These Period-Proof Panties Are Your Monthly Secret Weapon

If this is new information to you, let me break it down for you. In simple terms, PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, but many women don't even know they have it. Unfortunately, too many women aren’t diagnosed with PCOS, despite having the condition, because many doctors still view the symptoms as “just something women have to deal with.” This subsequently causes some women to spend years advocating for themselves until any testing is done — which is absolutely ridiculous, BTW.

While the exact causes of the disorder are still unknown, there are some uncommon discrepancies that may correlate with the syndrome. For instance, Androgen excess (male hormone excess), is “seen in 60-80% of girls and women with PCOS, [and] is a key problem in the disorder and likely comes from ovaries in most women,” Endocrine Society states. Insulin resistance or elevated insulin levels, along with “abnormalities in how the brain or pituitary gland communicate with the ovaries may also lead to androgen overproduction. Other hormones from the ovary or fat tissue may also be involved.”

It’s believed that PCOS is generally inherited, but environmental factors (like low birth weight, rapid weight gain in infancy, early pubic hair and puberty development, childhood obesity, excess adult weight, unhealthy lifestyle, etc.) also play a role in the development of PCOS.

As we mentioned before, many women are only diagnosed after years of self-advocacy, and after consistently experiencing infrequent or painful periods, difficulty getting pregnant, ovarian cysts, abnormal weight gain, and hair loss (or excessive hair growth). You’d think this condition would be widely talked about, but truth be told more women have been diagnosed recently thanks to the advent of TikTok.

Through the app, hundreds of women recount their experiences with PCOS, some even documenting their journey pre and post diagnosis. This has led to more women seeking medical attention for traits that were once considered “not a big deal,” and having the information to move forward with their lives.

I interviewed five women in their early 20s on how this condition has affected their lives, and how they move forward with this newfound information.

Andie, 22: “I’ve dealt with painful and infrequent periods my whole life. Of course, doctors always told me it was ‘normal’ because my tests were ‘normal,’ but I always knew something wasn’t right. I actually first heard of PCOS through TikTok, and I was like, ‘this sounds a lot like me.’ Since then I've been super proactive in my health. To get diagnosed I had to go to several doctors which wasn’t great, but my new OBGYN took me seriously enough to do more intense testing. As I kinda expected, I was diagnosed with PCOS shortly after, but since not much is known about it I started doing a ton of research on my own. I take lots of supplements along with birth control, and have a pretty clean diet with regular exercise. My periods are a bit better now, but honestly it just feels good knowing that my gut was right all along.”

Cameron, 23: “I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was just shy of 19, which is pretty lucky considering most women don’t get diagnosed until later. My primary care doctor and OBGYN both believed me at face value, which made the process much easier than other women I have heard of. TikTok has helped me a lot to listen to my body and use more holistic methods to heal myself, most of which have worked, at least in my opinion. Honestly it could just be a placebo effect but I don’t care. I want to have kids one day, so it’s definitely a bit nerve wracking knowing I could have infertility. My doctors said I’m OK right now, but it’s still something extra I have to think about that my friends don’t.”

Lucy, 21: “I was literally just diagnosed two months ago, so I’m still learning a lot about it and how I can try to actually ‘cure’ myself. I mean – obviously I’d rather not have PCOS, but what am I going to do?! I’m currently taking fish oil, magnesium and probiotics, all of which I’ve heard good things about from other girls with PCOS. One of my best friends in college also has PCOS, so it’s nice to have someone else to talk to who ‘gets it.’ I would definitely recommend for other women who suffer from PCOS to find someone else with it to talk to, it’s been super helpful for me.”

Jenna, 20: “I’ve had periods of excessive weight gain and weight loss throughout my life, but I just thought it was because of exercise – I never thought it could be a sign of something bigger. I recently moved for school and started seeing a new doctor, because I kept gaining weight even though I ate a super clean diet and exercised a lot. He decided to send me for some bloodwork and other tests just to see if anything was wrong, and that’s how I found out I had PCOS – which was definitely surprising for me since I never had inconsistent periods. The diagnosis has allowed me to find new ways to workout so I can actually lose the weight I want to. It’s not as much as I’d like, but I’ve lost 15 lbs in the last four months!”

