I tried wearing period underwear (and it was awesome)

When I received my pair of Dear Kates in the mail, it was the first time I had ever been bummed that I wasn’t on my period. Dear Kates is a company that makes underwear for women to wear in lieu of tampons or pads, if your period is light, or as added protection if things get heavy. They had kindly sent me a pair to test out, and I couldn’t wait to give them a go.

I know what you’re thinking: period underwear sounds disgusting. Either it’s that horrible thing that happens when you wake up realize your monthly visitor has come early, or it’s some kind of diaper. Pass on both.

But not Dear Kates.

Let’s start with the packaging. When I pulled this out of my mailbox, I had no idea my period could be, well, cute.

I had requested the Nellie Hipster with a mini lining. I knew I wanted to use them for the first and last days of my period, when things aren’t bad enough to warrant a tampon but I still don’t want to go it alone.

The back of the packaging gives a sneak peak of how it all works:

Each pair of underwear has three layers. The founder of the brand, Julie Sygiel, developed the patent-pending fabric herself, working in the lab to create the perfect mix of breathability and support. They look no different than regular undies, but can hold up to three teaspoons of liquid. By the time you’re done with them, give your pair a quick rinse in the sink and then throw into the wash with your regular laundry.

But now to why you’re really here: do they work? Does it feel weird? Perfectly and no. I used mine just for my light days, so my experience may be different than those who used them in conjunction with other methods. The first time I wore them, it was the day I was pretty sure my period would start but didn’t quite know when. Rather than risk staining a good pair of underwear, or force myself to wear a pad throughout the day, I just popped these on and carried on as normal. I washed them and did the same thing on the day my period was ending. It literally feels no different than wearing underwear on your non-period days. I didn’t waste valuable (and expensive) liners and tampons, and I didn’t ruin any of my favorite clothing!

The company itself is just a good egg. They explained via email that they “love using models [they] admire because of what they do and who they are, not only how they look.” They want to bring confidence to the everyday woman, and, by selling so many choices, there’s a whole lotta confidence to be found.

For instance, are you interested in the hipster, thong, or brief? Full or mini lining? They’ve got your basics, your sport, your fancy, and even your queen style of underwear. If you’re all set on underwear, then you can take a look at their other products, like their bralettes and yoga pants (with two new styles debuting in the coming months). With sizes ranging from XS to 3X, you can get exactly what you need for your body.

And guess what? Lucky Hello Giggles readers get 30 percent off their first purchase until the end of the year using the code “hellogiggles30” at check out. You can finally period in peace, and use that money you’re saving on liners for some much-needed ice cream.

(Photos via Dear Kates and author)