high or the draw technique still needs slowing down.
What is the difference between MTL and DTL vaping?
MTL (mouth-to-lung) involves drawing vapour into the mouth before inhaling to the lungs — like cigarette smoking. DTL (direct-to-lung) involves inhaling vapour straight into the lungs in one continuous breath — like a deep breath. MTL devices use tight-draw coils (0.8 ohm and above) with 10mg to 20mg nicotine. DTL devices use sub-ohm coils (below 0.8 ohm) with 3mg to 6mg nicotine. Beginners should always start with MTL.
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