Can I shave my pubic hair? Is it safe? How do most girls maintain their pubic hair?
- Amanda*

Shaving is one way to remove pubic hair — if it's done right and you're very careful. Shaving is fairly inexpensive, and you can do it yourself. Go slowly, pulling skin taut before running the razor over them. Change razors often to avoid nicks. Using shaving cream may also help protect sensitive skin, like the skin around the bikini area. If you're nervous about cutting yourself, you can try an electric razor instead.

There are some downsides to shaving. First, there are obvious risks. Using a sharp razor on such a sensitive part of the body means it's easy to slip up and hurt yourself. Then there's the regrowth stage: Shaved hair grows back after a couple of days, and when it does it can be prickly or itchy. This can leave a girl feeling uncomfortable.

There's also a chance some hairs will become ingrown, causing pimples. Sometimes people can even get skin infections as a result of shaving. For these reasons, some girls choose to wax or use depilatories on bikini hair. These methods have their downsides too, of course.

Every girl is different when it comes to maintaining pubic hair. Like clothing or hairstyle, it's a matter of individual preference. Some girls don't do anything with their pubic hair, leaving it to grow naturally. Some girls only remove hair when they'll be wearing a bathing suit. And some remove hair regularly as part of their beauty routine.

No health benefits are associated with removing pubic hair, so choose what feels right for you.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: February 2011

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.