Some guys like to masturbate using some kind of lubrication between their hand and their penis, while others don't bother. One factor to consider is whether your penis is circumcised or not. If you're not circumcised, you will have skin on your penis which you can move backwards and forwards along its whole length, so you can simply grasp the penis firmly and move the skin to and fro. This will make the foreskin move to and fro across the head of the penis, producing wonderful sensations. However, even some circumcised men prefer to use a little lubrication between the head of the penis and the foreskin.
If you have been circumcised, you can masturbate dry or wet. For the dry method, hold the penis firmly and make most of the movements on the upper part of the skin, or hold lightly and slide your fingers across the whole surface of the penis. The disadvantage of the latter method is that the penis may become over-sensitive or sore, so that you cannot enjoy it fully.
A common form of lubrication is to use saliva, but for good lubrication you do need a lot and not everyone produces enough. Another method - not recommended! - is to masturbate in the bath or shower using soap or shampoo. Although this can feel very good, it has its disadvantages. Shampoo or soap can irritate the skin when applied with friction, and can make the skin dry out which sometimes makes it peel for a few days. It can also sting if it gets into the opening at the end of the penis. Therefore, soap or shampoo are not recommended as lubricants.
Alternatively, baby oil works too, but has the same problem in terms of cleaning. Hand cream is very popular and works well: it cleans off fairly easily, it's nice and slippery, it lasts well and you can go as fast as you like.
There are also a lot of water-based lubrication products such as Astroglide, Probe or other lubricants which you can buy in chemists or supermarkets. These personal lubricants have the right consistency for great masturbation using any method or speed, and they clean off easily with a towel.