Pubes Shaving 101: How to Shave Your Pubic Hair With Ease

Planning to shave your vagina but unsure on how to do it? We got you covered, sis. For today’s featured guide, we will share the steps on how to shave your vagina. We’re also going to answer your frequently asked questions about shaving your pubes, so make sure to stay tuned for that.

Pubic hair is the hair around your genitals, serving a similar purpose to nose hair and eyelashes. It traps debris, dirt, and other harmful microorganisms from reaching your vulva and vagina. This then protects you from cellulitis, urinary tract infections (UTIs, vaginitis, and yeast infections. This is because hair follicles produce sebum, an oil that prevents bacteria from reproducing.

By reading those health benefits above, you’re probably thinking about why you should shave your vagina. Well, we’re going to delve into that in the next section.

Is It Necessary to Shave Your Pubic Hair?

For real though, shaving your pubes isn’t necessary. Keeping your pubic hair wouldn’t harm you nor make you unhygienic. As long as you trim it regularly and wash it with mild soap and water, it shouldn’t be bothersome in your body. In fact, keeping your lady garden can actually be more hygienic than shaving or waxing it off, since you’ll be protected from dirt and other harmful microorganisms.

This whole pubic-hair-shaving thing has become prevalent to women due to the rise of porn, wherein female pornstars often have shaved vaginas. It has slowly become a norm– this is shown in how pubic hair shaving products are now readily available for the public.

But it’s not just solely because of porn. Some women simply liked having a hairless vag because they’ve experienced better sensations during sex when they’re bare. This is because the less hair you have down there, the easier your partner can access your sensitive spots, such as your clitoris. Some partners also prefer having bare pussy as it’s easier to “eat” it when it’s hairless.

So should you shave your vagina or not? The answer is to go for what feels right for you. You’re not weird for keeping your pubic hair or for shaving it. As long as you want to do it, keeping, shaving, or waxing your pubes is fine.

What’s not fine is being pressured to shave your vagina because your partner is “turned-off” with your pubes. If you feel uncomfortable removing your pubic hair, then it’s best to communicate and find a middle ground with your partner. Again, it’s your body, your rules.

Things You’ll Need When Shaving Your Pubes

It’s important to have the right tools when you shave your vagina. Don’t just grab an old razor that you use for your underarms and call it a day. When shaving your pubes, you must prepare the following for a hassle-free experience:

1Mild Soap & Exfoliator

One of the important things to remember when you shave your vagina is that you don’t do it while your skin is dry. You need to prep your skin by washing it first, so make sure to have a mild soap ready before the process; go for something plain and unperfumed. Steer away from intimate washes with additional oils and fragrances in them, as these extra scents are possibly made with harmful ingredients.

Now, this doesn’t mean you should just grab a random unscented body soap and call it a day. Some body soaps aren’t designed for your delicate vulva; pick a feminine bar or liquid soap with a mild and gentle formula. Keep an eye on the ingredients list and see if parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), soap, fragrances, dyes, and glycerin are included on the list. If there is, we recommend steering away from it.

If you’re still unsure of what soap to get, here are some expert-approved soaps that you can use for your private area.

• Dove Sensitive Bar
• Cetaphil Baby Wash
• Human Nature Chamomile Cool
• Johnsons Baby Bath
• Durex Intimate Cleaning Gel

Aside from the mild soap, make sure to also get a loofah, washcloth, or exfoliating sponge. Exfoliating with any of these tools while washing your intimate area will help you get rid of dirty skin and possibly eliminate early ingrown hairs that may be forming.

2Hand Mirror & Scissors

Another important thing to prep before you shave your vagina is a hand mirror and scissors. Get a medium-sized mirror as this will help you shave the right spots. You can also have an extra mirror that has a stand, just in case you can’t hold the mirror and still want to see what’s going on down there. Aside from the mirror, make sure to get a pair of small scissors or a hair trimmer.

3Bikini Razor with Moisturizing Strip

To prevent having razor burns or ingrown hair, you need to get a bikini razor with a moisturizing strip. You also need to ensure that you’re using a fresh, sharp razor blade every time you’re shaving your pubes. Old blades can cause some mishaps while shaving, leading to razor burns and ingrown hair. Used blades also carry bacteria and increase your risk of getting skin irritation.

4Shaving Cream

Your intimate area is pretty sensitive, so it’s important to make the shaving process a lot easier by getting a shaving cream. It builds a lather that serves as a protective barrier between the bikini razor and your delicate skin. For this one, get a shaving cream that’s unscented and has a gentle formula. You can also try using the mild soap and just create a lather out of it if you forget to prep a shaving cream; it’s not as good as a shaving cream but will still provide a moisturizing barrier nonetheless.

