Pubic Hair Removal: Shaving | Sutter Health (2024)

If you choose to shave your pubic area, follow these guidelines.

Pubic Hair Removal: Shaving | Sutter Health (1)

Leigha Winters, College Student Writer

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

One change puberty brings is increased body hair. Some teens and young adults choose to depilate, or remove body hair. For females, the most common areas to depilate are underarms, legs, pubic area, eyebrows and face. For males, the most common areas are the face, abdomen, back, chest, groin and legs. Shaving is the most common way to depilate the underarms, legs and pubic area.

Shaving the pubic area has become much more common among teenagers and young adults. However, that doesn’t mean you should do it. Shaving is a personal choice.

Any kind of depilation – shaving, waxing, clipping, tweezing, threading or laser treatment – can have health consequences. Your pubic area is especially sensitive to hair removal. If you decide to shave your pubic area, here’s what you need to know.

Anatomy

The pubic area consists of the:

  • Lower abdomen.
  • Mons pubis, the soft mound of flesh raised above the genitals by a pad of fat under the skin that protects the pubic bone. It’s usually much more pronounced in females than in males.
  • Genitals.
  • Perineum, the strip of skin between the genitals and anus.
  • Anus.
  • Buttocks.
  • Bikini area, the area along the lower abdomen and between the legs that’s exposed by bikini-style undergarments.

You can shave all of these areas.

Possible Consequences From Shaving

  • Itching.
  • Razor burn.
  • Nicks and cuts.
  • Bumps, blisters or pimples.
  • Genital infections.
  • Ingrown hairs.
  • Gas noises. A lack of hair around the anus makes it impossible to pass gas silently.
  • Folliculitis. This infection in a hair follicle is usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph) or a fungus. A common cause of folliculitis is recently shaved hairs that regrow out of the follicle and curl back around.
  • Time loss. To keep the pubic area smooth and hairless, you’ll need to shave regularly, even daily. Consider if this is worth the trouble; it may become tedious after four or five weeks.
  • Cost. You’ll need to invest in special shaving equipment and care.

Treatments

If you experience problems, some treatments can help. However, these are not comprehensive. If you’re having any serious problems, consult your medical provider.

  • Itching or irritation — Apply 1% hydrocortisone lotion two or three times per day. Avoid shaving for two months.
  • Razor burn — Use aloe vera gel to soothe sensitive skin and help reduce pain.
  • Bumps —Take a warm bath. See your doctor if the bumps don’t clear up after one week.
  • Blisters or pimples — As long as they’re not painful and don’t bother you, there’s no problem. Keep them clean and dry. Don’t pick at them.
  • Genital infections — Consult your doctor or visit Planned Parenthood.
  • Ingrown hairs — Don’t pick at them; this could cause infection. To prevent ingrown hairs, shave downward with the angle of the hair, or clip hairs instead of shaving. Some creams can exfoliate the skin and treat ingrown hairs. Check with your medical provider.
  • Folliculitis — If folliculitis is mild, use a topical over-the-counter antibiotic, such as Neosporin or bacitracin. Use it two or three times per day.

Remember: These treatments are simply recommendations. If symptoms don’t clear up, consult your medical provider.

Shaving Myths

Be aware of some myths:

  • Hair will regrow faster. False. After shaving, hair will not regrow any faster or slower than it did before you started shaving; you’ll probably just notice it more.
  • Hair will become thicker. False. Your body has a set number of hair follicles, and no new ones are created after you shave. This means that the hairs will not be thicker than they were before you started shaving.
  • Shaving always creates ingrown hairs. False. Every person is susceptible to ingrown hairs to a different extent. Some people get more ingrown hairs than others. That being said, you won’t get ingrown hairs every time you shave. Furthermore, certain practices and products help reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs when shaving, including scrubbing the area with a loofah or shaving in the direction of hair growth.
  • Shaving your pubic area will get rid of crabs and other STIs. False. Pedicularis pubis, commonly known as crabs or pubic lice, is highly infectious and transmitted through sexual contact. Shaving will not get rid of it. Shaving also won’t protect you from getting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that require medical treatment.

How to Shave the Pubic Area

If you decide you want to shave your pubic area, here’s a how-to guide in 10 easy steps.

  1. Go shopping for the appropriate supplies:
  • A pair of sharp scissors.
  • A new safety razor (no dull, disposable or switchblade razors), preferably with moisturizing strips and “micro-fins” or cushions. These provide extra protection from nicks and cuts. Using an electric razor is not recommended.
  • Female shaving cream, soft baby oil and aloe vera cream (preferably with vitamin E). Female shaving cream is recommended for both male and female pubic shaving because it’s milder and gentler than almost any male shaving cream. Also, male shaving creams are often perfumed, which may cause stinging and irritation. Choose a cream for your skin type. If you can’t find specialized creams for female shaving, use the mildest, non-perfumed male variety. For aftercare, use baby oil to prevent pimples and aloe vera cream to calm inflamed skin.
  • Tweezers and hair conditioner (optional). Hair conditioner can help soften the hair before shaving. Tweezers can remove stray or hard-to-reach hairs.
  • Keri Lotion.
  • Aveeno moisturizing products with oatmeal.
  • Eucerin creams and lotions.
  • Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream.
  1. Use the scissors to clip as much of the pubic hair as possible. This will help make the shaving less painful and more effective.
  2. After cropping as much hair as possible, soak in a hot bath or shower for at least three minutes to make the pubic area soft and smooth. This will allow you to shave more easily and avoid pimples and irritated skin.
  3. Dry off and wait a few minutes to allow the skin to recuperate.
  4. Apply generous amounts of female shaving cream specific to your skin type, or the mildest, non-perfumed male cream. Do not use soap! Let the shaving cream sit for a few minutes.
  5. Use your safety razor to begin shaving.
  6. Pull the skin tight with your free hand and shave without applying pressure. If you have to apply pressure, your razor is too dull.
  7. Move slowly over the skin in the counter-direction of the hair. In the pubic area, this means shaving upward. For people prone to ingrown hairs or razor burn, shave in the direction of hair growth. As you shave, feel free to keep applying shaving cream.
  8. When you’re done shaving, wash the area generously with lots of warm water.
  9. Apply soft baby oil to keep skin smooth and free of pimples. (Some people find baby oil perfume irritating. Ideally, you want a moisturizing cream or lotion free from perfume, antiaging ingredients, sunscreens or other additives. Do not use male aftershave; it will sting terribly!) You might want a moisturizer that’s labeled for sensitive skin.
    Suggestions include:
  • Keri Lotion.
  • Aveeno moisturizing products with oatmeal.
  • Eucerin creams and lotions.
  • Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream.

