Pubic Hair: The Hairy, The Hairless, And The In Between

By Amirah
Pride Sex Columnist

Have you ever just stared at a vagina? Isn’t she beautiful? Whether her hair is long and curly, short and cropped, or bald, a woman’s vagina is a sight to behold.

I started shaving my pubic hair before I reached my twenties, it was sexy, it was daring, it was an exploration into my journey towards loving myself; it allowed me to become better acquainted with my body and my sexuality. Shaving was also a naughty open invitation for my lover to sit and gaze at the blessings of God.

Similar to everything else about the female body and her sexuality, body hair removal has a long history, and can be attributed to different cultures and religions at different periods in time. While a smooth hairless body has been and remains the standard of beauty and cleanliness for some, a nice healthy bush of pubic hair continues to make a beautiful resurgence in female sexuality.

Like most things concerning our sexuality, pubic hair is high on the scale of personal preference, yet it has always been dictated by socialized behavior. How often do you see a woman strut the beach in a bathing suit with a full bush waving to you in the breeze? When was the last time you saw a woman shamed for deciding to keep her pubic hair, while another praised as being sexy and modern for deciding to remove hers? The last time you watched a pornographic movie, did the star have a full…vagina of hair?

Thankfully we women are strong-backed, basically doing what we want, including making our own decisions when it comes to our pubic hair. Some like it full, some prefer to keep her nice and trimmed, and some opt for the bare feeling. Having experienced all three, my preference swings between a nice healthy bush, and the occasional Brazilian wax. Have you ever slid into bed naked after a fresh wax or shave? Didn’t the angels sing hallelujah when you did? 

Will Waxing or Shaving Equate My Body to That of A Child?

That is a general concern and complaint among a lot of women when asked by their mate to remove their pubic hair—as pubic hair is an indication of puberty, maturity, and sexual readiness. The thought that its removal makes us like children is an indication of the sexualisation of children, and the fetishisation of the childlike body, and is the reason most men are against the removal of pubic hair.

Is Waxing or Shaving More Hygienic?

The blunt answer would be no. Considering that the primary function of pubic hair is not only a soft landing for fingers to twirl in while you and your mate catch breaths after a romp, it is also to protect the vagina from dust, sweat, rashes, and infection. The general consensus is that pubic hair is important to have.

Is A Hairless Vagina Cleaner Than A Hairy Vagina?

Contrary to the popular myth that pubic hair makes the vagina smelly, like any growth of hair, if not properly taken care of, can cause the smell of sweat, sex, and vaginal excretions to be more…potent, and if not properly taken care of, can assist in the growth of bacteria. I for one love to lie around smelling like sex, and the sweat after sex—however different strokes for different folks.

If you do choose to rock your bush, get anal (no pun intended) about your cleanliness, and if your mate loves to lick your clit without warning, out of respect for yourself and for him, get anal (still no pun intended) about your cleanliness. When you use the bathroom, toilet paper alone will not do; no one wants to walk around smelling like urine, and no man wants to dive into a hairy vagina that still smells like urine. Gross. I usually carry a small rag with me, and feminine care wipes are also available.

What Are The Risks Of Waxing Or Shaving?

The vagina is a sensitive region, and pubic hair is nature’s way of offering a defence mechanism for your nether regions. Waxing or shaving causes micro-trauma and leaves you open to a multitude of ailments. Outside of the horrible cuts and allergic reactions one may get, a hairless vagina is more open to infections, rashes, warts, cysts, scars, and the devil himself appearing as the abomination that is ingrown hairs. Add to that list the possibility of the bacterial skin infection known as Folliculitis, and Molluscum Contagiosum (MCV) which can also be sexually transmitted, keeping a bush looks better and better.

If you do choose the bare route, I recommend getting waxed regularly at a reputable salon (that has not violated any health codes) over shaving. It rarely has the itch, and sharp stubbly factor when it begins to regrow, and if done properly, will feel smooth and nice on the inside out—literally. Be brave and do your butt too. Your man may not want to admit that he likes to play around back there, and no one wants hair in their tossed salad.

What If My Man Likes It Bare And I Like It Bushy?

You can do one of two things: drop him off at the curb and wish him luck, or compromise. If he likes it bare and you love your bush, go down the middle and give her a cute haircut. Take it a step further and surprise him with a bare vagina save for a patch of hair shaped like a heart, or an arrow. Get creative and bam him with his initial as his landing strip! Make it a part of your foreplay and have him give her a haircut if his hand is steady with the scissors or a razor. Let him see and experience how you prep for his pleasure.

Does Pubic Hair, Or The Lack Thereof Make Sex Better?

Your pubic hair has a lot to do with your sexual desirability. Pheromones are a unique cocktail of apocrine gland secretion, and oil from the bacteria in the sebaceous glands. This sometimes odorless mixture, unique only to you, is trapped in your pubic (and armpit) hair, and it screams of your sexual awareness and desirability to potential mates. While the concept of “better” sex truly is subjective, pubic hair does protect against friction and chaffing both non-sexual and sexual; others say that the sensitivity from a bare vagina helps them feel the pleasure of [oral] sex more intensely.

Keep in mind that pubic hair sheds, and your mate pulling strands of pubic hair out of his teeth has to be high on the unsexy scale, so take care of your bush. Comb through it daily, detangle it; and if you so choose, adorn her with pretty things.

Ultimately, the decision to keep your pubic hair or to get rid of it is a personal decision, and should be done from a place of self-love and acceptance. There is nothing wrong with pleasing your mate, and seeking to be attractive to him, that is a manifestation of love, and so is taking care of your body the way you want to.

If he loves you, he will love you as hairy or hairless, and if he sees you as less bang-able because of your decision either way, he isn’t worth the contemplation. Though most men don’t care what her hair looks like, he will get you with the smell test, and if you fail that, no amount of vagina ‘fro, or smooth sexy hairless skin will help you out.

Your body is yours. Your standard of beauty is just that—your standard of your beauty. Hairy, hairless or the in between, your vagina is beautiful just the way she is.

Have questions or problems regarding your sex life? Amirah can help you with answers. Your name and information will not be published. Amirah welcomes your feedback! Send your comments or questions to: amirah@pridenews.ca. Follow her on Twitter: @I_amAmirah.