5Moisturizing Cream

One of the biggest mistakes people make when shaving their pubic hair is that they don’t moisturize after drying up the intimate area. Applying a hydrating cream or gel can prevent ingrown hairs and makes your skin soft to touch, so make sure to grab a bottle of a mild, unscented skin moisturizer and use it as part of your post-shave regimen.

How to Shave Your Vagina

Once you have the right tools, we suggest taking some time to find the right position. It’s up to you if you want to squat, raise your leg, sit down, or the combination of these positions. Use the hand mirror and try various positions and angles.

You can also use the edge of a bathtub/toilet bowl or a short stool to use support when raising your legs. Once you’ve found the right positions and angles, you can start shaving your pubes. We also suggest showering first before you shave your vagina. This will help you discard the hair easily and is more convenient on your end. Let’s get started!

1Start by trimming your pubes.

Trim the hair in spots that you want to shave first. This will make the shaving a lot smoother as shorter pubes will prevent your razor from getting clogged up. As we mentioned, don’t use dull scissors. It’ll just keep the process longer than it’s supposed to be.

2Clean the area with mild soap.

Once you’re done trimming your pubic hair, you need to exfoliate the skin on your bikini line and around your vulva. For this step, just use a mild soap and a washcloth. Just gently scrub the area then rinse it off. Now, to prevent any mishaps, don’t use rough loofahs or exfoliators with microbeads.

3Apply a generous amount of shaving cream.

After rinsing the soap or exfoliator cream off, pat the area with a soft towel. Keep your skin damp– not too wet nor too dry.

After drying your pubic hair area, apply a generous amount of shaving cream or gel. If you don’t have a shaving cream yet, you can use the mild soap– just lather it around the area.

4Shave in the same direction of hair growth.

Once you’re all set, grab your bikini razor and a hand mirror. Go to your preferred position and start shaving your vagina. Make sure the skin is held taut, or that the skin is stretched tight when shaving the area; this will prevent tugging and other mishaps. Shave in the same direction of hair growth. Shaving in the same direction can help you get close to that desired smooth shave. It also helps lessen your risk of irritation.

To know the direction of your hair growth, just take a look at your trimmed pubic hair before you shave your vagina. Does it point upwards? Downwards? Sidewards? Take a good look then once you’ve figured out the direction, you can then use that as a guide on how to shave your pubes.

Also, take note to be gentle when shaving your pubes. As much as you want to shave the same spot again just to get that smooth shave, prevent this from happening as this causes razor burn and irritation. Once you’re done shaving your pubic hair, rinse the excess cream with water. Pat dry the area with a soft towel.

5Apply moisturizer.

With all the exfoliating and shaving, your skin on the pubic hair area is dry at this point. Bring back the hydration by applying a light and unscented moisturizer down there. Take note, don’t apply moisturizer on your vulva or vagina– just the skin around it as well as the pubic mound area.

Beginners Tips When Shaving Your Vagina

As you learned how to shave your vagina, here are some key tips that you should know. This will ensure a safe shaving experience for you. Read on!

1Avoid shaving your pubic hair during your period.

There’s this myth going around that you should shave your pubes during your period because of “hygienic” reasons. Now, there’s no truth in this. In fact, it’s better to hold off your pubic-shaving activity, as your skin is more sensitive during your period. So to prevent yourself from having an uncomfortable experience, it’s best to not shave your vagina during your red days.

2Discover the most comfortable positions and angles.

As we’ve mentioned earlier, it’s best to find the right positions and angles before actually shaving your vagina. This will ensure that you’ll be able to shave those hard-to-reach spots without hurting yourself.

To do this, just start trying various positions (squatting, standing up with one leg up, sitting down with legs wide apart) and simulate the shaving process. Make sure that you’ll be able to see your vag’s reflection on the hand mirror while doing so. Once you’ve figured out the positions that will work for you, you can then start shaving.

3Take your time.

Don’t do this if you know that you’re in a hurry. Shaving your vagina takes some time especially for beginners. Skipping a step on the how-to-shave-your-vagina guide above will bring more harm than good. So for the love of your cooch, don’t rush the process!

4Wear cotton underwear after shaving your pubes.

We get it… you do feel extra sexy after you shave your vagina. However, don’t give in to the temptation of wearing silky or lacy underwear right after shaving your pubes. Go for panties that are made with 100% cotton. It’s also ideal to have underwear that isn’t too tight on the leg area. By wearing comfy undies, you’re giving your skin down there some time to recover.

5Consult your doctor if you get serious rashes and burns.

There are possible risks for shaving your pubic hair such as razor burn, cuts, redness, blisters, itchy bumps, and folliculitis. Now, if this has happened to you, give a few days to let your skin heal. Just wear comfortable cotton underwear during this period. If the skin on your pubic area is only getting worse as time went, it’s best to consult your doctor immediately.

