The first thing to say about why you should groom your pubic hair is - you don't need to!
There are no health or hygiene benefits to be gained from grooming down there, it's a myth, so if you decide to go for it make a properly informed choice and be clear about your reasons.
Although there is not a huge amount of published research on the practice, you probably won't be surprised to know those aesthetics, sex, and partner preferences have all been cited as reasons to keep your pubes in trim.
Based on the findings of several studies carried out in the US, other reasons include comfort, cultural or religious considerations, and peer pressure.
Depending on the level of grooming i.e. a simple trim or a total shave, side effects may cause complications which, in the worst-case scenario, can be quite severe.
Therefore I believe it is important that your own reasons are sound ones and based on fact - after all, "knowledge is power."
Does Pubic Hair have a Purpose?
In a word, yes, pubic hair does, in fact, have several purposes:
1. Barrier to Infection
Pubic hair can help to prevent potentially harmful bacteria and other infectious agents from reaching your vaginal area. It is, therefore, the case that pubic hair may offer some protection against certain sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, and vaginitis.
2. Reduces Friction
Pubic hair acts as a cushion, reducing the friction between your clothing and your delicate vaginal skin during everyday activities. It also reduces the friction and consequent discomfort that can be caused by sexual activity.
3. Comfort
All body hair helps to regulate temperature, including pubic hair. Therefore keeping your pubic hair helps to keep the area comfortable and reduces sweat and odor.
There is speculation that human pubic hair traps pheromones (special chemicals known to cause sexual attraction in animals) and therefore can increase sexual attraction in humans. In fact, as far as I can see, there is no actual evidence to support the theory and so I hesitate to quote it as a true benefit of pubic hair. However, I feel it's worth a mention - you can draw your own conclusions.
How to Trim Your Pubic Hair
If you have decided that all you want to do it tidy your pubic hair so that it just looks neater, then all you really need to do is give it a trim.
You can either do this with a pair of sharp bladed round-tipped scissors and a fine-toothed comb or there are plenty of electric trimmers available to buy, designed especially for the purpose.
If you are using scissors, comb the hair up between its teeth and lay it against the skin. Then you can safely cut the hair to the comb, to ensure an even length all over.
If you want the hair to be longer, then you can hold it up between two fingers of your spare hand, resting the fingers against the skin, and trim to that.
Electric trimmers have special guards or a comb attachment for pubic hair trimming to give you a nice even trim whilst protecting against nicks or cuts.
Usually, they offer a choice of lengths and I would suggest you start long and see how it goes - you can always take a bit more off.
Ways to prevent injuries while trimming pubic hair
You’re more likely to need medical care for a wound caused by trimming your pubic hair if you lie down while grooming your privates or have a partner trim you.
While most grooming injuries are minor, any injury to your genital area can make it easier to get a sexually transmitted infection (STIs). To avoid these injuries, dermatologists recommend the following tips.
Stand while trimming.
Researchers have found that when an injury due to trimming requires medical care, the person was often lying down. Standing helps you to see what you’re doing, which could reduce injuries.
Trim your own pubic hair.
Records show that more injuries occur when a partner does the trimming. It’s thought this happens because your partner cannot feel what’s going on.
Get your waxes at a salon or spa that never “double dips.”
When spreading hot wax onto your skin, an aesthetician uses wooden sticks. The aesthetician should insert a new stick into the wax pot each time. If the aesthetician uses only one stick per client and keeps dipping that same stick into the wax pot, that’s “double-dipping.”
When your aesthetician double dips, hair, skin cells, and bacteria from clients get into the wax pot.
The heat from the hot wax creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. You could get an infection.
When your aesthetician double dips, hair, skin cells, and bacteria from clients get into the wax pot.
The heat from the hot wax creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. You could get an infection.
Buy your own hair removal products and don’t share them.
Shaving, waxing, and other hair removal methods cause tiny tears in your skin. While you cannot see these tears, they’re big enough for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms to get inside your body.
If you share your products with someone who has an STI, you may get the disease. It’s reported that when two brothers shared a razor, which they both used to trim their pubic hair, the one with HIV passed the disease to his unaffected brother. Other STIs can also pass from one person to person this way.
