I remember when I first got my period, it was as exciting as it was overwhelming. Well, unlike many, because I had older sisters and I attended boarding school, I knew that sooner or later, it was coming so I anticipated it. However, I wasn’t prepared for the big decision – pad or tampon? And if tampon, then what tampon?
Oh yeah, it was a big struggle for me even with having older sisters because all their recommendations didn’t work and everyone at school had one brand or the other. However, there’s no wrong recommendation or answer as buying a sanitary towel is strictly personal. But, I mean I’m on my period! The last thing I want to do, is try every brand on the market trying to find the best comfortable fit for me. Apart from wasting a lot of tampons and of course money, I had bought a weird type of tampon, not caring about size or usage, and oh my, such pain! And not to forget – frustration!
However, since I have struggled, you’re free to regard my struggle as a struggle for all beginners – once and for all. No need for a repeat, don’t you agree? I love y’all so much that I have decided to give you my opinion of the best and most comfortable, easy to install tampons available on the market based on personal experiences and tested consumer reviews (we’ll get into that later).
Of course, you won’t wear tampons forever as you mature, but for now it’s beneficial for you. Actually, using a tampon is no big deal at all – it’s a breeze. Additionally, it’s a lot less messy and a lot less bulky than the traditional pad. More so, when correctly installed, you completely forget it’s there.
So, what do you look out for when buying a tampon?
First, comfort: A good tampon should be comfortable when correctly applied. If a tampon makes you feel uncomfortable, perhaps you haven’t bought the correct size or type. Do aim for slender, sleek or compact type of tampon.
Second, ease: The ease of application of a tampon should be among your top priority. When you buy, do buy a tampon that comes with a built-in applicator and you should aim for plastic or cardboard applicators. Although I prefer tampons with plastic applicators, some environmentalists disagree, of course, we all know, paper is better for the environment than plastic (I already feel bad). However, plastic still remain my personal favorite as is the favorite of the majority of tampon users because tampons with cardboard applicators has its own concerns.
Third, cost: Tampons that are the most cost friendly come without applicators. But, trust me! You do not want to steer in that direction. It’s extremely difficult to apply as a beginner, excruciatingly painful and uncomfortable. So while you’re saving some bucks, you’re paying for it one way or another.
Fourth, protection: Always compare and examine what level of protection a tampon brand offers. Can it sustain you regardless of any form of strenuous activity, like a sport activity for instance? Also, concerning absorbency, what kind of flow can it hold? This one is tricky, because, with some tampon brands, size and absorbency level work hand in hand. That’s why it’s essentially advisable to monitor your flow and look out for slender and sleek tampon brands that offer the best absorbent quality for the appropriate size, because not all highly absorbent tampons are big.
The best way to know is to read the information on the box. Having found your size and type, check for words like ‘super’, ‘plus’, ‘super plus’, ‘overnights’, if your flow is heavy or super heavy. Or, you check for words like ‘light, ‘lite, ‘regular’, if your flow is light or moderate.
Okay, just so you have a head start to becoming a tampon pro, I have provided three recommendations so try them, and come back to let me know how it worked out for you. You can leave your experiences in the comment section below.
Now without further ado, here are my three best recommendations for all beginners.
- Tampax Pearl Lites – easy to insert, great for light to moderate flow, low absorbency, super slender and comfortable.
- Playtex Gentle Glide 360` – sleek, easy to insert, great for light to medium flow, high absorbency (offering leak-free, super dry protection), super comfortable but not very slender.
- U by Kotex Sleek Tampons – super sleek, offers the best insertion, great for beginners with heavy flow, super absorbency, extremely comfortable (offering perfect placement), and 10 times more slender than other brands. This is my personal favorite – what’s more? It comes with a beautiful fragrance and in different colors and designs too 😉
And that’s it!
I hope you found some helpful information in this article – I do understand that starting out on becoming a woman can sometimes be daunting, but hopefully I covered all your tampon worries 🙂 Or did I not? Let me know.
