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Pubic Hair Care/Removal

This Vulvapedia entry is all about all the many different ways you can groom your pubic hair.

Contents


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Do I have to groom my pubic hair?

No. Pubic hair grooming is all about preference. Some people prefer totally natural pubic hair, others like to trim, and others like to use removal options.

San Francisco Sex Information puts it best when they say:

[T]here's nothing freaky or abnormal about having pubic hair, and there is nothing freaky or abnormal about removing this hair. There is no "right" way to have your pubic hair. Everyone feels differently about this issue.

The bottom line? Whether you choose to groom your pubic hair or not, it's all good.

More info:

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How can I groom my pubic hair?

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Trimming

How to trim: You can trim your pubic hair either by using a specialized product (like the Remington Trim and Shape), with a beard and mustache trimmer, or with scissors.

Pros of Trimming:
  • Trimming allows you to limit the growth of your pubic hair without many of the issues associated with removing hair at the skin or by the root.
  • There is less potential for cuts and irritation.

Cons of Trimming:
  • If you want to be totally hairless, trimming is not an option.
  • If you use scissors to trim,use extra caution to avoid injury.

More information on the trimmmy-trim-trim:

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Shaving

How to shave: First, trim your pubic hair. Next, take a bath (or shower) to soften the hair. When you’re ready to shave, use shaving cream and shave in the direction of hair growth. When you finish, exfoliate with a loofah and finish up with an anti-ingrown hair cream like “Bump Stopper” or “Bikini Zone,” which are both available in the shaving needs section of your local drug store or at drugstore.com.

Pros of Shaving:
  • Shaving is fast, cheap and easy.
  • It can be done in the privacy of your own home.

Cons of Shaving:
  • Shaving carries a risk of cuts, razor burn and ingrown hairs.
  • Hair grows back quickly.
  • Some people experience itching and discomfort during the regrowth period.
  • Some women may be sensitive or allergic to shaving creams.

What about ingrown hairs?
Ah, everyone's least favorite little red bumps! Unfortunately, they can be a common reaction to many types of pubic hair removal--especially shaving. Click here to see a diagram of an ingrown hair, by the way.

Here are some tips from SFSI.org, The-Clitoris.com and the Mayo Clinic on how to prevent and/or manage ingrown hairs:

Preventing and Managing Ingrown Hairs in the Pubic Area:
  • After shaving, try to wear loose cotton underwear and to stay away from tight fitting pants. The lack of air circulation and friction of tight clothes can lead to in-grown hairs.
  • To relieve the irritation, you can apply cortisone cream to reduce inflamation. Beware, however; too much cortisone causes irritation and ingrown hairs in some people! Use with caution, and if any side effects cause you stress or don't go away, see a doctor immediately.
  • Some people have allergic reactions to certain shaving products, soaps, moisturizers and powders. As a solution, try hypoallergenic products.
  • Use an electric razor or a new blade every time you shave. Be especially careful to keep the shaved area (and the razor itself) clean.
  • Soak in a warm bath or take a warm shower prior to shaving. This softens the hair and makes it easier to cut.
  • Always shave with--never against--the grain of the hair growth. Click here for a diagram of what "shaving with the grain" looks like.
  • Rinse your razor blade after each stroke in warm water and shave only small areas at a time.
  • Do not aggravate the area further by attempting to shave again until the ingrown hairs have cleared up, or you may risk making the condition worse.
  • Gently exfoliate the area between shaving sessions.
  • It may relieve discomfort to manually remove ingrown hairs with a clean pair of special tweezers, such as these from Tweezerman.
  • If the ingrown hairs are severe, you may wish to consider treatment with with Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.

More information:

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Depilatory

How to use a depilatory: Choose a depilatory cream designed specifically for pubic hair. The cream should only be used on the bikini line and outer labia. Always do a patch test by applying the depilatory to a small section of skin for the amount of time specified by the package instructions, then rinsing off the cream and waiting twenty-four hours to check for irritation and allergic reactions before continuing.

When you’re ready to continue, follow the instructions on the package. Generally, you apply the cream to the area where you want to remove hair, let it sit for a specified period, then rinse.

Pros of Depilatories:
  • Depilatories are fairly inexpensive and can be used in the privacy of your home.

