There Are Real Benefits To Going Commando
The first time that I ever found myself concerned with the visibility of a panty line was during my 8th-grade graduation. I found the most beautiful dress that unfortunately highlighted the lining of my undergarments. My mom made me wear a thong under that dress, even though I would have preferred to wear no underwear at all.
Walking around with a thong a.k.a. a semi-permanent wedgie drove my nuts after just a few minutes.
At that age, I never even thought of it as a possibility to actually not wear underwear at all. It was something that “we" just don't do as the elder women in my family would say. Little did they know, it may have just been the best thing that they've never tried.
By the time I was in high school, that “only nasty girls go outside without panties on" mentality that was embedded in my head since I was a preteen slowly started to wither away. In fact, I became very close friends with someone whose views of going commando was totally opposite from what I had been taught all of my life. In fact, her mom is a true commando connoisseur, opting out of wearing underwear most days. Getting a better understanding of what life was like “free-balling" from people who have actually done it is what got me to try it out for myself. It's actually pretty damn amazing if you ask me.
Like most women, when I'm faced with the many wonder of life, I turn to my circle of friends. Here were the responses I got on the big question at hand. To go commando, or not to go commando.
"That sh*t is a lifestyle for me. It's freeform...freedom. And if need be easy access. It's breathable. I feel like it's especially great when I wear a dress or skirt or some loose fitted pants." - Melissa
"I like not wearing panties some times. I wear panties with jeans though. I definitely don't wear panties at night. My mom tried to tell me to (not wear panties at night) and I would have a fit. Like...I have to wear panties!" - Tonya
"I'm scared of sweating (if I'm outside). I usually go commando at home and when I sleep though." - Shauna
"At first I thought it was something that fast. Nasty girls did and I was just like heck no. But one day drastic times called for desperate measures and I realized what I have been missing all of this time." - Michelle
"I personally don't do it because I think way too hard. What if I sweat and it leaves a stain? What if aunty flow makes an unexpected appearance? Yeah, I'll pass on that one." - Kori
"I think it depends on what you have on. I don't really go commando unless it's something that requires it like a dress or skirt where you will see the pantyline. But I would never go commando in pants. That just seems uncomfortable to me. Or short skirts." - Danielle
It seem like it may be some hope for going commando after all. Yet and still, some women feel going outside without panties is utterly disgusting, while others are all for letting their vajayjays get some fresh air at least every once in a while. One gynecologist, Dr. Alyssa Dweck, M.D. in fact stated that “if [the area] is constantly covered—especially by a fabric that's not moisture-wicking or absorbent---moisture collects...That's a perfect breeding ground for bacteria or yeast." Yikes, that's a bit frightening.
If that's not enough to get you to try it, here are some other things for you to keep in mind:
It's SUPER comfortable
I barely can describe the feeling in words. I can tell you personally, when you have a little bit more junk in your trunk most cuts of underwear feel super uncomfortable, especially with pants. Thongs can be irritating to the skin. Others give you unwanted bumps and bulges. No underwear, no problems. There are even panty liners made specifically for going commando.
No more panty lines
You probably once in your life had on a bomb dress and while you're checking yourself out in the mirror, you realize that your panty line is trying to make a statement. ANNOYING. No panties---you guessed it---no panty line. Of course you could opt for thongs or another type of butt floss underwear with less coverage for you're rear end, but the absence of constant chaffing may push you to do otherwise.
It does more good than harm
There is no direct correlation between not wearing underwear and contracting infections. Generally speaking, you are safe when going commando as long as you are wearing breathable fabrics such as cotton. This is a rule of thumb even when wearing underwear. Go for cotton!
It may make you feel somewhat sexy
Some women admit to feeling sexy when they have on cute underwear, even if no one ever gets to see them. No underwear may heighten those feelings. May just a bit.
If you're thinking about going commando but are a little reluctant to try it out, just take baby steps. Start by doing it at night then when you're sleeping. Next, try it when you are just chilling in the comfort of your own home. If you feel comfortable enough to take it to the great outdoors, just try it. You'll never really know if it's for you unless you try it first. Take it from me.
Try it just once and let us know if you give going commando a thumbs up or if it's still getting the side eye from you. We want to know about your experiences!
Featured image by jacoblund/Getty Images
- 6 Things You Must Know Before You Go Commando ›
- Are there really benefits to going commando? ›
- 'I Went Commando for a Week—Here's What It Was Like' | Women's ... ›
- 8 Benefits Of Going Commando Once In Awhile (Or All The Time) ›
- The Right Way to Go Commando | Women's Health ›
- Advantages and disadvantages of going commando - Read Health ... ›
- Going Commando: The Only Way To Live | Thought Catalog ›
- Going commando is healthy for your vagina | New York Post ›
- Benefits of Going Commando | POPSUGAR Love & Sex ›
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images