How to Decrease Pubic Hair
Both men and women remove pubic hair, or hair in the groin or bikini area, to minimize hair growth and groom their bodies. In fact, Elle.com reports that during the Roman Empire having pubic hair was considered uncivilized for the higher classes. Whether you are removing the hair down there for hygienic, cosmetic, religious or sexual reasons, you can shape and trim the bikini line quickly. Since the hairs in the pelvic area typically have a natural curl, you need to remove this hair carefully to avoid ingrown hairs.
Cut the pubic hair as short as possible with manicure scissors, suggests Cosmopolitan.com 5. Trimming your pubic hair helps to minimize any pain from shaving.
Home Treatment for Vaginal Ingrown Hairs
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Wet the area with a warm washcloth, or soak first in the bathtub for at least three minutes. Dampening the pubic region helps you to prevent irritated skin and avoid pimples or breakouts after shaving.
Apply unscented shaving gel or cream to the hair. Massage the product into your pubes until a foamy lather appears. To minimize skin irritation, do not get shaving cream into the vaginal or anal areas.
How to Remove Perianal Hair
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Hold the skin tight with one hand and hold the razor blade in the opposite hand. If you suffer from ingrown hairs or have sensitive skin, shave in the direction of hair growth. Otherwise, move the blade upward to remove your hair. Rinse the razor blade often, because the loose hair may clog the blades. Do not attempt to shave an area two or more times without first applying additional shaving gel or cream.
Rinse the area with cool water. Apply an antiseptic or aloe vera gel to prevent inflammation or infections from occurring. Throw out the used razor blade – a new blade is required each time you shave the bikini area.
Monitor for any ingrown hairs. Do not pick at the bump if an ingrown hair occurs. Most do not require treatment and will heal on their own.
Tips
Shaved public hair often grows back as stubble that often itches in just a few days. Choose more professional methods of hair removal for longer-term affects including electrolysis or waxing.
Warnings
Symptoms of an infected ingrown hair include a bright red bump, pus, inflammation and tenderness.
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References
- Sex Info Online: Modification of Pubic Hair
- Columbia University: What to Do With Pubic Hair
- Elle: History of Hair Removal
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation: Pubic Hair Removal: Shaving
- Cosmopolitan: How Do I Shave My Pubic Hair
- International Society for Sexual Medicine. What are the health risks of removing women's pubic hair?
- Carniciu AL, Chou J, Leskov I, Freitag SK. Clinical presentation and bacteriology of eyebrow infections: The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary experience (2008-2015). Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;33(5):372-375. doi:10.1097/IOP.0000000000000797
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Removing Hair Safely. Updated June 30, 2010.
- Desruelles F, Cunningham SA, Dubois D. Pubic hair removal: a risk factor for 'minor' STI such as molluscum contagiosum? Sex Transm Infect. 2013 May;89(3):216. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2012-050982
- Herbenick D, Hensel D, Smith NK, et al. Pubic hair removal and sexual behavior: findings from a prospective daily diary study of sexually active women in the United States. J Sex Med. 2013 Mar;10(3):678-85. doi:10.1111/jsm.12031
- Center for Young Women's Health. Removing Pubic Hair. Updated April 29, 2019.
- Truesdale MD, Osterberg EC, Gaither TW, et al. Prevalence of Pubic Hair Grooming-Related Injuries and Identification of High-Risk Individuals in the United States [published correction appears in JAMA Dermatol. 2017 Nov 1;153(11):1201]. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(11):1114–1121. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.2815
- Tanner J, Norrie P, Melen K. Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Nov 9;(11):CD004122. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004122.pub4
- Castronovo C, Lebas E, Nikkels-Tassoudji N, Nikkels AF. Viral infections of the pubis. Int J STD AIDS. 2012 Jan;23(1):48-50. doi: 10.1258/ijsa.2011.010548.
Writer Bio
Julie Hampton has worked as a professional freelance writer since 1999 for various newspapers and websites including "The Florida Sun" and "Pensacola News Journal." She served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic and nurse for over six years and recently worked as the Community Relations Director for a health center. Hampton studied journalism and communications at the University of West Florida.