Wheeeeew-wheeeee. With news stories like this past June being the hottest one ever recorded on the planet and the Atlantic Ocean being on the verge of collapsing, folks can continue to debate if global warming is a real thing if they want to; however, those of us who know better…know better. And with it being several weeks into the summer season, with clear temp-related signs that are not going to let up as far as the heat (and heat index) is concerned, it’s a good idea to be as proactive as possible when it comes to staying cool — and your vagina is certainly no exception.
So, let’s dive into some of the things that you can easily and effectively do to keep your “special spot” from feeling like it’s going through the fires of hell from now until the fall season officially arrives. The cool thing (pun intended) about each of these 12 tips is they are affordable, health-beneficial, and something that your vagina will be oh-so grateful that you decided to do. Hands down.
1. (Greek) Yogurt Popsicles
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C’mon. Is there anything more refreshing than a popsicle when you’re standing outside in the blazing sun? And when it specifically comes to doing your vagina good, a Greek yogurt one is gonna hit the spot every time. That’s because Greek yogurt is loaded with probiotics which not only help to keep your gut in great shape, it also produces a lot of “healthy bacteria” in your vagina so that you are able to significantly reduce the chances of experiencing any gynecological-related illnesses. As a bonus, Greek yogurt is full of protein, helps to boost your immune system, and it can keep your blood pressure where it ought to be as well.
(By the way, if you were wondering what the difference is between Greek yogurt and “regular” yogurt, Greek is prepared in a way where it has more protein and less sugar than regular yogurt, while regular yogurt has way more calcium.)
2. Vagina Popsicles Too
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As a doula, I learn a lot of hacks that can help in the vagina department. For instance, if you’ve been abstinent for a while and this is the summer when things are heating up in the bedroom, there is a bit of a vagina popsicle (if you will) that you can make. All you need to do is fill up a condom with some water and then put it in the freezer for about an hour. If you place that on your vulva after sex, it can provide some relief if you’re feeling a bit sore down below. A hack for the hack is to add some alcohol to the water if you’d prefer a “slushie” instead of a popsicle. This works because alcohol doesn’t fully freeze. Dope, right?
3. Watermelon
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If watermelon is one of your favorite fruits, May-September is the time of year to cop a couple of ‘em. Health-wise, watermelons are made up of mostly water which makes them a sweet and low-calorie treat that will keep you good and hydrated. Watermelon is also a pretty solid source of fiber, protein, and vitamin C, it contains anti-cancer properties, and it’s able to reduce bodily inflammation and oxidative stress. Plus, watermelon has nutrients in it that will keep your skin glowing and your muscles from aching (if you like to do a lot of physical activities around this time of the year).
Why is it such an awesome thing for your vagina? Well, watermelon is also a fruit that has electrolytes (like potassium) in it; electrolytes are helpful because they help to balance out your system, including your vagina’s pH — the more balanced it is, the healthier it will be.
4. Chilled Pantyliners
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This past spring, I penned “10 Essential Oils That Are Great For Feminine Hygiene (And A Few Other Things)” for the platform. Whether your vagina — well, vulva, which is the outer part of your vagina — feels itchy from wearing a swimsuit for hours on end, “she’s tender” from a recent sex romp, or you’re simply hot and looking for some soothing relief, something else that can help is spraying some water (preferably distilled because it has no impurities in it) onto a pantyliner and then adding a few drops of one of the essential oils (based on your vaginal health needs) onto the center of it. Freeze it for about 15-20 minutes, and then apply it to your underwear. Your vagina will be forever thankful for the all-natural relief.
5. Night-Before Shavings
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If you plan on spending some time in the water (any water), avoid shaving your pubic region on the same day. By doing it the night before, that gives your skin some time to heal and your pores the ability to close. Why is this necessary? Well, you never know what’s in that ocean water, swimming pool, or jacuzzi with you, so the more preventative measures that we all can avoid, the better. Also, spend at least 10 minutes in the shower or tub before shaving; you’ll get a much closer and more comfortable shave that way. Oh, and if you’d prefer to DIY your shaving oil, One Good Thing has a homemade recipe that you should check out here.
