Is it more hygienic to groom pubic hair?

In our society, we have a lot of associations that don’t make sense… and yes, pubic hair is one of them. Contrary to popular belief, it is not more hygienic to groom pubic hair than to leave it alone. It’s purely a personal choice, and you may very well feel cleaner with a smooth or groomed pubic region.

How do I get rid of pubic hair without shaving?

Outside of using a trimmer or groomer, bikini waxing is a popular approach to getting rid of pubic hair without shaving you might want to try. Waxers will use soft or hard wax, depending on your hair type, and you’ll want to have close to two weeks of hair growth for the wax to grip it. Another option to get rid of pubic hair without shaving is laser hair removal . Where waxing is a temporary procedure that needs to be repeated every couple of months, a series of laser hair removal appointments should have you hair-free for years afterward. At-home options include using a depilatory cream to dissolve hair or trimming hair.

How do I get a smooth pubic area?

To keep your pubic area feeling smooth, an easy step is to always groom, trim, or shave in the direction in which the hair grows. You also want to always use a tool that has sharp blades. If you have a razor, this means changing the blade regularly so they don’t get dull. If using scissors, check that they cut easily. If using a groomer or shaver, conduct a test with a patch of hair to make sure the blades still have life left in them and don’t need replacing. Finally, follow up with a moisturizer or aloe vera gel to hydrate and soothe the area.

The 10 Best Products for Your Bikini Line in 2023

What anyone does (or doesn't do) with their pubic hair is entirely personal. That's why finding the best products for grooming your bikini line is so important. Because erogenous zones are delicate and sensitive, they're prone to unwanted side effects of using improper tools such as a too-dull razor or the wrong kind of shaving cream. And nobody wants shallow cuts or razor burn.

We conducted hours of research on the best products for grooming your pubic area, to find the best trimmer, razor, and ingrown hair treatment. We evaluated products on type, ease of use, and any potential irritation associated with the hair grooming process. After consulting with beauty editors on Team Byrdie for tips on the products that work best on them, and considering dozens of products, we landed on the following best in show.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Panasonic Bikini Shaper and Trimmer at Amazon

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Best Shaving Cream:

Eos Sensitive Skin Shave Cream

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Best Razor:

Flamingo Shave Set at Shopflamingo.com

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Best Kit:

DeoDoc Shaving Kit at Violet Grey

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Best Oil:

Fur Oil

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Best Epilator:

Braun Epilator Silk-epil 99-579 at Walmart

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Best for Ingrown Hairs:

GiGi No Bump Solution

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Best for Travel:

Wahl Clipper Corp Electric Razor at Amazon

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Best Mask:

LAPCOS Calming Bikini Mask at Revolve

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Best At-Home Wax:

Nad's Original Hair Removal Gel Kit at Walmart

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4.4

Panasonic Bikini Shaper and Trimmer ES246AC

Amazon

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What We Like

Can use wet or dry
Multiple position settings
Safe for sensitive skin

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note it can die suddenly

A long-beloved product with an unnecessary gender designation, Panasonic's Bikini Shaper & Trimmer for Women makes it easy to safely shave your pubic hair the right way. It can be used wet or dry, has multiple position settings, and was designed for use on the most sensitive of skin. Small enough to take traveling, it's cordless and battery-operated, so you don't have to worry about buying razors for travel. Included cleaning attachments extend the life of the product, and prevent your razor from interfering with your shave.

Price at time of publish: $20

Type: Electric razor

4.3

Amazon

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What We Like

Safe for sensitive skin
Affordable
Soothes skin

What We Don't Like

Can clog razor

Using a good shaving cream is one of the ways to give your pubic area a proper shave. If you've never used a shave cream before and just want to dip your toe into the waters, spending $5 on EOS's Sensitive Skin Shave Cream is undoubtedly going to be a worthwhile purchase. Like many products on this list, it uses aloe to calm the area you're shaving, and provides a super smooth shave sans razor burn and bumps. It's also fragrance-free, which means you don't have to worry about nasty irritants. What you see is what you get, and for products touching the most sensitive skin on your body, transparency is key.

