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. 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.

How do I get a smooth pubic area?

To increase the smoothness of your pubic area when you’re grooming it, an easy step is to always groom, trim, or shave in the direction in which the hair grows. By not working against it, you will prevent the rough edges of the hair from becoming prominent. 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.

The 8 Best Products for Your Bikini Line in 2022

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What anyone does (or doesn't do) with their pubic hair tends to be personal—down to the products you use. Because erogenous zones are delicate and sensitive, they're prone to all of the 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. Much like with any other part of your body, you need the right items to care for your pubic area.

Here are the best products to help groom your pubic area.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Panasonic Bikini Shaper and Trimmer at Amazon

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Best Epilator:

Braun Epilator Silk-epil 99-579 at Walmart

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Best for Ingrown Hairs:

Malin + Goetz Ingrown Hair Cream at Nordstrom

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Best Kit:

DeoDoc Shaving Kit at Violet Grey

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Best Oil:

Fur Oil at Dermstore

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Best Razor:

Flamingo Shave Set at Shopflamingo.com

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Best Shaver:

Magnitone London Go Bare! Rechargeable Shaver at Feelunique.com

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Best Shaving Cream:

Eos Sensitive Skin Shave Cream at Amazon

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Panasonic Bikini Shaper &amp; Trimmer for Women

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon

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

What do buyers say? 84% of 14,500+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

A long-beloved product with an unnecessary gender designation, Panasonic's Bikini Shaper & Trimmer for Women is a safe entry into electric pubic hair shaving. 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.

Braun Silk-épil 9 9-579 Women’s Epilator

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 trims 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.

Courtesy of Bloomingdale's

View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales

What We Like

Exfoliates
Soothes skin

What We Don't Like

Pricey

No matter how hard you try, or how diligent you are, sometimes pesky ingrown hairs do pop up. For this, on any part of your body, there's Malin + Goetz's Ingrown Hair Cream. A mixture of botanicals, reparative ingredients, and gentle exfoliants, it's just gentle enough for use on your pubic area, and effective enough that you can use it anywhere else, too.

Courtesy of 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.

View On Dermstore View On Ulta

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.

Courtesy of 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. But the $16 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.

Magnitone London Go Bare Rechargeable Shaver

View On Feelunique.com

What We Like

Formulated for your intimate areas
Can use all over the body
Travel-friendly

What We Don't Like

May not work on all hair types

Although we're not super excited about the name of the product (shaving down there shouldn't be relegated to one gender,) the good reviews Magnitone London's Go Bare! Shaver has garnered make it a worthwhile item. Ringing in just under $40, it's the cost of a few packs of standard razor blades, and much gentler. You can use it on your whole body, but this shaver was designed to work for your pubic area, and it might have you giving up razors altogether.

Evolution of Smooth sensitive shave cream

View On Amazon View On Ulta

What We Like

Safe for sensitive skin
Affordable
Soothes skin

What We Don't Like

Can clog razor

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. 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.

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. 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.”

Long-Lasting

It’s miserable to buy a new piece of equipment only to have it die quickly or to purchase a cream or serum for it to lose efficacy before you’ve finished with it. While you always want to be budget-conscious, it’s worth spending what’s needed, whenever you can, for products and tools that will last well. Check reviews for groomers and shavers to make sure that users note they don’t give out after just a few uses, and opt for products that come in a size appropriate for your usage.

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. 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.
How do I get a smooth pubic area?

To increase the smoothness of your pubic area when you’re grooming it, an easy step is to always groom, trim, or shave in the direction in which the hair grows. By not working against it, you will prevent the rough edges of the hair from becoming prominent. 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.