6. Chilled Aloe Vera Gel and Tea Tree Oil
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Speaking of shaving, if, for whatever reason, you end up with a nick or some razor burn, something that will bring a lot of healing and comfort is a combination of aloe vera gel and tea tree oil. Just put a teaspoon of the gel (preferably 100 pure or cutting open a stem from an aloe vera plant) and 2-3 drops of tea tree oil into a small bowl and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then apply it directly to where you have irritated skin. The vitamins A, B12, C, E, and antioxidants of the aloe vera, along with the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of the oil, will work together to soothe your bikini line in record time.
7. Coconut Water
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You’re gonna need plenty of water to replenish your system this summer, and a form of water that will give you so much more than just hydration is coconut water. Even though it’s made up of 94 percent water, coconut water also has calcium, magnesium, and potassium in it. Not only that, but coconut water also contains antioxidants, is able to stabilize your blood sugar levels, and it’s even able to prevent kidney stones from occurring. What makes it good for your vagina is it also contains probiotics. This means that if you’re yeast infection-prone, it can help that to be one less thing that you need to worry about.
8. Citrus Salads
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Something else that is low in calories while being uber nutritious is a fresh citrus salad. Citrus fruits are bomb because they are full of water, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C. All of this works together to maintain your cognitive function, keep your heart strong and also keep cancer cells at bay. Your vagina will adore citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and limes because the vitamin C in them not only helps your system to naturally produce the probiotic Lactobacillus (which is good bacteria), but both can also help treat and prevent bacterial vaginosis (BV) from a holistic angle.
9. Vitamin E and a Comb
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Not too long ago, someone was talking to me about how they wanted to grow out their pubic hair; however, they didn’t like how “hard” the hair seemed to feel. Listen, just washing the hair down below isn’t good enough; it needs to be conditioned too.
Something that you can apply that will deep condition your hair and not irritate your vulva is vitamin E oil. It’s a great moisturizer, can help to heal any razor bumps or minor cuts you might have, can help to minimize the appearance of scars or discoloration, and it can even help to keep your vagina looking youthful (because, yes, the skin down there typically ages too).
To get the best results, “seal your pubic hair” right after getting out of the bath or shower with the oil. Then use a comb to comb through your hair. It will help to distribute the oil evenly and work out any tangles that you might have (if that hair is long enough) — which will help to make your pubic hair so much softer to the touch.
10. Linen Panties
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Your vagina needs to breathe. That’s why it’s important to sleep naked at night and to wear panties that are designed to absorb moisture while also not making your vagina and vulva feel “trapped” throughout the day. You’ve probably heard that organic cotton is a wonderful option as far as underwear goes — and it is. However, an unsung material is linen. It’s also a breathable fabric. Not only that, but it’s antibacterial, super hygienic, and it even helps to increase healthy blood flow (how cool is that?!). Plus, it’s good for the environment, which is always a good thing. Amazon and Etsy are two places that carry these types of drawers. Go to either site and put “linen panties” in their search field.
11. Ironed Undies
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A few years ago, I wrote an article for the platform entitled, “When Should You Replace Underwear, Make-Up, Bedding, Washcloths & Towels?”. Check it out when you get a chance because when I tell you that there are some things that a lot of us tend to use far longer than we ever should…LAWD. Definitely, one that tops the list is underwear because, between fecal matter and other forms of bacteria, it really is time to replace panties every six months. In the meantime, if you want to keep your undies “extra sterilized”, ain’t nothin’ wrong with ironing the inside of them, on low heat, right after washing them. Straight up.
12. Frozen Sheets (Kind Of)
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Listen, I don’t know about y’all, but in my opinion, there aren’t too many things that are more annoying than waking up in the middle of the night feeling hot as literal hell. Something that can help to prevent this is putting your bed sheets into some plastic bags and freezing them for a couple of hours before putting them on your bed and turning in for the evening. Not only will you feel so much cooler (without causing your cooling bill to skyrocket), but you’ll also help to keep your vagina from sweating, which can oftentimes turn into a breeding ground for bad bacteria to thrive and a yeast infection to transpire, if you’re not careful.
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See. I told you that you’d get some tips that your vagina would be mighty appreciative of? So, which one are you gonna try first? Feel free to hop into the comments if you’ve got a few other hacks too. With this summer being one for the record books, all of our vaginas could use as many cool-down tips as possible. Goodness.
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Fortunately, five simple words have simplified my dating process and ushered in clarity faster: “Would my husband do this?”
