We’ve compiled our top tips on how to shave pubic hair. You see shaving your pubes isn’t just about making sure you don’t cut your skin with an overzealous razor. It is a bit more detailed than that. It requires timing, the right preparation and using the right equipment. Because let’s face it, your lady area is a delicate and precious space, it needs to be nurtured and taken care of.
Pubes, pubic hair, bush - everyone has their own garden down there. It's also our choice whether to keep it lush and bushy or neat and trim. For those wanting a tidy up, there are all sorts of techniques to remove pubic hair. Cold wax, hot wax, epilators, laser, pubic hair removal cream, and last but not the least shaving.
Shaving is one of my favourites! Why? It's pain-free compared to tormenting yourself with the agony of waxing or the expense of laser. As long as you do it the right way, using razors to shave your pubes is simple, but it works.
Tools You May Need
There are a few handy tools you are going to need to get a smooth shave without the itchy red lumps, bumps and let’s not forget–ingrown hairs. Ouch!
A Hand Mirror
Errmmm yes, you will. If you want to get into all those delicate places and keep your intimate bits intact, you will need to keep an eye on what you are doing.
A Flannel
You will need a flannel you can wet with warm water. This is used at the beginning of each shaving process to help soften up the skin, remove any residue, and open up the pores to make your pubic hair shaving easier.
RELATED: How to shave your legs - a guide to smooth legs
Post Shaving Oils
There are a range of good products on the market, all designed to help prevent ingrown hairs, bumps, and that awful red, itching rash after shaving. Here are my top picks:
Caron Laboratories Bump eRaiser Concentrated Serum
Made with Aloe Vera and Chamomile, this serum is for use before shaving, to help release the hair from the follicle, making it less brutal when it comes to the razor part.
This product is designed for use after shaving to nourish tender skin, helping reduce redness, itching and rashes. It is also to help reduce the chance of ingrown hairs.
Shaving Cream
After prepping your skin for the shave, you will need to use a shaving cream or gel to prevent cuts while shaving. I recommend Gillette Fusion if you have sensitive skin. You can buy it at Woolworths but any product with aloe vera will help, as this is very soothing for the skin.
A pair of small scissors or a public hair trimmer
You will need to trim the pubic hair before shaving. This is to make the shaving part of things quicker, as the razor won’t get clogged up so often, and it will help prevent any snagging and catching which can rip and tear at the hair.
Any small pair of manicure scissors will do. They need to be sharp, and small enough for you to navigate delicate areas without the risk of snipping your skin.
You can also trim your pubic hair with a specialised pubic hair trimmer.
Remington Trim & Shape Body & Bikini Kit
I have to say this is probably my preference, only because it has everything I need for a good, neat trim in one place. It has five attachments including trimmer, razor and comb. It is waterproof and battery operated.
Bikini Razor
I'm going to let you in on a little secret, the most important thing to ensure is that the razor is sharp. Preferably brand new. Using an old bikini shaver will likely result in a red sore rash and itchy lumps and bumps in the days to follow. You can easily buy a packet of disposable razors from the supermarket.
Let’s Get Down To Business–A How-To Guide to Shaving Your Pubes
Here is a step-by-step walkthrough. Read this and you will be a pubic hair removal expert in no time. If you’re a man reading this, the same rules still apply, male pubes are no different.
#1 Pre-trimming the Edges
This step is CRUCIAL if you want perfectly shaved pubic hair. Razors can clog if you directly run it across long hair.
To safely trim pubic hair, simply use your fingers or a comb to gently pull your hair up. Using scissors cut as close to the edge as possible. If using a bikini hair trimmer, run the device on a conservative setting carefully over the area you want removed and brush off excess. If you are new to shaving you can keep it as short as half a centimetre.
#2 Soften Up Your Pubic Area
Best way to shave your pubes is to soften the area using a warm flannel. Or better yet, hit a hot shower. This opens up your pores, softens the hair, and makes it a lot easier to shave-off. Wait as long as you can in the shower before starting to shave, it gives your pores a good chance to warm up, open up and relax.
If you are in a rush, and you don’t have time for that shower, holding the warm wet flannel over the pubic area and bikini line will be enough to soften the skin. You can do this step for as long as 5 minutes and as short as 1 minute.
#3 Foam Up
Use a shaving cream to avoid irritation. You can use a shaving foam for men or women. Both work but it needs to be a sensitive product. Preferably with Aloe Vera. Create a generous amount of lather and apply on your pubic area. Include the entire area, but be careful not to get too much on the sensitive parts inside your labia and near your vagina.
If you are in an emergency and out of resources, just use soap. Make sure there is a reasonable amount of lather.
#4 Let's Start Shaving!
Now, onto the shave. First you've got to stretch your skin really tight. Our skin on our pubic region is uneven. If we don't stretch our skin we can scratch or worse, cut ourselves. Razors work best on flat and even surfaces.
Next, don't rush things! The best way to shave is slowly. Shave in sections, this way you can keep track of what you are doing. Follow the direction of your hair growth. Don't shave against the grain or else it will cause bumps, ingrown hair, and itching. Our pubic hair grows in all sorts of crazy directions so take your time checking which way it goes. If it goes down, shave downward. If it grows left, shave leftwards. And so on. This is where the mirror comes in handy.
Do not over-shave! Going over too many times on your area will cause your skin to chafe.
Want to go Brazilian? A Brazilian shave means everything off. Not a single hair in sight. Including the backside area. Remember the mirror.
#5 Post Oil Treatment
Last but not the least - soothe. Use an aloe based lotion or an oil balm to reduce angry redness, prevent shaving rash and ingrown hairs.
A final tip - allow some air time for your skin to begin to soothe and heal. Try to avoid your tight underwear. Wear something cotton, breathable and comfy the following day.