Price at time of publish: $6

Type: Shaving cream

Flamingo

View On Shopflamingo.com

What We Like

Affordable
Has a shower mount
Comes in various colors

What We Don't Like

Strong scent

If you're not ready to abandon razors, but the one you're using isn't cutting it, direct-to-consumer shaving brand Flamingo has a kit to get you on the right track. Like most other shaving companies, their kit includes one of their signature razors, razor heads, and a shower mount so you can keep the razor close. This $18 bundle also contains a shave gel and body lotion meant for use all over your body, including your bikini line. It's a very small price to pay for a much more comfortable shave without experiencing any razor bumps.

Price at time of publish: $20

Type: Shaving kit, includes razor, shave gel, and soothing lotion

Violet grey

View On Violet Grey

What We Like

Formulated for your intimate areas
Creates a close shave
Prevents irritation

What We Don't Like

Pricey

There are shaving kits for your face, so why not for your genitals? The people behind DeoDoc had the same question, and developed a 3-step kit intended to give your intimate areas the best shave possible. Their Pre-Shave Intimate Oil softens up the area, their Shaving Foam provides a lush and silky cushion to use while you shave, and their After Shave Balm moisturizes the skin and prevents irritation. For special occasions, or if you really want to up your shaving game, DeoDoc provides a genital-safe alternative to traditional shaving sets.

Price at time of publish: $65

Type: Shaving kit includes skin softeners, shaving foam, and post-treatment oil

Courtesy by Dermstore

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What We Like

Prevents ingrown hairs
Cleans out pores
Gentle formula

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Fur was one of the first brands to focus fully on skincare for your genitals, and their signature Fur Oil has become a beauty-editor favorite. It can help to prevent ingrown hairs and ease difficult shaves by softening pubic hair and cleaning out dirty pores. It's like a leave-in conditioner for your nether regions, with a gentle cleanser built in.

Price at time of publish: $52

Type: Oil

Walmart

View On Walmart

What We Like

Can use all over the body
Long-lasting results
Can use wet or dry

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note it can hurt

For the heavy-duty shavers, there's no better than Braun's epilator, which pulls out hair rather than trim it. It's meant for all over, so you will probably want to test it out on other body parts before moving to your pubic regions. According to reviewers, this device hurts a bit, and does take some getting used to. However, it's not incredibly painful, and the same reviews say that the completely smooth result is totally worth it. As with any epilator, we recommend following the proper steps to safeguard hygiene and minimize ingrown hairs.

Price at time of publish: $140

Type: Epilator

GiGi No Bump Skin-Smoothing Topical Solution

Amazon

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What We Like

Exfoliates
Soothes Skin

What We Don't Like

Liquid formulation can be hard to apply

If you've had one, you know how irritating it is to deal with pesky ingrown hairs. Gigi's topical treatment can be used before and after your preferred grooming practice to eliminate bumps and prevent ingrown hairs while also hydrating your skin. It contains salicylic acid to exfoliate and clean pores—though it may be too harsh for those with sensitive skin—and reparative ingredients like Panthenol. Plus, you can use it anywhere on your body.

Price at time of publish: $10

Type: Ingrown hair treatment

Wahl Pure Confidence Rechargeable Electric Razor

Amazon

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What We Like

Portable
Ergonomic

What We Don't Like

Is not waterproof

This perfectly portable groomer is super-easy to use and comes with many useful accessories, including three interchangeable heads, a 5-position guide comb, and a cleaning brush. Store everything in the handy storage pouch and take it on the go for last-minute travel touch-ups. Plus, in addition to your bikini line, it's also designed for use on underarms, legs, and even eyebrows.

Price at time of publish: $30

Type: Electric razor

Revolve

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What We Like

Helps calm redness
Fun to use
Moisturizing formula

What We Don't Like

Not the best value

With hemp seed oil, rosemary, and other nourishing oils, this mask specifically made for the bikini area helps to calm and soothe skin post-hair removal. Use it when your skin really needs a boost—it comes in a pack of five and is meant to help prevent bumps and inflammation. You apply it just like you would a sheet mask on your face: press onto the area, let sit for 15-20 minutes, and then pat the leftover essence into your skin. Skin feels softer and looks smoother, too.

