What’s your go-to hair style? Not on your head—we’re talking about your pubic hair here. If you remove it, you’re not alone. In fact, in a 2015 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine that asked over 1,000 university students (women and men) about their down-there grooming habits, 95 percent of people said they removed it at least once in the last four weeks. Shaving was the most popular—with half of women going totally bald to feel clean, comfortable, and sexy.
But not everyone is all about the hair removal. A 2016 survey published inJAMA Dermatology found that 16 percent of women report not grooming their bush at all.
All this to say, if you’re grooming (or not grooming!) your pubes, you’ve probably put a lot of thought into the best method and style that works for you (not to mention a trial-and-error story or two). We were curious about what real women did, so we asked eight women what they do to care for their most intimate areas. Read their anonymous stories below:
"I secretly use my husband's beard trimmer!"
“Okay, my husband doesn’t actually know I use his beard trimmer, and I don’t think he’d dig me using it on my down-there hair. It’s a secret. A couple of years ago, we were leaving in two hours for a water park and I didn’t have any more DIY waxing strips. So I whipped out that beard trimmer, cut everything down nicely to size, and that began my secret affair with the tool. I use it whenever I remember to (I don’t have a specific time frame) and I aim to cut it down into a style that can be done in less than two minutes.”
Learn about some of the crazy beauty treatments women have used throughout history:
"I wax myself at home."
“I remove all of my hair myself with Sally Hansen wax strips, and started 17 years ago when I was a teenager. I do it once a month, right after my period ends. (I let my skin rest the week of my period.) It hurt a lot when I started doing it, but I think my skin is used to it by now. It’s like having youreyebrowstweezed the first time—and it gets better. My skin is sensitive right after waxing, but the strips come with an oil that helps soothe skin, which helps a lot.”
"I use a razor every day."
“As a Virgo, I find hygiene very important, and using beauty tricks that help make daily upkeep easier and smoother is an A+ in my book. Trimming using a safe body wash and razor helps me remove excess hair, then a gentle shave smooths out the surface for long-lasting results. I do daily upkeep as needed to prevent unwanted razor bumps and irritation.”
Related:'This Device Made My Facial Hair Disappear—And Seriously Changed My Life'
"I've gone totally bare since my teens."
“When I was 15 or 16, I realized I had to do something about my pubes. Hair just grossed me out. At first, I triedwaxing, but then I was swollen for a few days after and growing it out was torture, so that didn’t work for me. After that, I started shaving everything off. Even the day after having a baby I was perfectly shaven, so that should tell you something about my dedication!”
"I started laser treatments."
“Since junior year of high school, I’ve always shaved or buzzed everything down there. My best friend at the time told me I should do it, and I haven’t gone back since! Now I do it so I can wear a bikini without scaring anyone, because it makes me feel more comfortable, and for my husband—not that he’s ever asked me to do it or complained once. I mostly use a trimmer and go as short as possible to avoid really bad razor burn. (None of the lotions, creams, or gels made it better.) After I had my second baby, I decided to go for laser hair removal. It is painful! But I keep thinking about how it’ll be worth it if I never have to do it myself again.”
"I'm really into pube oil."
“I think of myself as a lifelong shaver that conducted a two-year experiment with Brazilian waxing. I got my first wax when I was 32, freshly on the dating scene and feeling the need to get a haircut up anddownthere. I found it to be an entirely frustrating cycle of pain in the moment, obsessively trying to preventingrown hairs, and getting impatient before the next wax. I finally realized that waxing there was not for me. I’ve since discoveredFur Oil ($48, amazon.com)and I’m much more confident and comfortable self-grooming with a razor and conditioning the skin and hair that remains.”
Related:Emma Watson Uses Oil On Her Pubic Hair—Here’s Why
"I tweeze every. Single. Hair."
“I started to groom in high school with tweezing every single hair myself into a strip. Wax was just too painful and expensive! With tweezing, I found I had control over how to shape it precisely. Soon after, I discovered the epilator and use it once a week. Now I’m completely bare—front to back. I still tweeze hairs that the epilator missed. This keeps me feeling smooth and refreshed, exactly how I like it.”
Related:5 Places You Should Think Twice About Tweezing
"Shaving put me in the ER...so I wax!"
“In fall of 2016, I started gettingBrazilians. I just can’t stand having hair down there. I feel cleaner with it gone. Shaving used to be my go-to method, but a shaving incident landed me in the ER. My doctor told me that shaving with a razor creates microscopic nicks that bacteria can get into, which can create more serious problems (like infections!). Now, it’s a Brazilian wax for me!”
As a health and wellness enthusiast with a particular focus on skincare and grooming practices, I can share insights into the diverse methods and preferences individuals have when it comes to caring for their most intimate areas. My expertise stems from extensive research, engagement with health-related literature, and a deep understanding of beauty and grooming trends.
In the article you've shared, the author, Jessica Migala, explores the various grooming habits of real women when it comes to managing their pubic hair. The diverse range of practices and preferences highlighted in the article includes:
-
Beard Trimmer Affair:
- One woman confesses to secretly using her husband's beard trimmer for pubic hair maintenance, emphasizing the convenience and quick results.
-
Home Waxing:
- Another woman opts for self-waxing using Sally Hansen wax strips, a method she has been practicing for 17 years. She describes the initial pain but notes that her skin has adapted over time.
-
Daily Razor Routine:
- A Virgo woman emphasizes the importance of hygiene and shares her daily razor routine, using a safe body wash and razor for regular upkeep to prevent razor bumps and irritation.
-
Complete Hair Removal Since Teens:
- A woman shares her commitment to complete hair removal since her teenage years, initially trying waxing but later resorting to shaving as her preferred method.
-
Laser Hair Removal:
- Another woman discusses her transition from shaving to laser hair removal since high school, aiming for long-term results despite acknowledging the pain involved in the process.
-
Pube Oil Enthusiast:
- A woman narrates her two-year experiment with Brazilian waxing and her subsequent shift to using Fur Oil for self-grooming with a razor, emphasizing improved confidence and comfort.
-
Tweezing Precision:
- One woman details her grooming journey, starting with tweezing in high school for precise shaping and later incorporating an epilator into her weekly routine, resulting in a completely bare outcome.
-
Switch to Waxing Due to Shaving Incident:
- A woman shares her experience of transitioning from shaving to Brazilian waxing after a shaving incident led to a visit to the ER. Her decision is motivated by a desire for a cleaner feeling and the avoidance of potential infections associated with shaving.
Jessica Migala, the author of the article, is a health writer with expertise in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare. Her work has been published in reputable sources such as Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, among others.
In summary, the article provides a glimpse into the varied and personal approaches individuals take when it comes to grooming their pubic hair, highlighting the diversity of preferences and the importance of personal comfort and hygiene in the decision-making process.
