Let’s talk about periods.
I have to admit, this isn’t normally my go-to conversation starter, but I felt this new concept was worth a mention. The concept is, in theory, period underwear. No, I’m not talking about those beat-up pairs shoved in the back of your underwear drawer, reserved for that "time of the month." I’m talking about a new revolution in the menstrual accessory genre: undies that eliminate the need for a pad or tampon. The creator is a company is called THINX and they’re about to change the way you think about your period.
Naturally, I decided to try a few pairs and share my results with you.
Buying:
OK, I need to be completely honest here. I’ve been sleep-shopping a lot lately and my two pairs of THINX were a sad, half-conscious charge on my card. That being said, I had heavily researched them within the days before and considered buying for a number of reasons.
First, the obvious: there are just days women don’t want to wear a tampon or pad, but "free-bleeding" doesn’t sound anywhere near appealing. We’ve all been there, and THINX has vowed to be a savior in these moments.
Secondly, when reading reviews, a main talking point was that these undies felt normal; like something you would wear on any day of the month. Heck, some women are wearing them every day of the month. To someone who isn’t a big fan of the typical panty style, a pair that doesn’t ride up sounded like a godsend. So my charges weren’t regretted…until I saw the price.
I bought two pairs of the “Hiphugger” style because they’re created for heavy days and I always like to be prepared with extra coverage. Each pair individually cost me $34.00, not including shipping. At this point, I was thinking these undies must really be a lifesaver if I’m spending over $70 on two pairs. I vowed to never complain about Victoria’s Secret’s five for $25 again.
I began to second-guess my purchase, but was relieved when I saw that THINX would accept returns up to 60 days after purchase. At least if I hated them I would be able to take them back.
It should also be noted that when buying, my style and size was actually out of stock. They were back-ordered and promised to be shipped by June 6th. I received them on June 3rd, just two weeks after placing my order.
Wearing:
My shipment arrived just in time and I was ready to try my THINX.
First, they must be washed with cold water, and must hang to dry. No problem, I thought. That is until the day passed by and my THINX still didn’t seem to be drying any faster than when I first hung them. I was getting impatient, so I took a blow dryer to them and after a good 10 minutes, they were ready to wear.
On a light day, I found, my THINX were really awesome.
I didn’t have to wear a tampon or a pad the entire day, and one pair of my Hiphuggers was more than sufficient to get me through. I found myself grateful for the amount of time I didn’t spend making sure my tampon wasn’t leaking, and the freedom I felt with just a little protection.
On a heavy day, I didn’t have the same feeling.
I was constantly checking to make sure I wasn’t bleeding through. THINX are so thin; I was caught off guard by the fact that they could actually handle it. The cool thing was, unlike a pad, THINX stayed dry. It never felt like I was sitting in a puddle: just in a nice pair of comfortable undies. Still, I just wasn’t comfortable with the free-bleeding feeling that came on one of my middle days, so I resorted to old options.
Sleeping, though, is where I feel THINX were right for me. It eliminates the concern of bleeding through as well as the worry of overnight tampons, which is never advised. I slept soundly every night I tried them, no riding up and no leaking.
My only complaint with the wear is how long THINX take to dry after a wash. I guess I should have expected this given the composition of each; I mean, they’re undies built to be as absorbent as pads. But it doesn’t seem realistic to go though an entire week with just two pairs. I would advise at least one pair for each day of your cycle, but the price tag for that commitment seems unrealistic in it’s own sense.
The Consensus:
You better believe I’ll never sleep with a pad or tampon again. THINX have simplified this aspect of my life beyond my expectations. Light days too, especially if I’m at home. It’s a new and very welcomed feeling to not be constantly worried about care and change times. As for heavy days, I personally was not comfortable in the heaviest level of THINX, but I have to stress that they did not let me down. There was no leakage and nothing to make me insecure except my own preferences.
A full 7-day set of THINX is an investment, but it’s one I will consider making. The dry time is my biggest complaint, and as much as I’d like to say a few pairs will do, that in itself is a large care commitment, which is something THINX otherwise eliminates.
Do yourself a favor and try a pair. I know the price tag is tricky. I’m just as bummed about it as you are. But I believe THINX truly are the next step in period care. They’ll make your life a little simpler, and you’ve got a 60-day return period to decide if THINX are right for you.
