Now that we’ve talked about what other women do with their pubic hair, let’s talk about you and your pubic hair. What follows are some basic tips for each type of style listed—just in case you’re thinking about switching things up down there.
Going Natural
This is exactly what it sounds like. When you go natural, you don’t trim, shave, wax, or engage in any kind of removal. Some women naturally have very little hair, whereas others boast a full natural “bush” that could stand up to even the wildest merkin on the market.
Advantages No maintenance is required—just wash and air dry, and you’re all set. Plus you may have hairs that are long enough to decorate with little ribbons or even braid. There are no side effects to going natural, and it’s free! It’s also coming back in style, albeit with a new name—the Retro Bush.
Disadvantages You may find yourself in a bit of a pickle in swimsuit season;
if you don’t want the world to see your pubes, you may want to opt for a “boy short” swimsuit bottom. If you’re okay flashing your hairs, like Miranda does in the Sex and the City movie, go for it! There’s nothing wrong with going natural.
Also, sexual partners of women with long or bushy pubic hair may find it more difficult to perform oral sex on them (then again, some people like a challenge, so this isn’t a disadvantage for everyone).
Trimming
This is perhaps one of the most common forms of pubic hairstyling that men
engage in, but it’s also common among women. Tip: small scissors are often easier to maneuver than larger “craft” or kitchen scissors. Plus, no one wants pubes in kitchen scissors that may later be used on food items.
Advantages Easy to do on your own and only needs to be done once every week or so to keep hair length in check. Trimming hairs can make it easier for partners to perform oral sex. There’s also no risk of razor burn or chemical irritation and nothing to buy except for scissors (not a bad initial investment).
Disadvantages Be careful not to cut yourself (rare, but it happens). There are also similar swimsuit considerations as noted in the “going natural” category.
Shaving
Many women choose to shave their pubic hair, especially if they prefer to not have pubic hair sticking out the sides of their underwear or bathing suits. You may get a closer shave using a double-edged razor blade. Some disposable razors come with soft lotion-strips to soften the skin post-shave. Shaving in the direction of hair growth can reduce the risk of razor burn (this is opposite to the direction that many women use to shave their legs).
Advantages Inexpensive. You can do it yourself. Relatively easy to do once you get the hang of which direction to shave. Razors are also portable, so you can continue to shave while traveling.
Disadvantages Hair can grow back quickly, which means you may be left with stubble or find yourself having to shave often (e.g., every day or so) to avoid stubble. Many women also find that they get razor burn or are prone to ingrown hairs as a result of shaving.
Depilatories
Depilatories are made of chemicals that remove hair. They come in different forms including gels, lotions, creams, and roll-on devices. Not all depilatories are recommended for use in the genital area, so read any instructions or package inserts to make sure that you are using it correctly.
Advantages Relatively inexpensive, you can do it yourself, and hair removal may be longer lasting than it is with shaving, leaving a smooth hair-free feeling.
Disadvantages Some women are prone to irritation from chemicals commonly found in depilatories. You may want to do a skin test first (on another part of the body, such as your leg or inner arm), as is often recommended in the instructions that come with depilatories. Also, avoid using depilatories on skin
that is inflamed or broken, such as if you have razor burn or sores.
Waxing
Pubic hair waxing has become increasingly popular over the past decade or so.
Many full-service hair salons now offer bikini area waxing. There are also many waxing-specific salons, particularly in major cities such as New York (Completely Bare), San Francisco (Stript), and Chicago (The Waxing Room).
Advantages Because waxing involves pulling the hair out at the root, it lasts longer than shaving or depilatories. The area that was waxed may feel smooth for one or more weeks following a treatment. There’s also no risk of razor burn.
Disadvantages The cost is moderate to expensive (the more hair removed, the more expensive). Also, the wax irritates some women’s skin. Oh, and it can hurt like hell—especially the closer one gets to the inside parts of the outer labia.
Plus, the terms can be confusing. For example, some salons describe a Brazilian wax as leaving a small “landing strip” of hair and a “Hollywood” as going completely bare. But when many other salons list “Brazilian,” they’re referring to removing every last hair. Our advice? Ask questions! Be specific with the aesthetician about what you do or do not want removed. (All the hair on top?
What about the hair on your labia? What about the hair in your butt crack? Yes, some wax jobs go there . . . Be prepared to get awfully cozy with your aesthetician.) Finally, one often needs at least a couple weeks of hair growth in order to have hair that’s long enough to wax off, so get ready to grow before you go.