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Some people, including both men and women, don't enjoy having hair on their genitals. This is completely normal, but if you've never shaved this area before, read down below to see the safest way to complete this task.
Steps
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Pre-trim your pubic hair . Razors are designed to shave fairly short hair and will quickly clog and become dull if applied to long hair. To trim it, gently pull the hair up, away from your body and then cut it back with small, sharp scissors, preferably clippers, along with some equipped with safety guards. Alternatively, use an electric scissor-action trimmer without rotating heads . Aim for hair that is shorter than 1/4" (0.6 cm).
- If you are new to pubic shaving, you may want to leave your hair short for a couple of days, as this will allow you to get used to the feeling of being bare down there.
- Trimming your hairs with scissors or small clippers is ok to do too, but some people become nervous when having such items near such a tender part of your body. If you aren't comfortable with using any of these, try electric razors . They are specifically designed to shave these kinds of hairs without getting too close to cut your skin.
- If you don't already own an electric razor, you can explore high-quality options here .
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Soften your hair and hair follicles by taking a hot shower or bath. This will make the coarse pubic hair a lot easier to shave off. It may seem like a non-necessary step, but it'll make the somewhat lengthy process much more manageable. [1] X Research source
- If you don't have time to take a hot shower or bath, simply run a washcloth under warm water and place it on your area and let it sit for about five minutes.
- It's important to exfoliate both before and after shaving because it will help all of the hairs get properly aligned outwards while stripping away the dead skin, allowing for a closer shave and reducing the chances of the razor catching and scratching you.
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Foam up to avoid irritation. Use unscented shaving foam, cream, or gel to lather your pubic hair. It is recommended that you use shaving foam or cream that is designed for shaving pubic hair rather than facial hair. [2] X Trustworthy Source American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Professional association of OB/GYNs focused on education and public outreat initiatives Go to source
- Always test the shaving cream on another part of your body before you start applying it to your pubic hair, as some people suffer from allergic reactions to certain products.
- Just because a product is marketed to females doesn't mean it's only usable by those of the fair sex. Shaving cream for women is generally gentler than men's. Moreover, men's shaving cream is often scented, which can lead to irritation and painful stinging. [3] X Research source
- Need to purchase unscented shaving cream? You can find multiple options here .
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Choose your razor . When buying a razor, it doesn't matter which brand or what style it is. They are all designed to get the job done. Make sure that you pick one that is gentle on your skin so that your area won't react as badly with it as it would with a harsh razor. [4] X Research source
- If you need to buy a new razor, you can find one here .
- When buying razors, it is ideal to get ones that are to be specifically used on parts of the body. For example, if you buy two razors, one could be used for shaving your pubic area and one could be used for shaving your underarms.
- Make sure that when you use any razor, you dry it. Leaving a razor wet causes the blades to dull, which will make shaving difficult.
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Stretch your skin tight. If it's loose, you'll end up cutting yourself. Razors perform best on skin that is somewhat flat and doing so will help remove the hair easier.
- Make sure that you know what parts you are going to shave. Are you allowed to shave? Is it safe for your skin? Make sure that you are completely sure you want to do this before you begin.
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Shave slowly and gently. To start off, is a great idea to shave slowly and with the grain. All this means is that if your hair grows downward, shave downward. This will help prevent irritation. Shaving against the grain is not a good idea when first starting off because doing so causes rashes and itchiness. [5] X Research source
- Another idea is to shave from side to side. This way, your skin will get more used to the feel of a razor on your private parts.
- Do not over-shave . Shave an area only as much as you need to remove the hair. If you go over it too many times, it will become inflamed.
- In the early stages of shaving, you will probably find that shaving your pubic hair two days in a row causes red bumps and/or itching. Skip several days between shaves until your skin grows used to the change.
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Consider shaving your nether regions. Yes, hair grows on your bum too. You can shave this too, just make sure to be very gentle because it's not too easy to see where you will be shaving.
- You can always shave over one last time, just make sure not to press down too hard to prevent inflammation.
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Clean up. Always make sure that you clean up your mess. Even if you don't care about all those hairs now, they build up later.
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Exfoliate to keep your skin clean. This removes all the dead skin on the surface after shaving in addition to lining up your hairs and helping to prevent them from becoming ingrown . With your normal body soap, gently cleanse your pubic area. This will help to remove anything that might block your pores and lead to ingrown hairs and resulting infections.
- Use a sugar scrub as your exfoliate to leave your skin smooth. If you don't have that, you can always make a paste with baking soda, which will get the job done too.
- If you'd like to buy sugar scrub, you can find it here .
- If you are AFAB, do not get soap beyond your labia. Your vagina is naturally regulated by your body and doesn’t need to be cleansed with anything other than water. In fact, soaps often upset the pH balance (natural bacteria) making the vagina more susceptible to infection. [6] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source
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Use Egg Oil . Egg oil contains several bio-actives which prevent infections or inflammations and help the irritated skin recover faster to it's original shape.
