How to Shave Your Pubic Hair

Co-authored by Dedra Allen

Last Updated: November 26, 2022 References Approved

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.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Razor-Ready

1
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.
2
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.
- 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.^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
- 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.
3
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.
- 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.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- Need to purchase unscented shaving cream? You can find multiple options here.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Getting the Best Shave

1
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.
- 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.
2
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.
3
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.^{[3]
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.
4
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.
  - If you are considering removing all of your hair, know that having none can increase your chances of getting and spreading an STD or two (namely, HPV and molluscum contagiosum).^{[4]
    X
    Research source}
5
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.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Avoiding the Redness and Itch

1
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 a woman, 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.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
2
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.
- Massage egg oil well into the shaved area twice a day for a week.
- If you need to buy egg oil, you can find it here.
- Leave it on until your next shower. There is no necessity to wash it off as it is easily absorbed into the skin.
3
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.
- A lot of moisturizers are scented, but you can find plenty of unscented options here.
- No matter what you use, just make sure that it's unscented and it isn't full of possibly irritating perfumes.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
4
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.^{[7]
  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.
5
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.

Community Q&A

Question

What are some ways to remove pubic hair without a razor?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You 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.
Question

How often should you shave your pubic hair?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

That 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.
Question

Is it hygienic to shave your pubic hair?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Shaving 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.