Vape Juice Nicotine Levels: Which Is Best for You?

Nicotine is an often misunderstood product. We have it drummed into us that it is inherently bad because it is the addictive ingredient that makes smokers keep buying new packets. However, it is not the nicotine in cigarettes that makes them so dangerous. Cigarettes contain hundreds of chemicals, including formaldehyde and arsenic. Vape juice products remove the nicotine and keep it, then do away with all the radioactive chemicals.

When you consider things this way, it’s no wonder that the UK health authorities are trialling vape devices in place of NRT. Not only that, but they maintain that vaping is up to 95% less damaging to the human body than cigarettes. However, we are here to talk about nicotine, that one misunderstood ingredient in both. 

Today we will discuss what nicotine is and why it isn’t as bad as you think it is. Afterwards, we will examine all the ways you can find the right nicotine strength for you without having to try levels that make your head spin.

What is Nicotine?

Nicotine is the main psychoactive ingredient in cigarettes and other tobacco products. It has several effects on the body. The worst of these is when we use it in cigarettes. As we all known, there are many other chemical compounds in cigarettes that damage our lungs. Nicotine itself isn’t the cancer causing ingredient although you might think it was to look at the studies online. Why? Because most studies take nicotine in tobacco, not isolation, as vaping does.

The father of nicotine gum said back in 1976 that people died from the tar inside cigarettes, though they smoked for the nicotine. If nicotine itself was the problem, nicotine replacement therapy would also cause cancers. That said, nicotine can be poisonous in extreme quantities. Scientific American estimates that a smoker that switching to gum from smoking reduces their risk factor by about 90%. 

It’s time we started re-evaluating our views on nicotine and the harm it causes.

What Does Nicotine Do To You?

When we talk about vaping nicotine, it’s important that you know there are nicotine-free vaping options. If you want to, you can avoid it altogether. Those that do like nicotine will notice that it has a mild stimulant effect. Here are some of the other side effects of vaping nicotine:

• Dizziness
• Nausea (if you take too much)
• Headaches
• Upset stomachs
• Weakness

You get a mild high from nicotine. Unfortunately, your body builds resistance quickly. You will have to keep upping the amount you take to get that mild high. Otherwise, only using nicotine once in a while will help keep the high. 

Vape Juice Nicotine Levels

A mild vape juice has up to 8mg of nicotine per 10ml bottle. A moderate nicotine strength falls between 9 and 15mg. Anything above this is strong. The UK government only allows the sale of 20mg strengths. If this doesn’t feel like enough strength for you, try upping to a sub ohm vape device to boost your hit.

UK Vaping Laws 

Here in the UK, the government have set out legislation which oversees the sale of vape juices. To regulate the vaping process, they have placed limitations on both the strength of the nicotine levels in your vape juice, and on who can buy them. The UK law and underage vaping is quite clear: you must be 18 years old to buy a vaping device and to use a vaping device. 

Finding Your Perfect Vaping Nicotine Level

How much nicotine you vape depends on multiple factors. Ex-smokers will need a higher dose, while new vapers can start with one or two milligrams. Your size, weight, height, and metabolism all impact how much nicotine you can use before you feel the mild stimulant effects. 

As a good guide, start small. Up your nicotine level by only a single milligram or two each time you become resistant to the nicotine. Doing this will give you a longer time where you can enjoy the mild high. Stopping using nicotine for a while will bring the mild high back. 

Your perfect nicotine level might be no nicotine at all. You may like a weak strength or a high one. It depends on you and your experience of nicotine in the past.

Vaping Vs Smoking – Nicotine Strength Equivalency

Those that smoked are a whole other ballgame. If you want to quit smoking using a vape, you need to switch to the same amount of nicotine strength that equates to how much you smoked a day. 

If you smoked less than 10 cigarettes or roll ups per day, try starting at 6mg. If this isn’t strong enough, up it to 8 or 10mg. 

If you smoked between 10 and 20 roll ups or cigarettes in a day, start your vaping nicotine strength at 10mg. If this isn’t enough, up it by one or two milligrams until you hit 15mg. 

If you smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day, start from 16mg and work your way up. You may find that 20mg isn’t strong enough on its own. Combine this with a stronger vaping device that hits your throat harsher. You can also make more of a hit by using a higher ratio PG vape liquid. These tend to be harsher and will hit the throat harder. 

If you need further guidance on the strengths of your vape liquids by comparison to how much you smoked in the past, Juul have conducted an interesting scientific study on their own devices. To them, a strength of 14.4mg equated to 13 cigarettes per day. 

Tips For Adding Nicotine Strength

The UK government capped the strength of vape juices for a reason. However, you can make your own blends of vape juices, should you have the inclination. These consist of the flavourings, the PG/VG liquids, and nicotine shots. You mix it together to your desired strength and voila, you have a vape juice to ideally suit your needs. 

Where To Get Vape Juice Online?

If you find yourself in need of a new vape juice or want to try a different flavour, you can check some of these e-liquid examples in our online store. We offer a wealth of vape juices, from Nic Salts to Nicotine-free. We also provide spare parts and vape devices, should you need a new vape kit. We aim to be your one-stop-vaping shop in the Milton Keynes area, so stop in and see us or shop vaping products online with Vape Direct.