how to ghost vape

July 7, 2026

How to Ghost Vape

A step-by-step guide to ghost inhaling and other vape tricks for experienced vapers.

Quick answer: Ghost vaping (ghost inhale) is a technique where you exhale a ball of vapour and quickly re-inhale it. It requires a high-VG e-liquid, a device that produces decent vapour and a little practice. It is primarily a vaping trick done for aesthetic effect rather than nicotine delivery.

Ghost vaping is one of the most popular beginner vape tricks. Unlike some advanced cloud tricks that need powerful sub-ohm devices, the ghost inhale is achievable with most moderate-output devices and some practice. Here is how to do it.

What You Need Before You Start

Requirement	Why it matters	Recommended
E-liquid type	High VG produces denser vapour that holds shape better	70VG/30PG or higher; avoid high-PG liquids
Device output	Needs to produce reasonable vapour volume	Mid-range pod kit or refillable device; disposables can work but are less consistent
Environment	Still air makes tricks far easier; wind or fans disperse vapour quickly	Indoors, still air, no open windows or fans nearby
Patience	Vape tricks require repetition to master the muscle memory	Expect to need 15 to 30 attempts before it consistently works

Step-by-Step: How to Ghost Vape

Step 1: Take a long, slow draw

Pull vapour slowly into your mouth using a mouth-to-lung draw. Take a longer pull than normal: around 3 to 4 seconds to build up a good volume of vapour in your mouth. The more vapour you have, the more visible the ghost will be.

Step 2: Do not inhale into your lungs

Keep the vapour in your mouth only. This is different from your normal vaping technique. If you inhale into your lungs, you will absorb the vapour and there will be nothing to exhale as a ball. The vapour stays in the mouth cavity.

Step 3: Push the vapour out in a tight ball

Open your mouth slightly and push a compact ball of vapour out using a short, gentle push with your tongue: like saying a very brief "ooh" sound. The goal is a tight, rounded cloud rather than a long stream. Pushing too hard disperses it immediately; too soft and it just dribbles out formlessly.

Step 4: Quickly re-inhale the vapour ball

Immediately after pushing the vapour out, snap-inhale it back in through your mouth or nose. The timing matters: the ball needs to be intact and close to your face when you re-inhale. If you wait too long it dissipates. The re-inhale should happen within half a second of the exhale.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Problem

Fix

Vapour disperses immediately

Push more gently; re-inhale faster; eliminate any breeze in the room

Vapour comes out as a stream, not a ball

Narrow your mouth opening; shorter, sharper push with the tongue

No visible vapour ball

Take a longer initial draw; use higher-VG e-liquid; do not inhale to lungs before exhaling

Re-inhale misses the ball

Push the ball more directly toward your face; re-inhale sooner; try from closer distance

Other Beginner Vape Tricks

Once you have the ghost inhale consistent, these are natural next steps:

French inhale (Irish waterfall): exhale vapour slowly from the mouth and simultaneously inhale through the nose, creating a cascading effect
O-rings: create ring-shaped vapour clouds using a pulsing throat movement; requires a higher-powered device and high VG liquid
Dragon: exhale vapour from both nostrils and the sides of the mouth simultaneously for a dramatic effect

Responsible vaping: Vape tricks should only be done in appropriate settings where vaping is permitted. Always be considerate of those around you: not everyone wants to be near vape clouds, and some people have respiratory conditions that make it uncomfortable. Do not perform vape tricks in public spaces or near others who have not consented.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, though disposables typically produce less dense vapour than refillable devices with high-VG liquids. A disposable can work for the ghost inhale at a basic level, particularly if you take a longer draw than usual. For more advanced tricks that require thick, dense clouds, a refillable device with a 70VG or higher liquid is significantly better.

Ghost vaping involves keeping vapour in the mouth rather than inhaling to the lungs, then re-inhaling. Some nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth during the hold phase, and additional nicotine is absorbed during the re-inhale. The overall nicotine delivery per session is broadly similar to normal use, though the distribution between oral and lung absorption shifts slightly.

For beginner tricks like ghost inhale and French inhale, a mid-range refillable pod kit or vape pen with a high-VG liquid works well. For more advanced tricks like O-rings and jellyfish, a higher-powered sub-ohm device produces the dense, slow-moving clouds needed. The device needs to produce enough vapour volume for the trick to be visible.

Most people can perform a recognisable ghost inhale within a single practice session of 15 to 30 minutes. Consistency: being able to do it reliably every time: typically takes a few more sessions over a few days. The tongue-push technique and timing of the re-inhale are the two things that take the most refinement.

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