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Rinse off any remaining pubic hair, gently pat dry, and moisturize. Aloe Vera , baby oil , or moisturizers designed for sensitive areas can be used. Egg oil containing immunoglobulins can avoid rashes due to micro-abrasions. Avoid moisturizers that may contain fragrances and coloring agents. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
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Take care if powdering the area. Powders absorb the sweat and oil around the pubic area, which can reduce irritation and bumpiness. However, extra care must be taken not to get any of this powder onto the very sensitive areas of the vagina or penis. Moreover, you should avoid smothering the skin, which can clog pores and may encourage pimples.
- Women should never put talc on their genital areas , as this is associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. [9] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source In fact, talc is no longer used to dry-lubricate surgical gloves because it is believed to become toxic when applied to mucosal tissues.
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Go over the area with tweezers. If your razor misses a few hairs, simply pluck them out. Make sure to do it gently, not forcefully.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionIs it hygienic to shave your pubic hair?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerShaving your pubic hair doesn’t make you more hygienic, although it may be helpful if you have body lice. Other than that, it’s entirely a matter of preference. Shaving might make you a little more prone to ingrown hairs or skin infections.
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QuestionHow often should you shave your pubic hair?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThat depends on how fast your hair grows and what’s comfortable for you. If your hair grows quickly and you want to keep the area smooth, you may need to shave every 1-2 days. However, it’s a good idea to take longer breaks if you get ingrown hairs or razor burn.
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QuestionWhat are some ways to remove pubic hair without a razor?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can try waxing, sugaring, or threading. There are also hair removal creams formulated for sensitive areas, like the skin around your genitals. For a more permanent solution, look into professional laser hair removal.
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Tips
- Wait at least 30 minutes after waking up to shave. During sleep, fluids gather under your skin, causing it to be a bit puffier. [10] X Research sourceThanks
- How you choose to present yourself should be a personal choice - you shouldn't shave just because somebody else is pressuring you to do so.Thanks
- Remember that your genitals are very sensitive whether you are male or female and they may take some time to become accustomed to being shaved. After four or five sessions, this sensitivity should diminish. Until you become more experienced at shaving your pubic hair, you probably will not achieve a perfectly smooth shave.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Scissors/clippers
- Sharp razor
- Shaving cream (or other cream-based item)
- Body soap or similar exfoliate
- Aloe Vera, baby oil, lotion, or other skin soothing item
- Tweezers
- Towel
References
- ↑ https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/teens/skin-grooming/pubic-hair-removal-shaving
- ↑ https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/to-shave-or-not-to-shave-an-ob-gyns-guide-to-pubic-hair-care
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://www.sutterhealth.org/pamf/health/teens/skin-grooming/pubic-hair-removal-shaving
- ↑ https://www.sutterhealth.org/pamf/health/teens/skin-grooming/pubic-hair-removal-shaving
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/hair-removal.html
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000897.htm
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/trimming-pubic-hair
- ↑ Pub Med: Genital talc exposure and risk of ovarian cancer
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To shave your pubic hair, start by trimming your hair with an electric trimmer or a pair of scissors, since a razor will quickly get clogged if your hair is too long. Then, take a hot bath or shower to soften your hair, which will make it a lot easier to shave off. Once your hair feels soft, cover it in shaving foam to reduce irritation. When you’re shaving, try to shave in the same direction as your hair grows to reduce irritation. You should also stretch the part of your skin that you’re shaving, since you’re more likely to cut yourself if it’s loose. After you’ve finished shaving, exfoliate your skin with a sugar scrub to reduce the risk of ingrown hairs and remove dead skin cells. For tips on how to powder your pubic area after shaving, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I shaved my buttcrack and it has lots of benefits. It feels better, easier to clean after using the bathroom, and sweats a lot less. I put some medicated powder in there and it feels like arctic angels kissing me. Gotta shave often, else it will itch!" ..." more
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"I shaved my buttcrack and it has lots of benefits. It feels better, easier to clean after using the bathroom, and sweats a lot less. I put some medicated powder in there and it feels like arctic angels kissing me. Gotta shave often, else it will itch!"
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"All I can say is wow, best article I ever read about something so private. Well written. Much thought was put into this one for sure. I am a newbie at the pubic hair removing, I'd never done it, so this article was perfect for me. Thank you!"
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"It's kinda helpful since I've been looking for ways to get rid of pubic hairs and I've been afraid of shaving. Now I know the steps, I can do it on my own with the help of this article."
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"I've read this article, followed the instructions, and the results were amazing! Compared to what I normally gets when I'm done, it's way better! Thanks a lot for this article. "
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"It helped me learn how to properly shave and some advices and warnings when shaving. It also help what I should and should not do. Thank you for the information."
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