How to Remove Unwanted Hair… Down There

How to Remove Unwanted Hair… Down There

Whether or not you choose to remove your body hair is personal, but if you do decide to remove hair from your pubic area, we have some tips to make sure it is done safely.

Shaving 

Shaving is the option people are most familiar with: using a sharp blade, the hair is cut right where it exits the skin. You can buy disposable razors that get tossed after a few uses, non-disposable razors that get loaded with new blades after a few uses (but the handle can be used for a much longer time), or electric razors that use electricity or batteries to power small rotating blades tucked deep inside the electric razor apparatus. One really important tip: if you are using a razor with visible blades and you notice rust on the blade, don’t shave with that razor! A rusty blade can cause serious irritation or even infection on the skin. 

Waxing 

Another popular option, waxing uses hot wax to soften the skin, stick to the hair, and then yank the hair out from its root when the wax is pulled off. Since the entire hair is pulled out (not just trimmed at the surface as with shaving), waxing often lasts longer - that’s because the hair has further to grow before you notice it again. Many salons offer waxing services, but there are lots of home kits as well. Waxing only works when the wax is pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth, a feat that can be tricky if you’re doing your own wax job. And, you want to beware of perfumes or other additives in wax that can irritate sensitive skin. 

Depilatories

Depilatories are creams that break down the proteins in hair, causing the hair to break off easily when the cream is wiped away. But, depilatories can smell pretty bad and they can irritate sensitive skin. You’ll definitely want to test a small patch of skin before applying it to a larger area. Also, hair will grow back on the same timeline as shaving because it has broken off right at the surface. 

Laser and Electrolysis

Unlike shaving, waxing, or depilatories, laser and electrolysis are ways to remove hair permanently. Laser and electrolysis use energy in the form of light, heat, or both, to damage the hair follicles. Without an intact hair follicle, new hair has a tough time growing. So after a series of laser or electrolysis treatments, the follicles are damaged enough that the hair won’t re-grow. Since these are permanent hair removal strategies, you’ll want to think very carefully about using them. Are you 100% certain you don’t want that hair there and never will? If yes, you will need parental consent if you are younger than 18.

Trimming

If you don’t want to remove all the hair down there but still want to shorten it, trimming is another great option. One way you can do this is with a pair of hair trimming scissors, which are smaller than regular scissors and rounded at the ends to protect your skin from any sharp pokes. Going slowly to make sure you don’t cut yourself, you can snip away hair to the length you prefer. Another option is to use an electric pubic hair trimmer, which is a mini version of a regular electric razor designed to shave the head. Oftentimes there is a plastic guard over the blades to protect them from touching your skin, with different adjustments to cut hair to different lengths. You don’t need to use water or shaving cream, but make sure to get a waterproof one if you want to use it in the shower!