If you're wondering how to shave down there, you're not alone. Sure, shaving body hair is, typically, pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it. (We've all dealt with nicks and cuts after shaving our legs the first few times, but it gets a lot easier the more you do it.) Shaving pubic hair on the vagina, however, can be a very different experience than gliding a razor across your calves or underarms.
Before we dive into learning how to shave pubic hair, remember that—as with removing hair from any part of your body—this is completely optional. Some people prefer to have a hairless vagina (often called a Brazilian wax) and others prefer more coverage. Again, it is entirely your choice whether or not to shave down there, depending on what you want. But if you are interested in removing some or all of your pubic hair, for whatever reason (swimsuit season, ease, personal preference…), there are specific practices to follow to make certain you best care for this especially delicate area.
In the interest of making sure you are working safely and effectively, here's a step-by-step guide, from start to finish, for shaving pubic hair. We also gathered some helpful advice from dermatologists on what to do if something goes wrong, like if you cut yourself or develop ingrown hairs post-shave.
What to Know Before You Start
Even if you have a good handle on how to shave pubic hair, you may still have a few lingering questions about the whole process. And if it's your first time shaving this area, you probably have more than a few questions running through your head. We tapped Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, and Amy Wechsler, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, for some guidance.
Why do we have pubic hair anyway? According to Dr. Gohara, it's meant to act like a “cushion and protective barrier” for your nether regions. “It helps reduce friction, traps debris, and may provide some protection against irritation and infection,” she explains; thus, when you shave hair from this area, you may be leaving the skin more vulnerable to those concerns. But that shouldn’t stop you from removing unwanted hair—shaving your vulva is safe if done in the proper way.
Absolutely not! How much pubic hair you have mainly comes down to genetics. Whether you decide to keep all of it, trim it a bit, or completely remove it is a personal choice, often made with aesthetics or comfort in mind.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the biggest risks are ingrown hairs, cuts, and rashes. It’s also possible to contract contact dermatitis, an allergic reaction that results in an uncomfortable rash, through your personal care products.
A little prep work can make a big difference in your shaving experience. First, never dry-shave your pubic hair, says Dr. Gohara, or anywhere else, for that matter. And Dr. Wechsler suggests you “lather up with a [fragrance-free] soap or a body wash for your pre-shaving treatment."
Dr. Wechsler also warns against using dull blades for shaving, but especially anywhere near your private parts. “Some people think sharp razors are bad,” she says, “but sharp razors are actually better; it’s the same thing as knives. People think you’re more likely to get hurt with a sharp knife, but a dull knife is more dangerous to use because you have to push harder to get it to work.”
Shaving cream will get you the closest shave while moisturizing your skin, and it’s the most recommended method by dermatologists, but you can get by using fragrance-free soap and water. First, hang out in the shower a bit to let the warm water open your pores and reveal the hair follicles; then, use warm water to shave, ensuring your product of choice creates a thick lather to protect skin from the razor.
It happens! Ingrown hairs can be painful and super annoying anywhere on your body, but especially around the pubic area. An ingrown hair occurs, Dr. Wechsler explains, “when a hair is attempting to grow out of the skin but ends up curling back into the skin as opposed to curling out of it. Since it curls back in, the body sees it as a foreign object and takes defense. The skin around it will become inflamed and you will be left with an irritated, swollen bump.”
To treat ingrown hair, Dr. Gohara recommends warm compresses, which “can help soften skin and encourage the hair to come to the surface.” She also likes a “low-strength hydrocortisone cream” to calm inflammation, “and salicylic acid can help gently exfoliate around the trapped hair.”
But please note, as tempted as you may be to pluck, put down the tweezers! “Avoid picking or digging, which can increase the risk of infection and scarring,” Dr. Gohara says.
In addition, what you wear can also cause an ingrown. “Tight, occlusive clothing—especially leggings or yoga pants worn without underwear immediately after shaving—can increase friction, trap sweat, and make irritation and ingrown hairs more likely,” Dr. Gohara reminds us.
If you nick or cut your pubic area, Dr. Wechsler urges you to apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding and make sure the area is clean by washing it with fragrance-free soap and water. Dr. Gohara recommends then applying a thin layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor to help heal the skin.
It can be tough to learn how to shave down there without getting razor bumps. Particularly in the summer, with frequent trips to the pool or beach, this area can become irritated. To help it heal, give the affected skin a rest from hair-removal techniques until the irritation is resolved. Applying a thin layer of a low-strength hydrocortisone cream can help ease inflammation.
Go slow, be gentle, and do not shave without a clear view. “Make sure you can really see what you’re doing, even if it means taking a mirror into the shower,” says Dr. Wechsler. Going slow is also vital to preventing cuts and nicks.
Stick to the basics, says Dr. Gohara: “Trim longer hairs first, use a fragrance-free shaving cream, and shave gently in the direction of hair growth with a clean one- or two-blade razor,” she advises. “Avoid stretching the skin too tightly and rinse the blade frequently.”
And remember, she notes, “grooming is a personal choice—whether you remove [hair] or leave it, the goal is to do what feels comfortable and empowering for you.”
How to Shave Pubic Hair If You Have a Vagina
As recommended above, shaving your pubic area is easier when you've already trimmed any excess hair and better sets you up for getting a smooth shave down there. Grab a pair of safety scissors or a hair trimmer marketed for this purpose and cut your pubic hair so it's only a few centimeters long.
Before you pull out your chosen razor for shaving your pubes, use a gentle washcloth to carefully exfoliate the skin before shaving. Exfoliating will remove any dead skin and enable you to get a smoother result. Avoid coarse materials and harsh exfoliants as they can actually do more harm than good in your pubic area.
In addition, Dr. Gohara recommends using a salicylic acid pad before shaving to help prevent ingrown hairs.
Apply a generous amount of shaving cream where you want to shave, but it's best to use a fragrance-free formula on the pubic area, as options with fragrance can be irritating.
Pull the skin taut—again, not too tight—and shave in the direction of your hair growth to avoid irritating the follicle and causing potential ingrown hairs. The type of razor is up to you, but, as Dr. Gohara says, one or two blades is best for the pubic area “rather than multiple blades that cut hair too close to the skin.”
And make sure the razor you're using is clean! Be very careful around the labia and shave only where you want to remove hair.
Rinse any excess shaving cream with warm water and gently pat your skin dry.
Follow up shaving the pubic area by moisturizing the external skin with a fragrance-free lotion or ointment, like Aquaphor or Vaseline. And voila! You're done.