If you share your products with someone who has an STI, you may get the disease. It’s reported that when two brothers shared a razor, which they both used to trim their pubic hair, the one with HIV passed the disease to his unaffected brother. Other STIs can also pass from one person to person this way.
Use a clean razor, and shave carefully.
Using a clean razor and focusing 100% on what you’re doing can help reduce injuries. The right technique is also important. These dermatologists’ shaving tips can help prevent injuries.
Moisturize after shaving.
A moisturizer can help reduce the dryness that often occurs after shaving. When applying moisturizer, use one that is fragrance-free and won’t cause acne. This reduces the likelihood that the moisturizer will irritate your skin.
Tip
“Fragrance-free” and “unscented" have different meanings. Here’s what each term means:
- Fragrance-free: This means the product contains no fragrance.
- Unscented: This means the product contains fragrance, but the fragrance has been masked so that you cannot smell it.
Ask a board-certified dermatologist about laser hair removal.
While laser hair removal can eliminate trimming injuries, it’s important to consider the long-term effect. If you have laser hair removal, between 80% and 90% of your hair won’t grow back.
It’s also important to know that this option can be pricey — with treatment costing hundreds of dollars.
Shopping around for the best price isn’t recommended. Complications are more common when the person performing your procedure isn’t a board-certified physician who performs laser hair removal often. Performed improperly, laser hair removal can cause a disfiguring complication.
Now that you how to reduce trimming injuries, you should have fewer nicks, burns, and rashes. If you continue to have a problem, a one-time consultation with a dermatologist can help.
It’s also important to know that this option can be pricey — with treatment costing hundreds of dollars.
Shopping around for the best price isn’t recommended. Complications are more common when the person performing your procedure isn’t a board-certified physician who performs laser hair removal often. Performed improperly, laser hair removal can cause a disfiguring complication.
Now that you how to reduce trimming injuries, you should have fewer nicks, burns, and rashes. If you continue to have a problem, a one-time consultation with a dermatologist can help.
Side Effects of Trimming your Pubic Hair
The good news is that trimming your pubic hair is pretty safe and more or less free from side effects, providing you are careful not to cut yourself.
The most likely side effect will be itching as the hair is cut at the wide part of the hair shaft, leaving it with a sharp point rather than its usual tapering end.
You can alleviate this by softening the hair with a gentle, unscented hair conditioner.
Although you can still get ingrown hair from trimming it is much less likely than from shaving, especially if you don't trim it too short.
And while there is no rule book on how you should wear your vaginal hair, it is important to know what you may be doing down there is the best solution for your vaginal hair.
Trimming your vaginal hair: do's and don'ts
If you choose to trim your vaginal hair there are certain hygiene and health considerations that you should keep in mind.
Read below to ensure that you are not making these common mistakes while snipping your vaginal hair to avoid possible infections.
Heading straight to shave before bath
If you think that shaving your pubes while you are in a shower should be the first thing to do then you need to stop doing it.
Make shaving the last thing to do during the shower as it will give a chance to the hair follicles and roots to soften. The wet surface always ensures that you do not end with that nasty razor burn down there and softened roots ensure a better shave.
Trimming too close for comfort
It may be a good idea to trim your hair before you use the razor as it allows a more seamless shave but be careful about how you use the scissors.
Going too close to the skin can give you those unsightly, red, goosebump-type marks. And the bad news is that it hurts like hell. So, trim only till the point you feel will ease you in shaving off the hair.
Dry shaving a big no-no
The biggest mistake you can make down there is to rush for a quick dry shave. This is bound to give you itchiness and redness besides it will also leave small hair flying away near your bikini area which is a recipe for possible vaginal infection.
Using a regular towel to wipe
Once you are done shaving do you then use your regular towel to wipe your nether regions. It is a big mistake that you can make since the same towel can give your skin infections if used on other parts of the body.
The better thing to do is to keep a separate, preferably a soft mulmul cloth to wipe your private parts once you are done shaving to avoid any harsh scrubbing in the just shaved area.