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If you wish to groom your pubic hair, it’s important to learn safe ways to go about it. Why pubic hair grooming is a personal choice, and how to do it safely. “Certain STIs have an increased risk of spreading or being acquired if there’s a compromised skin surface involved,” Jones explains. But our pubes aren’t meant as a substitute for using protection, such as condoms, during sexual activity. If you’re going au naturel, you don’t need to do anything. You can trim or shape to your liking using a dedicated pube clipper, trimmer, or haircutting shears.
Is it a good idea to shave off your pubes?
To care for your pubic area, all you need to do is regularly rinse with water. The purpose of pubic hair is to protect us, just like the hair around your ears, nose, and eyes. It protects the delicate skin from friction during sexual activity. It keeps dust, dirt, and germs away from the vagina to prevent infection. Researchers even suspect pubic hair may play a role in sexual attraction and sexual pleasure. Chemical depilatories break down hair so it washes away from your skin.
What do you do? It’s all up to you
When it comes to both of these options, Buka recommends finding a trained medical professional to administer the treatments. Think twice before jumping on a coupon-code bandwagon without doing your homework. From the moment we sprout our first wiry hairs, we’re conditioned to think they should be trimmed or yanked. Just look at all the advertisements, gadgets, and methods out there for wrangling pubes. Before deciding on a hair removal method, consider factors such as your skin type, sensitivity, hair texture, and the desired longevity of results. Each method has its own benefits and drawbacks, so selecting the right one that aligns with your preferences is key.
Your pubic hair, your choice
Hair removal methods pose the risk of cuts, abrasions, and microscopic skin openings, which could invite bacteria and viruses such as STIs. Shaving with a razor is the most popular method of wrangling those wiry hairs. Always start with a clean, sharp blade to avoid infection, irritation, and nicks. Multitasking with tools you’ve used on other parts of your body can introduce infection. Before each use, soak your implements in a disinfectant such as Barbicide for at least 10 minutes, or clean them thoroughly with rubbing alcohol.
Pube primping possibilities, from DIY to salon safety
Even though you can technically find these ingredients in your kitchen, don’t try this at home. “It’s not going to be effective or sticky enough if you try to concoct your own sugaring goo,” she says. “Sugaring is similar to waxing, but instead of wax, it uses a hot water/sugar/lemon juice solution,” explains Shainhouse. If the rash hasn’t gone away within a few days, see your doctor or dermatologist. “If you develop an itchy rash, remove the product immediately and discontinue use.
Using hair removal creams
Soak or steam for at least five minutes to allow your skin to soften and your hair to expand. Almost everyone has pubic hair, and some people may decide to trim or shave it. Different methods exist to trim your pubic hair, which could help you prevent irritation, razor burn, and injury.
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This method is quick and easy, but the results are temporary as the hair grows back relatively fast. This hair removal method involves pulling all the hair out at the root with hot wax or a sugary paste. The results may last for several weeks, but the process can be painful. There is a risk of burns and general irritation, plus small cuts and other skin damage you can’t see. If you have sensitive skin, choosing hair removal products formulated for sensitive skin types can minimize the risk of irritation. Look for hypoallergenic creams, gentle waxes, or natural ingredients that are less likely to cause inflammation or redness on delicate skin areas.
Going against the grain means your tool has to lift the hair before slicing at the follicle. This creates the potential for razor burn and other irritation. Fortunately, you have a variety of styles and options to choose from. Here's a list of possibilities and how to pull them off. We talked to a lot of doctors, dermatologists, hair specialist, urologists, and pubic hair enthusiasts trying to find the answer.
Pick a style
You need this lubrication to minimize friction and avoid nicks. Using cream or gel can also allow you to see where you’ve just shaved so you can avoid going over the area twice and causing irritation. If you’re on pube patrol, it pays to do a little preparation before diving in with sharp objects.
If you insist on a shorn scrotum, Steixner recommends going for an electric razor over a straight razor. There are a few tools that can help aid you in your hair-free journey. "We have to surgically remove all of the skin on a man’s scrotum," Steixner says. It happens primarily in people with weakened immune systems, like severe diabetics or HIV carriers. But in some cases, it can happen to perfectly healthy guys.
A person can also have their pubic hair waxed professionally. While waxing is more painful than trimming or shaving, the results last longer. To lower the risk of injury, try sitting down while grooming. Also, good lighting is important, and a handheld mirror can help with trimming hard-to-see areas.
Burns from both DIY and professional waxing are also a concern, Buka adds. Maybe that’s a partner who likes a lush look or a gal pal who’s a free bird. No wonder we’re confused on which way is really best for us. If the hair pops free, go ahead and use some sterilized tweezers to pull it out. But for the love of your privates, don’t go digging, squeezing, poking, prodding, or hunting for it.
As mentioned above, taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen 20 minutes beforehand can help lessen the pain. Also, board-certified dermatologist Rita Linkner, MD of Spring Street Dermatology notes that waxing can hurt more if you’re menstruating. Wonder wool, shag rug, carpet, bush, frontal fleece… you’ve got a smattering of options for what to call pubes. But you’ve got even more for how you groom, grow, and tame them. Trimming and shaving are just a few means of fuzz-busting, but you’ve also got other grooming options. A soak in the tub with a little bath oil does wonders for softening your sensitive parts pre-shave.
If you’ve got a long, thick thatch going on, cut the hair to about a quarter inch. You’ll also gain a better view of your skin and direction of hair growth, which will help prevent accidents. Waxing pulls hairs from the follicles, removing multiple hairs at once. This typically causes pain, and it can also cause irritation and infection in the sensitive skin of the pubic region.
“Anyone who shaves knows that it’s not uncommon to cut the skin accidentally,” Burris says. Plus, shaving can cause tiny tears that we don’t even know are there. That’s why it’s important to operate with a clean razor and a clean bikini zone. “There is no medical reason that you need to be removing or trimming some or all of your pubic hair,” says Nina Carroll, MD, OB/GYN, of Your Doctors Online. According to Carroll, the risk of infection — be it bacterial, yeast, or sexually transmitted — is not higher or lower based on your pubic hair practices.