Lydia, 22: “Obviously, it’s never fun to cancel on your friends because you’ve got excruciating period pain, which is why I went to the doctor in the first place. After months of this stabbing-like pain the doctors finally diagnosed me with PCOS. It hasn’t changed a lot for me, if I’m being honest, but at the very least I am taking some medication so my periods aren’t nearly as painful anymore.”

Wouldn’t period underwear smell?

Period underwear, like pads or tampons, do smell over time. As long as you change them according to your flow, then you’ll be all set.

How does the fabric in period underwear actually catch blood?

The moisture-wicking fabric is made up of thousands of small filaments, all of which trap blood and other liquid and contribute to its “leak-proof” title.

How do I wash period underwear?

When it comes to washing, you can machine wash your period underwear in cold water on a delicate cycle. While you can wash with other items, I prefer not to.

My 5 Top Period Underwear Brands

1. Cora ($30)

These are by far the most comfortable period undies I’ve worn. If I’m being honest I have been using Cora products long before I tried their underwear, but even so these are a game changer.

2. Unders by Proof (starting at $25)

Unders has a style for everyone. Whether you prefer a thong, need a seamless style or rock granny panties (same, BTW), you’ll find the perfect option for you. Oh, and they are super comfortable, too.

3. Knix (starting at $24)

I love all of the seamless options Knix provides. If you’re looking for cute styles and even cuter colors, definitely give these ones a go.

4. Lola ($30)

Even though Cora and Unders are my go-tos, I still enjoyed Lola’s Washable Period Underwear. If you’re on the hunt for a practical, comfortable pair of underwear, Lola is definitely worth the try.

5. Saalt (starting at $27)

Known for their menstrual cups, Saalt recently came out with a variety of undies for any level of flow. Personally, I don’t love the stretch (I want to feel like nothing is moving LOL), they’re still a great leak-proof choice.

Here's How Often You Should Cut Your Hair, According To Professionals

I’ll admit it — it had been eight months since my last haircut. My hair had lost its shape, my layers were nowhere to be found, and my ends were begging for mercy. Life got busy over the last few months and I was neglecting my haircare like never before.

My hairdresser could immediately see that I was beyond due for a cut and said I needed to get more taken off than I was hoping. I was definitely disappointed — I'd been working on growing out my hair for a while now, and it just felt like my hard work had completely gone to waste. He explained that getting consistent haircuts is the key to growing out healthy and strong hair, rather than letting it grow and grow until it eventually breaks. So let's dig into the top three things you can do to avoid this scenario!

1. Just Get The Dang Haircut

Also avoiding a haircut like I was? You might want to schedule one at your nearest salon. Like my stylist said, when you wait too long between trims like I did, you risk your hair becoming heavy, dull, and lifeless. When the hair is dry or even dead, it’s nearly impossible for it to hold a curl or style, essentially collapsing on you and taking on more and more heat damage all the while. I know the pain of spending time on a blowout only for it to fall minutes later — it’s the worst.

According to Jack, getting a haircut every 10-12 weeks is the best time frame or your ends will pay the price. Between blow-drying, curling, straightening, sun, and weather, our ends get dry and start to break without the proper care. Getting consistent haircuts allows hair to bounce back, shine, and perform the way we want in a healthy way.

2. Leave-In Conditioners Are Your Friend

His top piece of advice to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated between trims? Invest in conditioning treatments. Jack swears by the Olaplex conditioning system, specifically the No 3 Hair Perfector. Made with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, this conditioning treatment repairs and prevents damage in as little as three minutes. No 3 promises to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair, so it’s the perfect assistance to keep ends fresh between cuts. Another conditioning treatments I’ve used and loved for years is the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, which is designed to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to dry hair.

3. Switch Up Your Shampoos

Switching shampoos frequently is a pretty hot tip that I honestly hadn't thought of. Our hair gets used to the same products and grows tired of them, resulting in lackluster locks. Jack’s advice is to switch brands after finishing every bottle of shampoo to bring life back to your hair. Have two brands that you’re loyal to? Even switching back and forth between them after every bottle should make a big difference in your hair. I’m a huge fan of the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, which makes my hair look thick and full, as well as the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, which is so hydrating and gives so much shine.

In the end, navigating your back-and-forth relationship with haircuts often feels like a rollercoaster ride between wanting that fresh look and cringing at the receipt. Luckily, by using conditioning treatments and switching up your products,, you can keep your locks healthy, shiny, and full of life between trims. But take a newly learned lesson out of my book: don't let your ends pay the price for procrastination and just book the haircut.