A couple of years ago, I met an entertainment lawyer who was tonguing down a twenty-something-year-old woman for breakfast while I slurped my green smoothie and chomped on a flatbread sandwich. Okay, Black love, I grinned and thought as I sauntered out of the Joe & The Juice. As soon as I stepped down from the front door, a torrential downpour of Miami summer rain cascaded and throttled me back inside to wait out the storm.
I grabbed a hot green tea and vacillated between peering out the wet door and anxiously checking my watch. My lengthy agenda started with attending the Tabitha Brown and Chance Brown’s “Black Love” panel, and I was already late. That’s when the lawyer introduced himself to me, after he made a joke about neither one of us wanting to get soaked by the rain. His female companion had braved the storm, leaving us to find our commonalities.
We both lived in L.A. and had traveled to the American Black Film Festival to expand our network. He represented various artists, including entertainment writers, while I was working as a writer/creative producer in Hollywood.
While there is no shortage of internet advice on how to strategically meet a prominent man at conferences, if I spend my hard-earned funds on career growth, I have tunnel vision, and that doesn’t include finding Mr. Right. So, I stowed his contact details away as strictly professional.
Keep It Cute Love And Hip Hop GIFGiphyAs the humidity and mosquitoes were rising around L.A., two months later, another suitor-turned-terrible match cooled off after three unimpressive dates and a bevy of red flags. I posted what some of my friends called a thirst trap, but it was really me wearing a black freakum jumpsuit with a plunging neckline to my friend’s 35th birthday soiree despite feeling oh, so unsexy and bloated on my cycle.
I’d been waiting to post a sassy caption and finally had the perfect picture to match: “You not asking for too much, you just asking the wrong MF.”
That’s when the entertainment lawyer swooped into my DMs and asked me to dinner. I was quite confused. Is he asking me on a date? Or is this professional? Common sense would’ve picked the former. Once it clicked that this would in fact be a date, I told my mentor, who’s been happily married for over twenty years and has often been a guiding light and has steered me away from the wrong men.
Upon telling him about how we met, he emphatically stated, “He ain’t it.” He followed up with a simple question, "You have to ask yourself: Would my husband do this? Would you tell others that you met your husband, tonguing down another woman, and later married him?"
Aint It No Way GIF by UFCGiphyOuch. The thought-provoking question cleared any haze. Prior to going out with the lawyer, the first thing I inquired about was the woman.
“You saw that?” He said, taken aback that I’d witnessed his steamy PDA. Surely, anyone with two open eyes peeped him caressing her backside as he kissed her in the middle of the coffee shop.
He brushed her off as a casual someone he’d gone on a couple of dates with but had since stopped talking to. He said he hadn’t been in a serious relationship in over three years. Though I was still doubtful, dating in L.A. is treacherous and ephemeral. Making it past three months is considered a rarity.
With my antennae alert, I dined with him at a cozy beachside steakhouse restaurant where we were serenaded by a live jazz band. I’d emphasized forming a platonic friendship first.
Break Up Friendship GIF by TLCGiphy“I’ll come to you,” he obliged. I liked that he had made me a priority by driving over 50 miles to see me. I also liked the effort he made to check in with me daily. But I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he initiated on a professional pretense and then alley hooped through the back door on a romantic venture, which bombarded me with confusion.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my dating life, God is not the author of confusion; any man who brings confusion, rather than clarity, is simply not The One. It doesn’t matter how many boxes he checks–eventually, that confusion will manifest itself into bigger problems, in time.
After diving into deeper conversations on the phone, post our first dinner date, I quickly realized this man was indeed not The One for me. But I’m grateful for the valuable lesson I learned.
I don’t expect some unattainable fairytale of a husband; we all have our own flaws and conflict is inevitable, but after dating for two decades, through failure and success, I’ve realized that the person I ultimately marry must mirror the values I exert into the world. He must reciprocate kindness, patience, and respect. He must be quick to listen and slow to respond. He needs to be forgiving and trustworthy, practice healthy communication, and be a man of his word at the bare minimum.
If I’d had “Would my husband do this?” in my toolbox when I was dating and floundering in stagnant relationships, in my twenties, it would’ve saved me a lot of precious time. But now that I’m equipped with the reminder, it’s allowed me to ground myself in my non-negotiables and set/maintain the standard for the special person, I’ll one day say, “I do,” to.
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