6Avoid dry shaving!

We have mentioned it in the previous sections but cannot emphasize this enough— never dry shave your vagina! We get that you’re in a rush to get on this romantic date, but shaving while your skin is dry can lead to razor cuts, red bumps, ingrown hair, skin irritation, and etc. Always follow the steps, including washing your intimate area and adding a shaving cream, to ensure that you’re safely shaving your vagina.

7Make shaving the last thing you’ll do in the shower.

Another common mistake that most people make when they shave their vagina is doing it as soon as they get in the shower. You may think that this is a practical choice since it’ll be easier to get rid of the shaved hair. However, making shaving the first step in your shower routine can actually increase your risk of razor burn and skin irritation since you’re not giving your hair follicles the chance to soften up. So instead of treating shaving as step one, put it at the last step of your routine.

8Don’t add essential oils or other “trendy” skin products down there.

It’s okay to use gentle lotions or moisturizers at the end of your shaving sesh, but please, don’t go overboard with the creams. Unless it’s a spot treatment for razor burns, cuts, bumps, or pimples, avoid applying it down there. Having these “rejuvenating” oils, gels, masks, and other skincare products may not be as effective as what it promises, and worse may irritate your skin down there.

Frequently Asked Questions

By the time you’re reading this, you’re already knowledgeable enough on how to shave your vagina. But if there are still questions lingering in your mind regarding this process, no worries as we will answer some frequently asked questions below.

1Is it safe to shave my pubic hair?

Yes! As long as you’re following the steps properly to shave your vagina, you’re safe from doing this procedure.

2Will my vagina stink if I don’t shave my pubic hair?

Pubic hair indeed traps some oil, bacteria, and sweat smell down there. However, it’s not going to make you stink down there as long as you have good hygiene in general. If you prefer to just trim it, then that’s just fine. Just have showers regularly and you’re good to go.

3What are the risks of shaving my vagina?

When you shave your vagina, it may pose some risks. You might end up with rashes, razor burn, redness on the skin, pimples, blisters, skin cuts, itchiness, and folliculitis (infection on the hair root). Now, you can reduce the risk of having these negative effects by following this guide properly.

4Will my pubic hair get darker and thicker after shaving it?

Nope, this whole hair-will-get-thicker-after-shaving statement is just a myth. Because the pubic hair has a sharp edge after shaving it, it might feel thicker on your end. The only factor that could affect the appearance and thickness of your pubes is your hormones.

5I just finished shaving, and it’s so itchy down there; what should I do?

If you’re experiencing itchiness down there after shaving, chances are you have razor burn. This can be caused by using a blunt/used razor blade, shaving in the wrong direction, and/or shaving the same area over and over again. To help you reduce the itchiness, you can try applying a cool compress on the area, take a warm bath, apply aloe vera gel on the intimate area, and wear loose cotton underwear.

6I have a weird odor down there. Should I get a scented soap or feminine wash?

Here’s the thing, the vagina is supposed to have a smell down there. If it’s a bit musky with a mix of urine odor, then you have a perfectly healthy vagina; don’t ruin it with scented feminine washes, soaps, and douches. Now, if you have a vaginal smell that is sourdough bread-like, fishy, sour, rotten, or cheese-like, consult a healthcare professional immediately. There may be an underlying condition that causes the smell, such as yeast infection.

7How many times should I shave my pubic hair in a month?

It’s up to your preferences; some women prefer shaving twice a month, while others do it every three days. It’s possible to shave your vagina hair every day, but we don’t recommend it as this prevents your delicate skin from healing from the minor cuts or burns (if there is one) from the previous shaving session.

8Can I still shave even if I have some light wounds on the area?

Nope! Let the skin in your intimate area heal first. Shaving while there are still cuts on the area can cause infections and may hinder the healing process of the wound.

9Can I still shave my pubes even if I have pimples on the area?

Same with the answer above, a big nope! If there’s any form of skin irritation down there, don’t shave and wait until the skin fully heals from it.

10Can shaving my pubes make my skin lighter?

Nope, the skin color in your groin area isn’t affected whether you shaved your pubic hair or not. Darkened skin in your intimate area is caused by hormonal imbalance, dry skin, friction from tight clothing, chafing, overweight, and certain medications. It’s normal for people to have darkened skin down there, so don’t worry about it.

Takeaway

There’s an ongoing debate on shaving your pubic hair, despite being a taboo topic. Some people love having shaved pubes and even feel sexy about it, while others are heavily against it. But here’s the thing, sis– choose what is right for you. It’s up to you if you want to have a shaved vagina or go au naturel. It’s alright either way.

Whatever your choice is, just keep in mind our guide should you plan to shave your vagina. Safety first, as always.