Cons of Depilatories:
  • Many women experience irritation. Regrowth occurs within about 3 days.

More depilatory info:

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Waxing

How to wax: Waxing can be done at home with a kit or by a professional at a salon. At home waxing kits are available at drugstores. The kits generally come in three varieties: strip-free wax kits, in which the wax hardens and is ripped off without a strip, wax kits using strips to remove hot or cold wax, and sugaring kits, which use strips to remove hot or cold wax that can be removed using water.

If you choose to wax at home, first do a patch test and wait twenty-four hours before proceeding with the removal process. Follow the instructions on the package to complete the waxing procedure. For pain control, you may take two Advil or other pain medication about thirty minutes before you begin removing hair.

Many women find that they get the best results if they exfoliate and trim hair to about 1/4 inch before waxing. Apply the wax in the direction of hair growth, pull the skin taut, and then rip the wax off. Most wax kits include a post-wax cream or oil to soothe the skin.

Brazilian bikini wax is a specific type of treatment that removes all or almost all the pubic hair, including hair between the buttocks. Brazilian wax should be done by a professional.

Pros of Waxing:
  • The regrowth period is longer than that of shaving or depilatory creams.
  • Home wax kits are inexpensive.
  • Can be done at home.
  • Many women report that, over time, hair grows back more slowly and appears to be less coarse.
  • Many people find that waxing produces smoother results than shaving and causes fewer ingrown hairs.

Cons of Waxing:
  • For best results, waxing should be done by a professional, so the treatment is more expensive and less private than shaving or depilatory creams.
  • Many women find bikini waxing painful, especially during menstruration. (If this is the case for you, you may want to time waxing around your period.)

More info:

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Plucking/Tweezing

How to pluck/tweeze: Grasp the hair close to the skin with a pair of tweezers and pull firmly. Like waxing, the hair will be removed by the root.

Pros of Plucking/Tweezing:
  • Can be done inexpensively at home.
  • The regrowth period is longer than shaving or depilatory creams.
  • Many women report that, over time, hair grows back more slowly and appears to be less coarse.

Cons of Plucking/Tweezing:
  • Many women find plucking to be painful.
  • It takes a significant amount of time to pluck the entire pubic area, so plucking is often best used to clean up stray hairs left from other hair removal methods.

More info on plucking:

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Laser Hair Removal

How to use laser hair removal: Laser hair removal uses a beam of light to disable the hair follicle. It needs to be done by a professional.

Pros of Laser Hair Removal:
  • After three or four sessions, the hair removal is permanent.

Cons of Laser Hair Removal:
  • Laser hair removal must be done by a professional.
  • It can be costly. The average person will require three or four sessions to achieve permanent hair removal, and each session costs about 500 USD.

For more information:

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Electrolysis

How to use electrolysis: A professional uses a needle to shock the hair root with an electric current, permanently disabling the hair follicle.

Pros of Electrolysis:
  • It is permanent hair removal.

Cons of Electrolysis:
  • Electrolysis must be done by a professional.
  • Each hair must be treated individually, so the procedure is time consuming.
  • Electrolysis costs between 25 and 100 USD per hour.
  • Electrolysis can cause pain, irritation or scarring.

The shocking truth:

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How can I style my pubic hair?

You can style your pubic hair in any way that your imagination leads you either by using shaving, depilatory creams, waxing or tweezing!

Some styles are the landing strip, hearts, arrows, triangles, your or a lover’s initials or anything else you can imagine! Some kits come with stencils, or you can unleash your inner artist and do a freestyle design.

More styling ideas:

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Can I dye my pubic hair?

Dying your pubic hair is not recommended because hair companies only test their product for the hair growing on human heads.

If you must color your pubic hair, color treatments that wash out after one shampoo are preferable to semi-permanent or permanent treatments. If you must delve into the world of color, check Go Ask Alice for a list of precautions that will decrease your chance of having a negative experience.

For more info:


NOTES AND DISCLAIMERS: This FAQ (and VP) is no substitute for professional care or advice. Much of the information above has been adapted from the indicated sources. Click on the links to see their original text or to get more information. Any non-quoted items come from the VP Team's personal experience, which, again, is no substitute for professional advice. As always, there is a limit to the information internet resources can provide; if you require additional assistance, it's best to contact an appropriate real-life expert.

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