What’s Up with the Hair Down There?
Pubic hair. Everyone has it, but not everyone agrees what to do with it. Beach season is here, and lots of teens will be answering the big question: What do I do with the hair down there? There are so many options! Should you trim, shave, wax or leave it natural?
We recently asked Sexetc.org users what they thought about grooming or not grooming pubic hair. People were pretty evenly split between those that like to shave or wax everything off and those that just trim or keep everything natural.
Some of our users think that removing pubic hair is somehow cleaner or more hygienic than having a natural bush. But there’s a reason to have hair down there. Pubic hair catches dirt and germs and keeps them away from your genitals. So although it may look “cleaner” to remove pubic hair, not having it actually makes you more vulnerable to infection. Plus, waxing or shaving pubic hair can leave the skin irritated. And watch out when it grows back. It’s super itchy, and you can get ingrown hairs. Just keep that in mind if you decide to go bare.
One user said it’s OK for guys to have pubic hair, but not OK for girls. What’s up with the double standard? Where do you think teens get the message that girls shouldn’t have pubic hair? Porn maybe? It makes sense that porn would influence our ideas about what to do with pubic hair, since the top viewers of Internet porn are 12-to 17-year-olds, according to Family Safe Media. Porn is a fantasy. But teens who watch porn think that their sex lives and bodies should resemble these made-up, manicured and hairless fantasies.
Whether you keep or get rid of your bush, just make sure you know the facts. Check out our FAQ on shaving pubic hair.
Tags: body image, girls' health, guys' health
(25 votes, average: 4.52 out of 5)
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July 7, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Of course we get the idea from porn… how else would we? They dont exactly teach shaving in sex ed! ha ha… And the girls (AND guys) in porn ususaly never have any hair down there at all… so yea its understandable that we think its “normal”.
July 9, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Well, of course if you look at porn and stuff you’re gonna get the idea that having pubic hair is bad. Even with GUYS! But seriously, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I mean, it does get annoying around the edges where, say, a bikini would show but I just kinda shave that part and trim the other parts when needed. Which is when it gets real bush like LOL cuz I grow hair like…really fast. It’s really kinda annoying.
But I don’t really think it’s a big deal. And Klistly, of course I agree with you xD
July 12, 2008 at 11:39 am
Shave your legs… keep the bush trimmed!!! I mean you don’t have to shave to the bone to get the point accross… I mean oral sex might be a tad easier if it was completely gone… but it’s not worth the aggro and the possible infections etc that stem from being completely hairless…
July 15, 2008 at 2:51 am
Teens probably get this idea from porn, but generally guys don’t like pubic hair on girls! I was talking to a guy friend about a girl who had hairy pits, and he said ” If she doesn’t even shave her armpits, I don’t even want to imagine what ELSE she doesn’t shave!” suggesting that to him, its gross for girls to have hair down there even if they aren’t sexually active, or wear bikinis at the beach, and a lot of guys think like this. they think of pubic hair the same way they think of leg and armpit hair. . . and honestly, oral sex seems gross with a lot of pubic hair, and girls feel more when theres no hair in the way. (as far as touching goes)
July 30, 2008 at 7:29 pm
im a guy, and i dont know what to do with my hair down there either. the only way i think i would consider shaving it is if its noticeably above my pants.
August 8, 2008 at 3:31 pm
personly i shave….carfully….lol
i prefer girls to either shave or trim just no to long…
my grl friend makes me shave case oral sex is easer that way and mor enjoyable
August 27, 2008 at 10:13 am
ive found shaving is really uncomfortable and am thinking about waxing and when i did shave completely i got a horribly rash no fun for me or guy
March 12, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I personally like pubic hair on guys an girls. Yes, trimming would be recommended, if only to have it look a little neater, but shaving is not desirable for me
Wooh! I like pubes 
I just thought that sounded funny. Sorry 
June 14, 2009 at 9:42 am
Well, if Family Safe Media did mention that “the top viewers of Internet porn are 12-to 17-year-olds,” they contradict the statistics that they post on their own site:
http://familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html#anchor12
I highly doubt the validity of the statements and statistics given out by Family Safe Media, though, because they don’t site any research studies at all. For all we know, all their numbers are made up or gotten from other sites which made up the numbers.
June 15, 2009 at 11:40 am
@potator Thanks for your comment! The 12-17 statistic was taken from the book “Drug of the New Millennium” by Mark Kastleman. You can find information on this book at http://familysafemedia.com/drug_of_the_new_millennium.html
June 28, 2009 at 4:41 am
it is so sick i would thorw up if i date a guy like that with hair down there.
December 29, 2009 at 6:26 am
girl has to be trimmed at least