Love it or hate it, labia cleavage is here! Characterized as showcasing your vajayjay in crotch-hugging swimwear, stars like NeNe Leakes, Tammy Rivera, and a plethora of Instagram models have hopped on board this trend -- leaving very little to the imagination.
READ: From Shaming To Surgery: Stop Looking For The "Picture Perfect" Vulva
Although this 80’s trend may accentuate your waistline, #IRL, it may secretly be ruining your health. Here’s how:
You May Also Like
When you wear clothing that's too tight, the fabric rubs against your skin, disrupting the barrier that helps protect your derma from infections.
While this rule applies to suffocating wardrobe choices overall, the same rule applies for swimwear.
On top of damaging your protective barrier, curve-hugging clothing produces more sweat, in turn creating an environment for viral, fungal, and bacterial infections, such as folliculitis, which can turn hair follicles into icky red bumps. Yuck!
You May Also Like
Meanwhile, a warm, moist swimsuit bottom produces a lovely home for yeast and bacterial infections. According to Owen Montgomery, M.D., chairman of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, synthetic fabrics including nylon, rayon, and spandex can trap moisture in place, increasing your risk for infection (over and over again), Montgomery tells Cosmopolitan.
Not to mention the maintenance is out of control! That’s right ladies, if you plan on rocking this trend, you’ll need to consult a “waxpert.”
You'll likely need a Brazilian wax. Starting at $40 for front to back at popular spas, technicians will completely remove hair from the buttocks and adjacent to the anus, perineum and vulva (labia majora and mons pubis).
Also known as a full bikini wax or the Sphinx (named after the naked breed of cat), a client's results can last 3 to 6 weeks depending on the individual's hair re-growth rate (after their first go ‘round).
The downside? While in most cases, hair growth is minimal during the first week or two, it noticeably increases in the third and fourth week.
In other words, be prepared to spend some coins!
Fortunately for ocean lovers, the cost of waxing and risk of developing a vaginal infection doesn’t mean you have to skip the swim.
Instead, rock swimwear that fits properly, ensuring air circulation is not reduced in the crotch area and swap out your wet bottoms for dry bottoms as soon as you step out of the water. Sure, an itty bitty bikini may not be on-trend.
But you know what is?
A healthy vagina!
So, are you here for labia cleavage or nah? Sound off!
