There’s a hair down there … actually there’s a few. There’s no getting around it, we all have hair. Some of us more than others, and let’s admit it, we’ve all had the: ‘Does everyone’s pubes look this way?’ thought pass through our minds. The truth is, whether you’re hairy just in your nether regions or have a bit more fuzz going on, you’ve thought about hair removal. I mean, it’s normal, you see people on TV, the internet, porn and everyone seems to have taken hold of a grooming style, so what do you do? Go bald like a porn star? Do a bit of manscaping? Does it even matter? We’ve got the lowdown and of course some LOLs about the bush.
Like a bald eagle
Going completely hair-free came into popularity in the mid to late 90s. There’s plenty of ways to get this result, you can shave (prepare for a few days of insufferable itching afterward), wax, and of course laser.
These are all temporary forms of hair removal, yep, even laser. Shaving simply cuts the hair at the skin and it only takes a few days for it to start growing, and yep it grows back spikey, not necessarily thicker or more. Waxing all of it off is known as a Brazilian wax, it lasts a bit longer, roughly 4 to 6 weeks and should only be done by a professional. Both waxing and shaving can lead to ingrown hairs and skin irritations, so ensure you use an anti-ingrown hair lotion. Laser requires you to shave, and for a laser technician to laser the hair off. Laser uses a laser beam to fire off and burn the hair down to the root (a little tip – if you don’t shave beforehand it will hurt much more), the technique reduces hair growth and hair should grow back after 6 weeks. It usually requires 8 to 10 sessions of hair removal to get rid of it all long term. However, laser is not permanent, once you’ve achieved the desired outcome, you will need to do maintenance treatments, ideally 1 or 2 every 6 to 12 months. Laser may burn your skin, particularly in these delicate areas, and this can sometimes result in unsightly or even painful side effects, so ensure you do your research before choosing this method and only go to reputable trained professionals.
Trimming the hedges
If you’re not sold on getting rid of all your hair, you’re definitely not alone. Many people opt for trimming, which means just that … using a pair of scissors (get a specific pair for this, don’t share them), and carefully trimming the hair so it is a little tamer. You may also opt for the techniques mentioned above; shaving, waxing or laser to achieve what you like. You can shave the sides and top yourself or you may opt for waxing or laser at a beauty salon. Remember to be specific about what you want. You may want to get a landing strip, which means a strip of hair is left along the labia/penis while the top is waxed off, the back is left as is. It’s perfectly okay to be specific about this. After all, it’s your body. Ask for what you want. Don’t be embarrassed. Chances are the beauty therapist has heard and seen it all.
Getting fancy
Now, some like to use their pubic hair as an accessory and opt for waxing a particular shape, for example a love heart. This kind of thing is seen more often in porn than in real life, although, it’s not completely taboo. Others like to vajazzle or pejazzle – bedazzle their vagina or penis. Yep diamantes are used to decorate their bits. Again, this is less of an everyday thing and can be slightly irritating.
Au naturale
The awesome part about your bod is the fact that it’s up to you what you do with it. You may opt out of hair removal all together and that’s totes cool too. You’ve got to do what works for you, I mean, it’s your body, you literally live in it, you may as well get comfortable with it. On that note, Au naturale is the safest (and least painful) option, with the other added bonuses that you’ll save money as well as time!
Choose your own adventure
Whether you choose to get a Brazilian, go natural or get some sparkly bedazzling done, remember to do it for your own reasons. Get it done because you want to, not because everyone else is, or because someone pressures you to. They’re your privates, so you have the final say on what happens to them.
The nitty gritty
Although getting rid of pubic hair can look tidier, there is no need to do so unless you want to. With pubic hair or not, STIs like genital warts can be transmitted through skin to skin contact. However the small cuts from hair removal can leave you more susceptible. Depending on the number of sexual partners you have, getting an STI test every 12 months is the best way to keep yourself and your pubic garden healthy, no matter which way you cut it.