Price at time of publish: $32

Type: Calming mask

Walmart

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What We Like

Comprehensive kit
Wax is easy to use
Sticks to hair, not skin

What We Don't Like

Contains dyes

Hands down, Nad's makes some of the best at-home wax products, especially for DIY bikini waxing. This kit includes everything you'll need: the gel wax, reusable strips, cleansing wipes, and a balm for post-hair removal. Many home wax kits miss the mark, but this one really delivers salon-quality results because the wax is sticky enough to remove hair, but not so sticky that you'll have trouble removing it from your skin. It also easily removes with water just in case you need to redo. As a bonus, the strips are large enough so that they work not only on the pubic area but on legs, arms, and other areas as well.

Price at time of publish: $13

Type: Wax

Final Verdict

We love Panasonic's Bikini Shaper and Trimmer because it can be used wet or dry, is safe for sensitive skin, and is easier and more convenient to use than other shaving products. But if you're looking to go the traditional razor-and-shaving cream route and want the best possible shave for the pubic area, you can't go wrong with Flamingo Shave Set and DeoDoc Shaving Kit.

What to Look For in Products for Your Bikini Line

Multifunctionality

If you’re choosing a shaving tool, one that has multiple settings, works wet or dry, or has different attachments can help you get more out of it. If you can use it in different situations (such as in the shower or out) or can groom multiple areas of your body with it, it will be a better investment. And for styling or grooming products for that region, something that does more than just make your hair shine or your skin glow is also a wiser investment.

Protects From Ingrown Hairs

Razor, shaver, or aftershave, protection from ingrown hairs cannot come from too many fronts at once. You can always perform additional tasks to prevent or deal with ingrown hairs, but in an ideal world, the tools and products you use will be the number one way to prevent them, such as using a shaving cream like Eos Sensitive Skin Shave Cream. For people with curly hair, this is most important. Byrdie’s Former Editorial Director Faith Xue and contributing writer Amanda Edelman note that “when your hair starts to grow, sometimes it curls inward and gets trapped back under the surface of your skin. This can happen because dead skin cells clog up your hair follicle (so always exfoliate), but ingrowns also exist just because of your hair's natural growth pattern—so, unfortunately, those with curly hair may suffer the most.”

Suitable for Sensitive Skin

The pubic area is especially prone to razor bumps and razor burn, so it's important to use a product that's designed for sensitive skin. Using a shaving cream made with soothing ingredients or a trimmer that's made to be gentle on sensitive skin are two ways to help prevent pubic shaving rashes by lessening your chances of experiencing any irritation and redness.

FAQ

Is it more hygienic to groom pubic hair?

In our society, we have a lot of associations that don’t make sense… and yes, pubic hair is one of them. Contrary to popular belief, it is not more hygienic to groom pubic hair than to leave it alone. It’s purely a personal choice, and you may very well feel cleaner with a smooth or groomed pubic region.
How do I get rid of pubic hair without shaving?

Outside of using a trimmer or groomer, bikini waxing is a popular approach to getting rid of pubic hair without shaving you might want to try. Waxers will use soft or hard wax, depending on your hair type, and you’ll want to have close to two weeks of hair growth for the wax to grip it. Another option to get rid of pubic hair without shaving is laser hair removal. Where waxing is a temporary procedure that needs to be repeated every couple of months, a series of laser hair removal appointments should have you hair-free for years afterward. At-home options include using a depilatory cream to dissolve hair or trimming hair.
How do I get a smooth pubic area?

To keep your pubic area feeling smooth, an easy step is to always groom, trim, or shave in the direction in which the hair grows. You also want to always use a tool that has sharp blades. If you have a razor, this means changing the blade regularly so they don’t get dull. If using scissors, check that they cut easily. If using a groomer or shaver, conduct a test with a patch of hair to make sure the blades still have life left in them and don’t need replacing. Finally, follow up with a moisturizer or aloe vera gel to hydrate and soothe the area.