Earlier this year I heard about Thinx period underwear. They claim that depending on your flow you might not need a pad or anything else beside them, or you can use them as backup on those heaviest days. They absorb our blood and tissue just like a pad but supposedly without the threat of leaks. They are advertised for use up to ten hours. Put them on and wear them wherever you need to be for a day. Thinx appeals to me because I don't like making so much trash each month just to bleed, pads are expensive, and I haven't seen any other pad alternatives that interest me. I am not interested in anything that needs to be inserted, or interested in chemically stopping periods because I don't know if all the risks are understood, yet. So period panties that are reusable, cute, and in a similar price range as Victoria's Secret (almost as sexy and way more practical) are worth a try.
This blog is my attempt to let curious minds know my thoughts and the details about wearing these neat undies. If you're squeamish you probably haven't been enjoying the thrill of monthly bleeding for very long or you're just silly. Don't worry, I love silly people, but I won't hold back on the gross because periods are gross; that's nature. I bought my first pair earlier this summer and immediately had friends and family wanting to know more, so here it is!
First let's talk about picking the pair. Thinx has several styles ranging from the thong that will absorb half a tampon's worth up to hiphugger that holds two tampon's worth. I've never used tampons so I can't make a direct comparison to that claim. I bought my first pair black/medium/hiphugger to test on my heaviest days. When I took my two measurements one fell into the small and one into the medium category on the sizing chart. I chose medium, because of all the times you don't want something too small around your waist it is probably when you're bloated and crampy. I went with black because that seems more fun. They arrived in a very reasonable amount of time in their own little package that fit in our small mailbox.
Now onto the more exciting look and feel. I love the fabric, it is silky, stretchy, and has super sexy lace around the top. They thankfully don't squeeze around the thighs, unlike my new cute cotton undies. I am realizing that either undies and jeans run on different sizes, or I've gone up sizes since the last time I bought jeans. The medium Thinx did fit a little loose but not loose enough to worry about them falling down, and when the cramps hit they were perfect. I also love the feel of the smooth fabric against my pants as I walk. These are the sexiest pair of underwear I own and I'm totally ok with that. One extra note on style is if you wear the lower rise jeans with a shorter shirt where you get that bare skin gap in the back when you sit your lace will show. I don't know why they use such a thick layer of lace, but that is one thing I found interesting. Of course that is not a deal breaker but just something to consider when picking your outfit. If you want to show off the sexy lace go for it! Why not feel sexy when you're otherwise feeling terrible? It can be a bit empowering during shark week to show off some sexy.
Let's try them on! It took me a few months to give them a proper test. They came in super handy on a trip home when I'd forgotten to pack pads for an overnight stay at the in-laws' and Aunt Flo showed up a little early. Then when she stuck around heavier than usual longer than usual they were wonderful to wear on the flight home and not have to worry about a bulky pad. It was so nice to sit four hours without an extra bulge between my butt bones. The absorbent material is not bulky or stiff, it feels almost exactly like regular underwear. The difference is noticeable if you want to be picky but it's not bad in any way. If I handed you a pair to examine and try on you probably wouldn't notice that they aren't regular undies. Another user compared the feel to swim suit material.
Time for some ick. I do not know how my flow compares to others but I usually have two or three heavy days where at least 2 regular or long "thin" pads are needed during the day. I often change more often than needed for comfort, odor, and peace of mind; I also use the bathroom as frequently as able at least on the first day. Then I use the diaper-like nighttime pads for at least 3 nights and try to get up to pee a couple times a night to release any built up flow. With the Thinx I have had zero leak or lack of absorbance issues so far. I have always been able to use the restroom frequently so they haven't been given a full test of what it would be like if I was at work or a social event for the day. I also haven't tested them at night because I'm not sure how they'd work when I'm laying down all the time, especially as a side sleeper. If I laid on my back or front I think the Thinx would catch all the flow, there seems to be plenty of material in the hiphuggers that goes as high as most pads in the front and back. Don wonders if the boy short style, while rated for only one tampon might be better for night since they enclose your upper thigh, as well. I'll have to try them out.
