How do you trim pubic hair for waxing?

It is completely bare from the front to the back, including the underside. This look is popular for both women's and men's pubic hairstyles. The Hollywood is one of the most high-maintenance pubic hairstyles. If you want to go for the full smooth skin look and feel, give this one a try.

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If you typically pay a visit to your local beauty salon for a summer bikini wax, but are skipping out this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are still ways to groom yourself relatively safely at home.

Women have been removing hair from their bodies since ancient times when the first razor was invented, but the removal of pubic hair has only become fashion-forward in the past few decades.

In 1987, the first U.S. beauty salon offered a Brazilian wax that involved removing any and all pubic hair, according to the Women's Museum of California, and since then the trend has remained ingrained in feminine hygiene and beauty culture.

Today, women can choose from a variety of grooming options for their nether regions including waxing, shaving, laser hair removal, and a simple trim. Although many these methods can be found at your pick of local salons and spas, many of these spots are currently closed.

Gynecologists also warn against practices that rip hair from the skin's follicles due to their potential to cause genital-area skin infections and to remove hair that exists to protect the genitals.

"Your pubic hair is there to protect the skin around your lady parts because that skin is very sensitive," Dr. Donnica Moore, a Chester, New Jersey-based gynecologist, told Health. In other words, the best grooming method may be no grooming at all.

Most pubic hair removal techniques could cause skin inflammation or infection

In her new and New York Times best-selling book "The Vagina Bible," gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter explains why the majority of pubic hair removal methods aren't great for your body, even though it may seem like a bald vulva is cleaner than one with hair.

It's not that completely removing your pubic hair can increase your risk of STIs like HIV and chlamydia, according to a recent study that didn't find a connection between extreme grooming and STI risk.

Rather, it's that "pubic hair removal is a cause of injury — over 50% of women who have removed pubic hair report at least one complication such as lacerations, burns, rashes, and infections," Gunter wrote.

Methods that remove pubic hair from the follicle it grows out of, like shaving, waxing, and sugaring, can lead to ingrown hairs too because these options can result in part of the hair breaking below the follicle's surface. Then, inflammation from the removal method blocks the hair follicle so the remaining hair bends and grows inside the follicle, leading to what is known as an ingrown hair. 

Ingrown hairs can also become infected if bacteria gets stuck in the hair follicle.

The better news is that while some previous research has suggested completely removing your pubic hair can increase your risk of STIs like HIV and chlamydia, a more recent study didn't find a connection between extreme grooming and STI risk.

Although taking precautions like shaving after your follicles are opened in the shower or prepping your skin with soap or shaving cream may prevent ingrown hairs, there's no way to completely eliminate that risk, Gunter wrote.

Trimming and abstaining from grooming your pubic hair are the only ways to completely prevent inflammation and potential infection, since these two methods don't affect the hair follicle.

Moore told Health that the best way to trim your pubic hair is to use blunt nail-clipping scissors and to hold the hairs in place with a fine-tooth comb while you trim. 

There’s no right answer, though certain types of hair removal come with more pain and possible side effects than others. Read on to learn about your hair removal options, so you can work out what might be best for you.

Methods of pubic hair removal

Trimming

Trimming your pubic hair is easy, quick and painless – and all you need is a pair of scissors. Just make sure you keep your scissors (or your pubic hair trimmer) clean.

It’s best to cut pubic hair while it’s dry, so it’s easier to see what you’re doing. Just snip away slowly until you’re happy with how it looks.

Tweezing

Tweezing takes a bit more patience and a higher tolerance for pain than trimming. But if you’re looking to quickly shape your pubic hair – rather than fully remove it – it might be an option for you. Just disinfect your tweezers before use.

For the best results, hold the skin tight, then place the tweezer prongs on either side of the hair and gently pull in the direction of growth. Don’t yank too hard, as this could irritate your skin or hair follicles.

Shaving

Like trimming, shaving pubic hair is another painless option – as long as you don't cut yourself. It’s also easy and inexpensive, as you just need a clean razor and some shaving cream or gel.

Wet your pubic hair, lather up with cream, hold your skin tight and shave in the direction of hair growth, rinsing your razor regularly.

Shaving the hair too short, or when the hairs are too long, can increase the risk of shaving rash (pseudofolliculitis).

Waxing

Waxing rips out sections of pubic hair by its roots – which some people find very painful. It’s an effective hair removal method, though, which tends to cause less itching when the hair grows back than shaving does.

Waxing can be done at home, though it’s best if done by a professional. It may irritate sensitive skin.

Depilatories

Depilatories are another good option if you have a low tolerance for pain. These are chemical hair removers, which work by weakening a substance in the hair called keratin. Your pubic hair then falls out and you can wipe it away with a cloth or paper towel.

Available from pharmacies and supermarkets, depilatories usually come in the form of creams and they’re generally safe to use – though they can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Laser

Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure that uses a laser to get rid of unwanted hair by destroying hair follicles in your skin. It’s done by qualified professionals.

Before your appointment, you need to shave the area to be treated. It’s not a painless process – some people say it feels like having an elastic band snap against your skin – and can sometimes cause skin redness, too.

Laser hair removal isn’t permanent. How long it lasts varies between people but you may need to do it every 6 to 8 weeks for body hair. It doesn’t work as well on dark skin as on pale skin.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis should also be done by a professional. It involves a device called an epilator, which damages hair follicles by sending radio frequencies into your skin.

Unlike laser hair removal, it removes only one hair at a time, so it’s not ideal for removing a large area of hair.

Electrolysis removes hair permanently, but you’ll need several sessions before that happens.

Risks and side effects of pubic hair removal

Some people think that removing their pubic hair is ‘more hygienic’. But there’s no medical reason for removing it. In fact, it can make you more vulnerable to infection, as cuts or skin irritation can make it easier for bacteria and viruses to get in.

Shaving, waxing or plucking can also increase your chances of getting ingrown pubic hairs. This is where hairs have grown back into your skin, which can cause red and often itchy bumps. If they get infected, they can be painful, too.

As mentioned above, laser hair removal can cause side effects such as pain, discomfort and red skin that can last for a while.

Other things to watch out for include an allergic reaction to depilatory creams or gels, redness, irritation or swelling, and cuts or scrapes from wax strips or blades. It’s a good idea to speak to your doctor if you notice any side effects that don’t clear up after a few days.

Choose the right type of pubic hair removal for you

It’s a good idea to look at factors such as your skin sensitivity, pain tolerance and skin colour when deciding which hair removal methods are right for you.

Laser hair removal, for example, works best on people with pale skin and dark hair.

If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to avoid the harsher hair removal methods, such as waxing, tweezing, laser and electrolysis. You might want to just trim your hair or gently shave it instead.

And if you’re keen to avoid pain, you might prefer to keep away from methods such as waxing and laser removal, and stick to trimming or depilatories.

Cost and how long the method lasts are other factors to think about. Whatever you decide, it’s best to proceed with caution when going bare.

It's also important to point out that you should only do what's right for you – there's no pressure to remove your pubic hair for anyone else. In fact, plenty of women are beginning to reclaim their body hair. So whether you choose to do it or not, that's absolutely fine.

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