For the past few years, I have been actively looking to reduce the waste I produce from my period. After being on the Nexplanon contraceptive implant, which caused me to bleed non-stop for about two years, it made me exceptionally conscious of the waste I was producing. So, I've been investing in more sustainable period care products, and my favourite brand so far has been DAME.
I have been off of the Nexplanon implant for about five months now (you can read my journey with contraception and my period here) and my periods are back to somewhat kind of normal, so I was excited when I got an email to test out DAME's period pants early.
I am a massive fan of DAME as I use their reusable period pads and have gotten on really well using them for a few cycles now. I'm happy that I'm almost at a place where I don't have to use disposable pads anymore, so I'm hoping that when DAME launch their period pants I'll be able to buy another pair or two to add to my period care products, and then hopefully my period will be sustainable!
First Impressions
DAME offered the pants in only three sizes, Small, Medium, and Large, and in two options, Regular or Night. I chose Night in size Large. The first thing I noticed about the DAME period pants was how thick they felt. Just from holding them in my hands, they felt well made, sturdy, but also super soft. The absorbent lining in the crotch went far up into the back of the pants, perfect for using the pants at nighttime.
When I tried them on they felt super snug, which I have to admit I was expecting being a size 18. Although they were super stretchy, and I guess do fit, I am really hoping that DAME extends their sizing, as I think an XL would fit me perfectly. The pants sit just under my waist and have a nice thick band that makes you feel like you're getting a hug. Overall, they felt really comfy to wear and had a slightly compressed feel, which when on my period I quite like as it makes me feel safe and secure.
A Bloody Good Period
So, how did the DAME period pants hold up during my actual period? Very well, in fact! I had no leakage and they felt comfortable and secure throughout my whole period. I used the period pants both during the day and at night as my periods are sometimes quite heavy, making sure to swap them out either in the afternoon or the evening, depending on how heavy my flow was.
Washing the DAME period pants was easy too. I either took them in the shower with me to rinse out the blood, or I rinsed them in my bathroom sink until the water ran clear from them, and then put them in a load in the washing machine at 30 degrees C. You can't tumble dry the DAME period pants as this affects their absorbency layer, so it's best to air dry them - mine took a few days to fully air dry.
My only gripe with the Dame period pants is that the absorbent fabric does come up quite short in the front of the crotch, which made me very conscious of leaking out of the front of the pants. Just to clarify, I had no leakage, but I felt like I had to keep to re-adjust the pants every 30 minutes or so just to be sure that I wouldn't leak - just an inch higher would have been perfect for me, personally.
Overall, I would give the DAME period pants an 8/10. They were very comfy to use, but a size up (when/if they make them) would have been perfect, and my only other point would be that the absorbent fabric felt like it could come up a bit higher at the front of the pants. But other than that, they were a joy to wear and are now a staple in my cycle.
PRO'S
- Sustainable and eco-friendly
- Really comfy, stretchy and secure
- A B-Corp Company
CON'S
- Only three sizes, S, M, and L
- Fear of leaking in the font
I hope that if you menstruate you'll look into buying some more suitable options for your period. They're definitely worth the investment!
Kayleigh x