Naama Bloom started HelloFlo with many goals in mind and now all of those will be sandwiched in a book that any girl (and her mom) can pick up! Below you’ll find a Q+A with the creator of HelloFlo herself!

What is HelloFlo: The Guide, Period., and how did you come to write it?

Naama Bloom: HelloFlo: The Guide, Period. is a modern day puberty book for girls and their parents. It addresses issues of biology while also providing girls with the tools to think critically about how the changes in their bodies are perceived by the outside world, and why that should matter. As the founder of HelloFlo I was in the unique position to meet countless girls and women and hear their stories. One of the things that I became really interested in was how society’s perception of us changes as our bodies change. As a grown woman this can be hard to deal with but as a girl it can feel overwhelming.

So much information is online…what is the benefit of a puberty book?

Bloom: This is my favorite question and one we address in the introduction of the book. You’re right, there is a wealth of information online. However, it is hard to find the good stuff. Combine that issue with the fact that typing any question with anatomical terms into Google can expose you to pornography and you have a perfect storm. The book provides a safe and controlled experience for girls who are curious and want to learn about their bodies.

Who is this book for?

Bloom: This book has two audiences. Primarily, it’s written with girls 9-12 in mind who are going through the process of female puberty. However, it’s also for moms, dad, caretakers, aunts, older sisters, and anyone who is looking to support a girl who is entering or in puberty. Lastly, I can’t tell you how many grown women have read this book and told me that they learned new information about their own bodies. So those moms, aunts, and big sisters will get a kick out of reading this as well.

What’s your favorite section of the book?

Bloom: My favorite chapter is the one on Pubic Hair. I think pubic hair is a really thorny topic for girls these days. They are getting it but because they also have exposure to Instagram and other social channels they also know that not every woman chooses to keep her pubic hair. The book explains that pretty much everything on a woman’s body has at one point or another been subject to fashion or fad. I think that context will give girls the confidence to decide for themselves what they want to do with their bodies.

What takeaway will girls have after reading this book?

I hope they feel that they have been taken seriously and treated as the sophisticated humans that they are. As well, I’m hopeful that this book helps smooth out some of the bumps in the road through puberty by answering the questions they are afraid to ask.

HELLOFLO: The Guide, Period.

By Naama Bloom

Dutton; on sale: October 17, 2017; Trade Paperback $12.99

—–

Naama Bloom is the founder and CEO of HelloFlo.com, a modern-day women’s health company. She is a 15+ year marketing leader with a significant track record of building high-performing teams, launching and managing brands, customer acquisition, PR, and direct marketing. In 2013, she launched HelloFlo with the goal of empowering women and girls to celebrate all stages of their life, from puberty to menopause. HelloFlo’s first two promotional videos, “Camp Gyno” and “First Moon Party” have received over 40 million views. Naama holds an MBA from Cornell University and was recently named to AdAge’s Creativity 50 for 2014. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and her two children.

By Vivian Nunez on July 14, 2017