Hey Girls was set up by Celia and her two daughters Bec and Kate after experiencing period poverty first hand themselves when Celia was a single mum. Celia used to always greet Kate and Bec by saying ‘hey girls!’ as a term of endearment and is what started the conversation on what could be done to end period poverty when the concept of Hey Girls was discovered in 2018.

Hey Girls’ guiding constitution states our core aim; to help eradicate period poverty through the provision of quality period products for everyone. We respect that not everyone who menstruates identifies as female and we actively challenge existing messaging around period care and gender as a whole. We believe in a better period for everyone, no matter your personal journey.  Everybody is welcome at Hey Girls. 

Hey Girls CIC is a bold, award-winning social enterprise ending period poverty by selling and donating period products across the UK. Launched in 2018 by Celia Hodson, OBE, and her daughters, the team reinvests 100% of profits to fight for period dignity, donating over 42 million products via their unique buy one, donate one model. Focused on education, innovation and sustainable products, Hey Girls is smart, straight-talking, and always putting people and planet first. You can read more about our impressive milestones over the years, via the timeline on our website: See what we've been up to since we started

We believe access to period products and education is a right, not a privilege which is why we’re leading the way for schools, councils, businesses and so many more people to improve period dignity for everyone.

If you are over the age of 15 and local to one of our dispatch centres in Musselburgh or Diss, we’d be happy to discuss work experience. We can only provide work experience roles within our packing and dispatch teams and cannot pay for expenses like travel. Please get in touch via the website.

What does the free product law change is Scotland mean? Do I get my free period products from Hey Girls? We were delighted to be part of this word first law change, seeing Scotland become the first country in the world to provide free period products for all. If you live in Scotland and wish to access free period products contact your council on where and how to access them. If you’re an organisation looking to provide free products, say hey to our team to learn how to order with us. Hey Girls are always here to help… we supported My Period to create the award-winning ‘Pick up my period app’ which allows you to see live locations offering free products to all

Hey Girls developed a world first period product locator app with My Period. Over almost 2000 locations in Scotland are listed on the app so you can see where to access free products based on your live location or post code. It’s free to download and soon will be available elsewhere in the UK. Download the app here For other areas of the UK, contact the team via our website with your address and we’ll check if any local authorities or community partners are offering our products near you.

Contact the team via our website with your address and we’ll check if any local authorities or community partners are offering our products near you.

Hey Girls Home Packs are designed for councils, public sector teams and businesses that want to deliver period dignity straight to people's doors.  Working within the assigned budget, each home pack includes essential period products that recipients order, for free, via a private online webpage. We then deliver discreetly and directly to their homes. Take a look at our webpage and one page PDF for more information.

Contact the team via our website with your address and we’ll check if any local authorities or community partners are offering our products near you.

If your goodie bags pertain to a specific event or cause related to menstruation, period poverty or period dignity, please get in touch with the team via our website. We cannot provide free products for events, workshops or talks that are not about the above topics.

Our priority is getting donations to people that need products the most so we cannot give away free samples. If you are looking to supply products for your store, staff, students or on behalf of a local authority, please contact the team via our website.

We would be happy to provide links to our free education resources to help get the conversation flowing about periods. We can work with you on creating a bundle of products that would be useful for workshops but we are unable to give these out for free. Please contact the team via our website to discuss how we could potentially work together.

Hey Girls runs on a Buy One, Donate One business model, which means we have to keep our prices at a rate that allow us to donate for every purchase made. We occasionally offer discounts or sales where we can.

Liners and Pads fit inside your pants by means of a sticky strip, which keeps them in place. There are different types of pad and it is a matter of choice, which style you use. Panty liners are the least absorbent, so most people use those when their periods are at the lightest. It can be helpful to wear one if you think your period will be starting soon or as an extra layer of protection if you’re wearing a tampon or period cup. There are pads with and without wings. Some are for the earlier days of your period when the blood loss is heavier, and others for less heavy days towards the end of your period. Many companies make night or super pads which are often thicker and a bit longer. Most liners and pads come individually wrapped so remove them from their wrapper and place them sticky side down in your underwear. Advice is to change your pad every 3-5 hours to keep yourself feeling fresh and to avoid any leaks. When you’re ready to replace or remove your liner or pad, simply pull it from your underwear and wrap it in toilet paper (or the original wrapper) before disposing in the bin. Never flush period products down the toilet.