If you're like me then it's not always perfect liquid dripping out and you get blobs. The tissue in the blobs doesn't seem to get fully absorbed but the liquid from them does. So far this just creates a very thin dry visible layer on the fabric over time. I am impressed that they only create that thin layer because pads seem unable to dry out blobs which just sit there looking like sea monsters until I change pads. I don't like that, so this is a major improvement in my book. My only concern with this is if I wasn't able to use the bathroom enough on a heavy day would that layer start to build up and possibly create absorbance issues. When I get a job and have to test this out, I'll let you know.
For the most part I do feel dry wearing Thinx. On lighter days there is no dampness. After a long, heavy flow day though I've sometimes noticed dampness or at least a slight chill from evaporation cooling the fabric when I pull them back up after taking a pee. But I don't feel gross at all. I also can't say for sure that it's not sweat causing the issue. California summers are very hot, and I've been sweating non-stop since June, so it could be that. More time will be needed for me to be sure about dryness.
My next thought is about odor. I don't know if there is any odor protection built in so by the end of a long day I wouldn't be surprised if that started being an issue. I wonder if that is why they recommend 10 hours as the wear time. I haven't noticed it myself, yet, and I still think you'd make it through a work day without a problem, but I think it would be wise to wash your smelly bits before putting on tomorrow's pair so you're starting the day fresh. If I was working then going out after work I'd probably have a second pair at the ready to change into before going out for comfort and peace of mind. No one will know you're wearing period panties or bleeding unless you tell them, either! I know pads can sometimes be visible under certain fabrics, especially fresh ones that haven't yet formed to your curves. Sometimes I'm self-conscious about that so I think that's another reason I love these so much. They are discreet and sexy!
I have so many pairs of stained underwear that it is nice to finally have pairs that can get blood all over them and look like new after an easy wash. With pads I will usually still end up staining the fabric that touches my inner thighs because they don't absorb fast enough or they get bunched out of place. I haven't tried the nude fabric so I don't know if they will start to pick up color over time or not. I will also have to try that out.
Now to talk about care. Once I am done with my pair after a heavy day I put on my usual undies and a nighttime pad then I take the Thinx to my sink rinse out the absorbent area a few times with just running water then I use soap and just scrub until the pink stops. It usually takes about five minutes then they go into a delicates bag or zipper pillow case and wait for laundry day. I like getting that part done right away because I imagine it's more effective and it isn't much of a hassle. I put them in a cold water load then let them air dry and they are ready for use again! If you do laundry more frequently than we do you can probably use each pair more than once during each cycle, too. Then you can really get your money's worth by reducing the number of pairs you need to not need any pads. Hopefully each pair will last a very long time; another thing I am eager to learn. I will still always want thin panty-liners around but I'd like to be able to stop buying all other pads.
Today I am wearing my new black/small hiphugger pair and I probably won't wear them on a cramp day again because they do squeeze enough to make my bloated sides a little grumpy. I also get red marks at the seams on my legs moreso than with the mediums, and wedgies due to sitting not like a dainty lady. They arrived with a different type of decorative fabric at the top that is stretchy and not such a fancy lace. I wonder if they realized this won't wear out as quickly as lace. I think my next order with be a 3 pack (because they get a discount) of 2 medium hiphuggers (one nude) to cover all heavy days and a medium sport style. I might trade a hiphugger for a boyshort to try at night, though. I'll let you know how that goes if I try it out. I'd love to eliminate those nighttime pads!
So the TL;DR of it all is: yes on comfort at the right size (go with the larger size if your measurements fall into 2 sizes), yes on style, yes on absorbance, unknown about odor control, unknown about nighttime use, ok on dryness on heavy days and yes for lighter days, yes on ease of use and care, yes on price because they are reusable and can potentially eliminate the need for anything else, yes on preventing more stained undies, and yes I want more. This is the first time someone can make me really happy with a gift of undies, which Don is more than happy to do. Yes, I recommend you should at least try a pair because I think you will really like having them around for regular use or as a sexy backup. Final note: each pair sold funds a pack of AFRIpads for girls in Africa who don't have such easy access to sanitary pads and sometimes have to miss school because of it, so yes for being a good person.
This is my first time reviewing something and sounding like a salesperson. How did I do? The video below is worth a watch if you have more time. I love you just for reading this! Please ask any questions in the comments below and I will add updates as I experience the Thinx world more.
