I Tried A Vajacial -- A Facial For My Vagina
Let's be real, ladies. We put a lot of emphasis on our yonis and making sure that they look (and smell) the part in hopes that will get stellar reviews from a guy we hit up on that hotline bling. Or maybe you have a significant other that you want to surprise--keeping the fire hot by keeping it interesting.
Whatever the case, we as women go through a lot to show extra love to our lady parts, including trying the latest and greatest procedures that promise a pretty punani.
So when my friend tagged me in an Instagram post for Kimberly Grimes, who was offering a one-of-a-kind experience for her intimate care company VAVAVOOM, I was all in. After browsing the site, I opted for the vajacial (vagina facial) because it "targets irritating ingrowns, below-the-belt blackheads and hyperpigmentation," and scheduled my appointment.
On the day of my appointment, I arrived to the studio and waited upstairs while Kimberly finished with the client that was before me. I admit that I was nervous. I never had been waxed before because I do my feminine maintenance at home. I even "Naired" beforehand because I wasn't going to have anyone talking about me in their head. No, honey! Now, I volunteered myself to spread my legs wide open for a complete stranger. What was I getting myself into?!
When it was my turn, I was given the privacy to partially disrobe and get comfortable on the table. The soft music playing in the background helped calm me down. Kimberly made me feel really at ease, especially since I had never received such a service before. It was like chatting with one of my girlfriends while I was given hot towel and exfoliating treatments.
While removing my ingrown hairs (and being so unfazed by it), she explained the common misconceptions many women have when it comes to their vagina. What we think are ingrown hairs are simply congested pores (I had some of those as well) due to dead skin build up or irritation of the bikini line to our panties constantly rubbing against our skin, especially panties with a lot of dyes. Simply put, it's vaginal acne. I have what I like to call "thick girl thigh rub", so keeping the inside of my thighs constantly smooth has always been a challenge. She exfoliated my inner thighs with gentle, professional-grade products and finished with antibacterial oils.
After my vajacial, my skin felt silky smooth and I was given a bottle of V Serum, which is like a mild peel to keep my pores from getting congested resulting in vaginal acne. I was to apply it to my thighs and intimate area twice a day, and put on a "no panty plan" to help my skin irritation. I was advised to wear pure cotton panties and to stay away from the ones with dyes as much as possible. She also told me to give my skin time to breathe by not wearing any at all. I have been using the V Serum regularly and it has kept my skin smooth and helped with hyperpigmentation. The no panty plan has also helped with my bikini line irritation as well.
I highly recommend that you try a vajacial. Many women talk freely about facials, massages, manis, pedis, and other spa treatments they receive, but don't talk openly about issues with their skin in their vaginal area and how they are treating them. If we take conversations beyond our close group of friends, I think we will find out most of our confusion and worries will be alleviated.
Have you had a vajacial? If not, what's stopping you?
Featured image by Shutterstock
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Originally published on October 20, 2016
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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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy