Shaving Pubic Hair: Explore the Pros and Cons

There’s no right or wrong way to wear your pubic hair, but knowing its true purpose, along with the pros and cons of shaving it, may give you new insight into whether you should keep it or remove it.

What you do with your pubic hair and how you achieve those goals is up to you. Don’t feel pressured by anyone.

The main purpose of pubic hair is to reduce friction during sexual intercourse and to prevent your genitals from coming into contact with bacteria that can lead to infection or disease. Pubic hair also keeps your genitals warm, which promotes lubrication and arousal.

Pubic hair works much like your eyebrows, eyelashes and nose hair, which exist to prevent dirt and debris from entering your eyes and nose. The hair follicles in your pubic area secrete a waxy, oily substance called sebum that halts the reproduction of bacteria and reduces the risk of disease.

The benefits of shaving

Given the benefits associated with having pubic hair, why would anyone remove it? Anecdotal and research-based evidence provide a few answers:

Look and feel more attractive

Shaving your pubic hair can help you feel more attractive and less unkempt. Shaving can also help you feel more confident and boost your performance in the bedroom. If you’ve ever felt self-conscious about the appearance of your pubic hair, try shaving it to see how it affects your well-being. If you don’t like it, don’t worry, because it will eventually grow back.

Satisfy your partner

Shaving can please your partner, especially if they have a specific fetish or get turned on by seeing your genitalia in all its naked glory. Shaving to satisfy your partner can also motivate them, in turn, to go the extra mile to please you and satisfy your needs in the bedroom.

Heighten sensation

Shaving can increase genital sensation during intercourse and masturbation, helping you experience a more powerful orgasm. Many women who shave their pubic hair report feeling increased sensation when their labia rub together and when their clitoris rubs against their clothing.

Look great in undies & swimsuits

Some women have lots of long pubic hair that sticks out of the sides of their underwear, panties and higher-cut swimsuits. Others have pubic hair so thick it creates a visible mound. And that’s just fine. However, if you’re going to spend time with friends or family by the pool or unleash that sexy and revealing lingerie for your partner, you might want to consider shaving.

Reduce unpleasant odors

Keeping your pubic area shaved can reduce the strength of unpleasant odors that arise after working all day or going to the gym. Women who shave their pubic areas can forgo dealing with blood clots and other menstrual debris that may get stuck in their hair during their period.

And one for the men...

Lots of pubic hair can hide a penis and make it look smaller. Shaving can add an inch or more to the length of what’s visible of your partner’s penis, and that will make it look even more impressive when erect.

Shaving cons

So, shaving sounds good, right? Well, that nice list of pros does have a few cons to counter it:

Less protection against infection

Keeping your pubic hair reduces your risk for a number of infections. Shaving can make you more susceptible to afflictions including urinary tract infections (UTIs), yeast infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Ingrown hairs

Shaving your pubic hair can lead to ingrown hairs, which is when hairs grow back into the skin instead of up and out. Ingrown hairs can lead to painful pustules (pus-filled bumps) and papules (red bumps) that look unsightly and can cause itching.

Injuries

The female genitalia is an extremely delicate area that can be difficult to shave. Maneuvering a razor around skin that isn’t taut, or into crevices you can’t easily see, can be awkward and potentially harmful. Cuts, nicks and rashes are common injuries you can sustain while attempting to shave your pubic hair.

Bare down there

If you like the feeling of being bare down there but have no wish to chance the potential risks and inconveniences of shaving with a razor, your pubic hair can also be safely removed by waxing or laser treatment. You can get a home waxing kit but, especially for the first time, you may want to research professional salons and day spas in your area that offer these or other treatments. They’ll offer a wide variety of ways you can manage your pubic hair, and your experience will be all the more special because they know what they’re doing.

Ultimately, what you do with your pubic hair and how you achieve those goals is up to you. Don’t feel pressured by anyone. Go with your own feelings and what you want for your body.