Other Considerations

Don’t plan to shave when you first wake up. During sleep, body fluids accumulate and make the skin puffier. Wait 20 to 30 minutes after you get up so skin is less puffy and the hair shaft is more exposed.

After shaving but before sex with a condom, wash your pubic area to remove any baby oil, which can deteriorate latex.

Last reviewed: August 2019

Pubic Hair Removal: Shaving | Sutter Health (2024)

FAQs

Is it healthy to shave off pubic hair? ›

Some people don't do anything with their pubic hair, leaving it to grow naturally. Some remove hair when they'll be wearing a bathing suit, and some remove hair regularly. No health benefits are linked to removing pubic hair, so choose what feels right for you.

Can shaving pubic hair cause problems? ›

Shaving. Shaving cuts the hair close to the skin. I'm not a big fan of shaving your pubic hair because it can hurt sensitive skin, leading to rashes, ingrown hairs, and infection. If you choose to shave, use a new, clean razor every time, as used razors can carry bacteria.

Is it healthy to permanently remove pubic hair? ›

Removing pubic hair may therefore make a person more susceptible to common infections, such as UTIs, vaginitis, and yeast infections. Hair removal can also irritate your skin, leading to skin infections such as cellulitis and folliculitis. In other cases, grooming-related injuries, such as cuts, could become infected.

Can shaving lead to BV? ›

🪒Shaving all of your pubic hair may cause vagin*l infections like Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Yeast Infections. Pubic hair provides a natural barrier against bacteria; when removed, this area is left vulnerable to infections. ✅To prevent an infection, opt to trim instead of shaving all of your pubic hair.

Do most girls shave down there? ›

Pubic hair removal is common — approximately 80 percent of women ages 18 to 65 report they remove some or all of their pubic hair.

What happens if you never trim pubic hair? ›

However, shaving and trimming are techniques you can easily master at home. It's also okay to decide not to shave your pubic hair at all! It's quite normal to let it grow out, though you must wash and dry it properly. Otherwise, you can cause itchiness and rashes from dried-out skin or clogged pores.

Is no pubic hair more hygienic? ›

It is more hygienic not to shave it (although depilation does make pubic lice homeless). In removing their pubic hair, most women will get cuts or ingrown hairs, and some will develop inflammation of the hair follicles or hyperpigmentation.

Is it bad to remove all pubic hair? ›

Over half of the young women surveyed across studies experienced at least one physical complication due to pubic hair removal [5,6,7]. The most common side effects found were epidermal abrasions, infected ingrown hair, severe itching rashes, and other skin infections such as molluscum contagiosum.

Why guys shouldn t shave pubic hair? ›

Irritation: Removing pubic hair by waxing or shaving can cause skin irritation, razor burns, or ingrown hairs, which can be uncomfortable or painful. Infection: Shaving or waxing can create small cuts or openings in the skin that can increase the risk of infection, especially if the area is not kept clean.

What is the healthiest way to remove pubic hair? ›

The safest technique is trimming the hair with scissors, if they do not come into contact with the skin. Shaving the hair or using a method that removes it from its follicle could result in: small breaks or cuts in the skin. redness or irritation.

How often should you shave your pubes as a female? ›

In general, we recommend shaving every two to three days if you want a clean shave; three to five days if you want to simply style or trim; and if you want to just let your hair grow, then simply stop shaving.

What age does pubic hair stop growing? ›

longer than 4 years to reach the adult genital development stage. no pubic hair by age 15 years.

Why does my private area smell after shaving? ›

“Removing pubic hair can increase the risk of sweating, which can lead to odor from the sweat glands,” explains Dr. White.

Does removing pubic hair cause more infections? ›

Extreme and high-frequency pubic hair removal was also positively associated with a history of self-reported Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including herpes, human papillomavirus, syphilis, and molluscum30 (but see17,31).

Can shaving mess up your pH balance? ›

This will irritate and dry out the skin and can cause an effect on the pH value negatively. Ideally, you should shave before you go to bed. Ensure not to wear tight-fitting underwear and clothes so that the skin can breathe better and recover.

Is it better to wax or shave pubic hair? ›

For bikini areas, waxing is more precise and can result in less razor bumps because of the delicate skin area.

What is the best way to remove pubic hair? ›

You can shave it. Just be sure to use shaving cream and a sharp razor. Shaving doesn't make hair thicker or darker, though it might look that way. If you want to avoid the stubbly look you can get from shaving, you can use depilatories or wax.

When should a girl start shaving her private area? ›

There's no right time or age to start learning to shave. So, how do you know when should your daughter start shaving? Learn answers to common shaving questions. Puberty can hit earlier in life or later, and with it comes thicker hair on the legs, as well as new hair growth under the arms and around the pubic area.

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