Everything you need to know about pubic hair

Even though summer – more commonly known as bikini season – is coming to an end, there’s still the taboo topic that crossed everyone’s mind.

Taboo my ass – it’s pubic hair.

Studies confirm that 62 percent of women remove all of their pubic hair, while 84 percent just groom it. Grooming, compared to removing all the hair, is cleaning up the downstairs just like getting your hair cut every so often just to make it look clean and healthy.

Why?

The majority of women groom because it makes sex better, or for personal hygiene. It would be more hygienic to groom instead of getting rid of all the pubic hair because, believe it or not, the hair is there for a reason and is actually beneficial to our health.

To shave or not to shave? Or wax? Or trim? Or go au naturel? Whatever you choose to do (or not do) here is everything you need to know.

Trimming

Some prefer to stay away from hot wax and razor burn. While you don’t need  to do anything with your pube hair, if you do want to clean up a bit downstairs, but don’t want to pay for a stranger to rip out your hair or you’re iffy about putting a couple razor blades near your goods, trimming is a good option. Scissor blades are typically blunter than razor blades, so you’re a bit safer there.

Trimming is one of the most inexpensive methods. All you need is a small pair of scissors, and you’re good to go. You simply hold the hair away from the skin and trim to the length you desire. It is important to be careful and not cut too close to the skin – you could accidentally cut yourself (it hurts as much as you think). Trimming might involve some creativity when it comes to the parts you cant see, we’re not all super flexible.

One good reason to clean up your pubic hair is that your chance of getting pubic lice or crabs, goes down. Everyone is down for less STIs.

Shaving

While you might want to clean up down there and get rid of the pubic hair so you don’t have to deal with it, sometimes leaving a little pubic hair is beneficial. “We have pubic hair for a reason,” says Jennifer Gunter, M.D., an ob-gyn and director of pelvic pain and vulvovaginal disorders at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. “It forms a protective barrier for the skin.” This includes protecting from STIs, rashes, and itchiness.

You probably never knew ingrown hairs were a thing until you shaved and all of a sudden a red, pimple-like lump formed. They’re not comfortable or attractive. To protect against them, Gunter says to, “prevent clogged pores by gently scrubbing your labia with a washcloth whenever you shower, or try an acne-fighting pad, which contains salicylic acid.”

The most common problem you face while shaving your pubic hair is razor burn. Dragging a razor against sensitive skin is bound to irritate it, so you need to soothe the skin we shave. Some products to achieve this relief are coconut oil, vitamin A and D ointment, or zinc oxide. “They don’t support the growth of bacteria and won’t cause an infection,” says Paul Summers, M.D., a gynecology professor at the University of Utah.

Long story short:

Trim, so shaving is easier because there is less hair.

Shower, so the hair is softened and easier to shave.

Shave, you can use shaving cream to reduce the chance of razor burn and get a better shave, but using conditioner is actually better. It softens the hair more and you can get a closer shave (tested and confirmed by muah).

Moisturize, to prevent irritated skin, but don’t exfoliate, because exfoliating irritates the skin.

Waxing

When you don’t want your hair to grow back quite as quickly, waxing is the ideal option. Although, it is not exactly the cheapest or least painful option, waxing does the trick. You need to research waxing places to find the best place for you – price and credentials.

Waxing expert Naomi Torres says that she talks to clients and explains what she is doing and why. Torres has found that educating clients results in a more relaxed service. “Don’t be shy! Your technician is concentrating on hair growth and skin texture. The fact you are naked from the waist down is completely irrelevant to the technician,” Torres said.

You want your technician to communicate what they’re doing, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for a certain design if you want one. Always insist on certain sanitation efforts by the technician just in case. Torres says technicians should always wear gloves and whenever they put wax on you make sure they use a new applicator every single time. No double dipping. They should also sanitize all the instruments they use. Don’t worry it’s just tweezers and whatever else they use to clean up.

“If your wax is performed by a seasoned professional, there will be no adverse side effects or soreness. You can expect a little redness for a few hours but that should be it. If your skin is very sensitive you may be red for up to 24 hours,” said Torres.

Nothing

Let your bush be, and you’ll be healthier for it.

Pubic hair is there to protect you from bacteria entering your vagina. “Shaving leaves you more at risk for contracting STIs,” writes Dr. Emily Gibson. “Pubic hair removal irritates and inflames the hair follicles left behind, leaving microscopic open wounds,” she explains.

According to Gibson, when the irritation of waxing or shaving is combined with the “warm moist environment of the genitals,” it creates a good environment for bacteria to grow, especially MRSA. The “microscopic wounds” created by shaving so close to the skin make a person more susceptible to herpes and the “spread of other STIs” because of “viruses carried by mouth or genitals.”

Even though we may think pubic hair grows just to annoy and disgust us, it does have a purpose. One purpose is a more “visible result of long-awaited adolescent hormones.” So, if anything shame is the last thing you should feel about having a lot of pubic hair. Another important purpose is that it provides a “cushion against friction that can cause skin abrasion and injury, protection from bacteria and other unwanted pathogens.”

“[Growing out pubic hair has] actually been proven to be beneficial for a women’s vaginal health. Especially when it comes to keeping bacteria and other foreign specimen out – even if that ‘foreign specimen’ is some douche guy,” said Judith Medrano, Appalachian State University.  

But at the end of the day it’s all about you

Pubic hair or not, just do you.

@TheTab