Always refer to (and keep) the product information leaflet that is provided with your tampons, follow that advice directly, paying close attention to the symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Some tampons you insert using only your index finger, and other tampons have an applicator to help you to insert it into the vagina. Tampons are also available in different sizes to suit the amount of blood lost during a period. Always start with the smallest size available to minimise risk of TSS. A tampon works by absorbing blood inside the vagina so that you always feel dry outside. You can tell if you’ve put a tampon in the right way as it will not feel uncomfortable, move, or fall out - in fact you shouldn’t be able to feel it at all. Make sure your hands are clean and dry and remove the tampon from its wrapper. For applicator tampons, there are two tubes one inside the other. Extend the inner tube fully before you insert your tampon. Make sure the cord is hanging outside the inner tube. Hold the applicator with your thumb and middle finger just below the ridge, point the tip of the tampon towards the base of your back and gently push the applicator into the opening of the vagina. You know your tampon is in correctly when you can’t feel it at all. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable in any way and the string should always be visible outside of the vagina to easily remove it later. When it’s in as far as it will go, hold the outer tube and push the inner tube inside to release the tampon. Carefully pull out the applicator leaving the cord hanging down. Tampons should not be worn for more than 4-8 hours to prevent Toxic Shock Syndrome. It is very easy to remove a tampon - gently pull the little cord, drop the tampon onto some toilet paper and throw it in the bin. Do not flush it down the toilet! Toxic shock is rare but can be serious. Be sure to change your tampon regularly and look out for these symptoms: headaches, sore throat, dizziness, fever, vomiting, rashes, muscle ache or diarrhoea.

Some tampons you insert using only your index finger, and other tampons have an applicator to help you to insert it into the vagina. Tampons are also available in different sizes to suit the amount of blood lost during a period. Always start with the smallest size - mini. A tampon works by absorbing blood inside the vagina so that you always feel dry outside. You can tell if you’ve put a tampon in the right way as it will not feel uncomfortable, move, or fall out - in fact you shouldn’t be able to feel it at all. Make sure your hands are clean and dry and remove the tampon from its wrapper. Uncoil the withdrawal cord so that it hangs down and check that the cord is knotted together and secure. Holding the tampon in one hand, position your index finger on the cord end of the tampon, point the tip of the tampon towards the small of your back. With the other hand, gently separate the folds of skin at the opening of the vagina Using your index finger, gently ease the tampon into the vagina. Push the tampon upwards and backwards as far as possible so that the tampon cannot be felt. You know your tampon is in correctly when you can’t feel it at all. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable in any way and the string should always be visible outside of the vagina to easily remove it later. Tampons should not be worn for more than 4-8 hours to prevent Toxic Shock Syndrome. It is very easy to remove a tampon - gently pull the little cord, drop the tampon onto some toilet paper and throw it in the bin. Do not flush it down the toilet! Toxic shock is rare but can be serious. Be sure to change your tampon regularly and look out for these symptoms: headaches, sore throat, dizziness, fever, vomiting, rashes, muscle ache or diarrhoea.

An expert review of independent research claims it is now safe to wear a tampon overnight (up to 8 hours). If you choose to do this, a tampon should be inserted before going to bed and changed immediately upon waking. Always remember to remove your tampon before inserting a new one.

Reusable Pads are just like disposable pads except you can wash them and reuse them. Use reusable pads exactly the same as you would disposable ones. Place them in your underwear and secure in place with poppers and wings. Be sure to wash your pads before use - some, especially those made of cotton or bamboo become more absorbent the more they are cleaned. Keep used pads in a bag or box if you can't rinse them straight away.

Menstrual cups are small, flexible cup made of silicone or latex rubber. Instead of absorbing your flow, like a tampon or pad, it catches and collects it. Slightly fold the cup using some of the methods shown below and gently insert like a tampon. It can take some practise so be sure to take your time and relax if you can. A light seal is formed with your vaginal walls allowing your flow to pass into the cup. To remove it, pinch the base of the cup to release the vacuum seal and gently pull the stem from the bottom of the cup. Then you just empty, wash with natural soap and water and replace it.

