Femaxik: Femarctic Hygiene

Core hygienic grooming, or femaxik (fem-aks-eek), revolves around the hide, hair, teeth, gashcol, and the gurxul. Femaxic rituals were first employed by the original Subaki and Hizaki to maintain the health of their bodies and those around them.

Filotax (Hide and Hair)

Body cleanliness requires hot water or steam, surfactants that remove sebum from the hair, and the scraping of the hide with a device called a koxtax (koks-tacks) (hide-blade). Every residence has a filotax-pool (fee-low-taks) or shower designed to replicate the high-flow hot springs in mountain valleys under the ice.

  • Cold water pools are not for cleansing but recreation, as cooler temperatures stimulate hormonal activity.

Pools run small enough for one person or large enough to accommodate a pod (6 to 7 citizens). They also come estate-size with multiple rooms, similar to the communal washing pools in Paxicol Centers, Garden Clubs, and filotax rooms of the bluzsh. Standing showers, widespread among Bizaki and Subaki, come encased to serve as steam chambers. The ideal spray and water temperature sits at 120° F; anything higher is dangerous to donational age femmar or the elderly. Falling or churning water is a natural abrasive, removing superficial bacteria and debris. It does not exfoliate the hide, so using a koxtax, a curved pumice blade similar to the strigil used by ancient helovx is essential.

Cleansing of Femarctic hair varies by caste. Bizaki and Subaki have smooth and thin hair; gentle cleaners allow daily washing and care. Hizaki and Zaxiri possess thick, voluminous hair that requires specialized care. Hizaki will have their hair molded into a style worn weekly, covering it during bathing; hair gets deeply washed at a Style Sit before a new molding. Zaxiri, born with more hair than any other caste, require daily maintenance due to engaging in the sexual activity that dominates their lives.

  • Marixi lack hair and thus use a koxtax designed for scalps.

Kalogos (Dental) Care

Femmar first emerged from their developmental pods with finely lobed triangular teeth. Evolving eating habits negated the need for pointed teeth, and the Fifth Gen, the first created without the Femakixirpaxul, were born with incisors, canines, premolars, and molars to cut and crush solid foods. Lobes and cusps remain for aesthetic reasons.

Citizens routinely clean their teeth by jetting (using a kalogo device to shoot treated water against the teeth). They visit a kalogox (kal-oh-goks) (h. dentist) every three months to remove plaque and tend to the gums.

Kalotix (Nail) Care

The hardened flats covering the tips of the fingers and toes contain the same dentin, enamel, and cementum as the teeth. Fingernails (kalotix /kal-oh-tiks/) require hydration, and prolonged dry conditions cause splitting and fading. All femmar keep their toenails shortened with a handheld buffing unit called a kalto, but aesthetic nail care varies by caste.

Zaxiri prefer their kalotix long, often sharpened to a rounded point, and painted for cosmetic appeal. Hizaki grow their kalotix just past the tip of the finger, squaring them off as most Hizaki engage in vocational swipe-boarding and want to keep their screens free of finger oils.

  • The Hizaki fitat’femax has led to various color polishes and designs for fingernails.

Most Subaki keep their kalotix modest depending on their vocation, while others employ Hizaki-square tips or Zaxiri-points. All Bizaki cut their kalotix short, even those in administrative positions; painted kalotix is a sign of a bonded Bizak. Marixi employ a buffing tool in their hygiene kits to keep their kalotix short for Orta grooming standards.

  • Kaltzin (kalt-sin) (manicurists/pedicurists) are citizens paid to care for fingernails, toenails, and feet. Bizaki-run kaltzin stations exist in Style Sits across Ramaxia, while Subaki kaltzin have stations inside Garden Clubs or work strictly by appointment when catering to Zaxiri. A kaltzin utilizes buffing tools, nail scissors or clippers, and various cleaners, lotions, and colors.

Gaxilo (Genital) Care

Cleansing of the gashcol (gash-kol) (vaginal folds) and gurxul (gerks-ill) (urethra-anal orifice) prevents odors, itching, and discomfort, and fights bacterial infections of the guzshlix (goosh-leeks) (vagina) and rydok (rid-ock) (clitoris).

Marixi and Zaxiri require more than the standard once-a-day gaxilo clean. Marixi wear constricting fabric in their everyday lives, and even when not aroused, their large rydok protrudes from the closed lips of their gashcol; Orta requires gaxilo cleaning twice daily gaxilo to maintain gashcolic health. Zaxiri remain at high risk for bacterial infection because their guzshlix remains dilated in a semi-aroused state, and they are exposed daily to guzshinal fluids from other castes.

  • Gaxitax (gaks-ee-taks) Units. A tilting single-seat portable tub allows quick cleaning by immersing the lower portion of a seated citizen in hot jetted water.

A Gapirx (gap-irks) (colloquially known as the gape) is a thigh-high toilet with an ergonomic saddle. Upon defecation or urination, the gapirx forces a stream of hot water over the gurxul, followed by a blast of intensely strong air.

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