Should I trim pubic hair before waxing? (2023)

Do waxers trim pubic hair?

Worried that your hair (especially your pubic hair) may be too long for a wax? Well don't! If it needs trimming down, we will do this for you as part of your treatment, so please don't attempt this at home!

“Waxing lasts longer over time because hair is being removed from the follicle whereas shaving just cuts it at the surface,” says Shays. “Waxing will leave you smoother longer as unwanted hairs become thinner and in some cases don't grow back at all.

Simply, trim down your hair beforehand if it's slightly long to make the waxing experience more comfortable. Your therapist will take care of the rest. Also, remember that with regular waxing your hair will soon begin to feel thinner and sparser unlike shaving, which can leave the hair feeling stubbly, thick and itchy.

Don't use lather or get in the shower with a dry trimmer. Shave in the direction of the grain first, then shave against the grain on your second go round. Always use a light touch. For maintenance, this method will require a redo every few days to a week, depending on preference.

Seriously, there's no such thing as being too hairy.

“A lot of clients get embarrassed about their growth if it's been a while,” Cordova says. “I'd rather wax overgrown hair than a two-week-old shave. It's easier for the specialist and less painful for you.”

Removing pubic hair may therefore make a person more susceptible to common infections, such as UTIs, vaginitis, and yeast infections. Hair removal can also irritate your skin, leading to skin infections such as cellulitis and folliculitis. In other cases, grooming-related injuries, such as cuts, could become infected.

Pubic hair removal is common — approximately 80 percent of women ages 18 to 65 report they remove some or all of their pubic hair.

Adult health

There's no medical or hygienic reason for removing some or all of your pubic hair. But the removal process can be painful and cause many side effects, including: Genital itching, sometimes severe. Genital burns from waxing.

It is not more hygienic to shave pubic hair. Some girls decide to remove it (as a personal preference) but there are no health benefits. In fact, there are risks associated with shaving your pubic hair including: razor burn (rash), redness, itching (from hair growing back), and infection in the hair root.

How long should pubic hair be before waxing? Your hair should be ¼ inch long or 6.35 mm for optimal waxing. First-time waxing appointments require 2-3 weeks of hair growth for optimal bikini wax results.

What is Brazilian wax etiquette?

Pubic hair needs to be at least the length of a grain of rice or ¼ of an inch long. Many people feel self-conscious about hair being too long before their Brazilian wax, but longer hair is grabbed by wax better. If you trim beforehand, you could cut it too short and forfeit the ability to wax.

How long is long enough for my hair to get a bikini wax? You'll get the best wax if you let the hair grow to about ¼ inch so the wax can fully adhere.

Make sure your hair is at least ¼-inch long — about the size of a grain of rice. If it's longer than ½ inch, you may want to trim it slightly, so the wax is able to grip better. Gently exfoliate with a buffing mitt or wash cloth a couple of days before your appointment to help prevent ingrown hairs.

And since your hair is at various phases in the growth cycle, your initial wax may not remove some hairs that are in the anagen stage. These hairs will make their presence known when they're good and ready, aka, maybe a day or so after your wax.

If you go into an establishment with stubble, most reputable spas will turn you away until it has grown out to the proper length. However, some not so good places will try to wax it anyway, causing unnecessary friction and damage to your skin and follicles.

Bacteria can cling to hair. In the vaginal area, that is both a good thing and a bad thing. You need your good vaginal bacteria to prevent an overgrowth of yeast, but when bacteria mix with the sweat and oil on your pubic hair, it can produce a smell.

The most-liked style of women's pubic hair is trimmed, with 52% saying they like this style. Men (59%) are more likely than women (45%) to say they like this style.

You really don't need to remove your pubic hair for any health reasons, sexual or otherwise, other than perhaps decreasing odor from sweat. When it comes down to it, pubic hair grooming is a personal preference.

There's also a chance some hairs will become ingrown. This means that the hair that's trying to grow back gets trapped under the skin. This can lead to redness, pain, and tiny bumps in the area. Sometimes people can get skin infections from shaving.

Why do my pubes itch after trimming?

Razor burn can lead to an itchy pubic region in many people. Cutting the hairs in this area may cause irritation, which can be worse if a person shaves too fast or uses a dull razor. Razor burn typically appears as a reddish area of skin, occurring alongside tender red bumps and itching.

The truth is that your doctor and their staff do not care if you are clean-shaven or not. They are medical professionals. They know that hair growth is natural and normal. It doesn't hinder their ability to do their job, and it doesn't harm your health.

“There is no medical reason that you need to be removing or trimming some or all of your pubic hair,” says Nina Carroll, MD, OB/GYN, of Your Doctors Online. According to Carroll, the risk of infection — be it bacterial, yeast, or sexually transmitted — is not higher or lower based on your pubic hair practices.

Trimming is important from the hygiene point of view: It tends to get hot and sweaty down there. Sweat will contribute to bacteria which can cling to your pubic hair. Moreover, not shaving after regular intervals will make you stink down there. It can lead to odour and make you uncomfortable.

It is not more hygienic to shave pubic hair. Some girls decide to remove it (as a personal preference) but there are no health benefits. In fact, there are risks associated with shaving your pubic hair including: razor burn (rash), redness, itching (from hair growing back), and infection in the hair root.

Risks and side effects of pubic hair removal

Some people think that removing their pubic hair is 'more hygienic'. But there's no medical reason for removing it. In fact, it can make you more vulnerable to infection, as cuts or skin irritation can make it easier for bacteria and viruses to get in.

There's also a chance some hairs will become ingrown. This means that the hair that's trying to grow back gets trapped under the skin. This can lead to redness, pain, and tiny bumps in the area. Sometimes people can get skin infections from shaving.

The most-liked style of women's pubic hair is trimmed, with 52% saying they like this style. Men (59%) are more likely than women (45%) to say they like this style.

Bacteria can cling to hair. In the vaginal area, that is both a good thing and a bad thing. You need your good vaginal bacteria to prevent an overgrowth of yeast, but when bacteria mix with the sweat and oil on your pubic hair, it can produce a smell.

Your hair should be ¼ inch long or 6.35 mm for optimal waxing. First-time waxing appointments require 2-3 weeks of hair growth for optimal bikini wax results. Read on to learn how you can best prepare for a bikini or Brazilian waxing and continue to maintain a well-maintained bikini line.

Does cutting pubic hair reduce smell?

Washing thoroughly with mild soap and water should be just fine. Shaving your bikini area is a personal choice, there are no medical reasons why you should or shouldn't, but I don't think it has anything to do with odor.

Razor burn can lead to an itchy pubic region in many people. Cutting the hairs in this area may cause irritation, which can be worse if a person shaves too fast or uses a dull razor. Razor burn typically appears as a reddish area of skin, occurring alongside tender red bumps and itching.