As a standard guide, we recommend using a small cup if you are 25 or under or have not given birth vaginally. If you are over 25 or have given birth vaginally, we would give a large a go. That being said, you know your body best, and cup sizes can often vary from one individual to another. If it helps, our small cup measures at 7cm in length with a 4cm diameter with a 22.5ml capacity up to the rim, and our large is 7.5cm in length with a 4.5 diameter with a 30ml capacity up to the rim. They are made from medical grade silicone, so remain very soft and flexible whilst morphing to the shape of your body.

Yes of course! The cup is a great tool for anyone who wants to take on life as normal during their period. Swimming and exercising are perfectly safe to do whilst wearing a cup, just make sure it’s inserted correctly and it hasn’t been too long since you emptied – there’s less chance of any leaks if the cup is less full. Please remember to empty at least every 10-12 hours.

The cup is a rally handy tool for a carefree period, and for some it even allows them to escape period cramps! Cups can be used for any range of flow, but if you have a heavy period it may mean you just need to empty it a little more often than usual. It may be worth wearing a pad or pantyliner the first few times you wear your cup to understand how often you need to empty and make sure you are super comfortable to get out there and take on the world.

If your period cup or tampon feels stuck, try not to panic. We always advise you seek medical advice as soon as possible if you’re concerned. In the meantime, try to: Relax and take deep breathes, this will relax your muscles making it easier to remove the product. For period cups, make sure you have squeezed to release the vacuum seal before trying to remove. Gently pull the tampon cord or base of the period cup to see if you can feel it loosening – be slow and gentle and do not continue if you feel any pain. Ring your doctor or seek professional medical advice as soon as possible if the above does not work.

Period pants are worn like normal underwear and have additional layers of fabric that will absorb period blood so you don’t need to wear any other protection with them. They are great for wearing to school, sports or for bed as they can be worn for up to 12 hours, then simply wash and wear again. Everyone’s choice of product and experience during their period is individual and you should decide what works best for you.

Our period pants are currently available in 3 different absorbencies: Moderate: holds 3 tampons worth of period blood. Heavy: holds 4 tampons worth of period blood. Heavy +: holds 4-5 tampons worth of period blood.

Nope! Your period pants are there to replace any need for another product. That means you can just pull up your pants and go! No need to change or wash every time you go to the loo. When you have finished wearing your pants for the day or night, be sure to rinse them in cold water until the water runs clear, then wash them by hand or machine (no warmer than 40 degrees). Be sure not to use fabric softer or tumble dryers.

It’s important to use period products safely and follow guidance on how long to wear each product time. Changing regularly will keep you feeling fresh and prevent leaks too. Disposable pads and liners: 3-5 hours Tampons: 4-8 hours Period Cups: 10-12 hours Reusable Pads: 10-12 hours Period Pants: 10-12 hours This advice relates to Hey Girls products and considers advice received by our suppliers.

Hey Girls reusable pants and period pads can be washed by hand or machine. Follow these instructions to best care for your product: Before washing, rinse in cold water until it runs clear. Do not soak. Give them their very own bubble bath in the sink or pop them in the washing machine no hotter that 40 degrees. Do not use fabric softer. Once clean, stretch them back to their original shape. Air dry or rest on a radiator. Do not tumble dry. Period Cups are easiest to clean using our Sterilising Pot but a pan of boiling water will work too. Place your cup into the pre-washed sterilising pot Fill the steriliser with water up to 1cm below the rim. Add natural or silicone friendly soap if you wish. Place the lid loosely back on the steriliser and then microwave for 2-3 minutes. Your cup is now clean and ready! The steriliser will be hot so use caution when handling. We suggest using oven gloves to be safe. If you do not have a sterilising pot, place your cup in a pan of boiling water for 2-3 minutes and carefully remove.

Never flush any period product down the toilet. This can cause water blockages and also adds to water pollution. When you’re ready to dispose of your used period products, wrap it in toilet paper or the original packaging before popping into a bin.

We’re sorry to hear you’ve had a reaction to our product. We use natural, chemical free ingredients and keep our products perfume and bleach free. We’re happy to send a replacement to you free of charge. Please send your order number and proof of purchase to contact@heygirls.co.uk. There is no need to return the item to us but please keep hold of it until your replacement has been processed.