Untitled Document

How to get rid of it becomes the question. In searching for the answers, there are a more than a few opinions on the subject (including ours). These thoughts range from the aspect of getting ready to the actual removal of the hair.

Getting ready...
Trim the excess. Before actually shaving the area, trim longer hair with scissors or an electric razor. No, we don't mean trim it to the skin level. Rather trim it to around a quarter of an inch in length (if this is the first time shaving). If using an electric razor, be sure to have a safety guard in place. It will prevent those nasty nicks when the blades grab and cut that delicate skin. Beware the pink parts (labia and scrotum). The blades of an electric razor are not friendly and could easily nick the skin.

Take a long soaking bath or shower. The warm to hot water will soften the pubic hair that is much coarser than other hair.

Use a shaving cream or gel and be sure to get lots of lather. Some shaving creams and gels contain aloe or other moisturizer. These help reduce the irritation. You might even consider using a commercial 'Coochy Cream' (aka Coochie Cream) that makes shaving much more comfortable. It really doesn't matter what you use, just use something to reduce or prevent those red, inflamed bumps (that aren't really appetizing!).

Some people are allergic to shaving creams or gels. If you have not used a cream or gel on any other part of the body, try a small (size of a quarter) test area to see if there is any allergic reaction.

Shaving
Make sure the razor has a safety shield. It is not a good idea to use a straight razor with no guard the first few times. 'Oops' is not a word you want to say while shaving and you really don't want to be heard yelling, "Honey, get the gauze."

Use short strokes of the razor and avoid going over the same place repeatedly. Be sure to stretch out the skin as you apply the razor to get a closer shave. For first timers, you should not shave more than once a month until the skin is accustomed to the razor. If you want a design like a heart, be creative, but design it beforehand. Know what you want and how to achieve it before you start cutting.

After the shave
While still in the shower or bath, exfoliate the skin. Rub the area gently with a washcloth (yeah, right after the first time, things will be tender). The best thing to use for exfoliation is the loofah sponge, but not after the first time you shave!

Moisturize
Use a moisturizer after you have toweled dry. Baby oil, aloe vera, and similar moisturizers are best. Scented moisturizers may irritate tender skin. For comfort, especially when wearing undergarments, you may want to use some baby powder.

Maintenance
Wash the area daily. This will remove oils and sweat that could clog pores or pose the risk of an infection. OK, after 24-48 hours you will feel stubbly growth. This is normal and, if you have just shaved for the first time, don't rush into the shower or bath to shave again. The skin will be very tender.

As you shave more frequently, the skin becomes less sensitive, but that is not so say it will never become irritated. There are some other thoughts you may want to consider...

When the hair begins to grow back, it typically starts to itch. Granted, the itching may come on strong when you are in a very inconvenient place to scratch. To prevent or reduce the incidence of itching, use baby powder.
Occasionally, you will develop an ingrown hair that is accompanied by a red, sometimes painful bump. Cortisone cream and sometimes extraction of the hair is needed to get relief. If the bump persists or gets larger and more inflamed, you may want to see your doctor.
Shaving during the period may be more irritating since some women have increased sensitivity of the skin at that time. If this is the case, time the shaving around the cycle to avoid coinciding with the menstrual period.

What about other means of removing pubic hair?
There are several alternatives to actually shaving such as waxing and using depilatory creams (Nair, Neet).

Waxing involves putting small amounts of heated/soft wax to the pubic hair and pulling it out by the root. While you will be smoother than if using a razor and remain smoother longer, his may be more pain that you would like to experience.

Depilatories are chemicals (sodium thioglycolate and calcium thioglycolate) that dissolve keratin that makes up the hair. If you choose to use a dipilatory, read the instructions. You may have to apply a think layer to the pubic area and leave it on longer than what the instructions indicate. As with waxing, you will be smoother and stay that way longer than if using a razor. But, remember, depilatories are strong chemicals. If you feel a burning sensation, rinse immediately. Chemically burned pink parts are no fun for either partner. And, please avoid getting the depilatory in the vagina.

If things don't go as planned...
OK, you are all excited about shaving, but something happens and you nick yourself. For small nicks, dry the area and apply gently direct pressure. If you really want to experience the joy of pubic stinging, use a styptic pencil. It will stop the bleeding but you may be dancing in the bathroom for a few moments. Small nick stop bleeding rather quickly. For larger nicks and those that do not stop right away, be patient. Yeah, I have hot sex waiting in the other room and you want patience???

People tend to rush things like controlling bleeding from a small nick or cut. After two to three minutes, they yank off the gauze (or tissue) just to check. Doing this rips off the clot and the bleeding with resume. Yeah, we know..."Damn!" Another problem with bleeding is people tend to rinse the area quickly. The water rinses away any clot that has stopped the bleeding. Oh, and one more thing...if you are using aspirin or herbal remedies such as garlic, ginseng, or ginkgo, bleeding does not stop as quickly. These remedies will interfere with the clotting process and you will 'leak' a little while longer.

If you chose to use a depilatory instead of a razor, and the pink parts started burning, rinse off the depilatory gently (do not rub) then gently clean the area with soap and water. Examine the area. If it is slightly reddened, you can use a topical 'sunburn' type lotion (Solarcaine, etc) or anything with a pain-relieving solution. Oh and avoid putting the injured area with the numbing ointment on it in the mouth or other body orifice. If you do that, the otherbody orifice will get numb, too. Not much fun, eh! If the area that is injured has small blisters, dry it gently, then cover the injury with a dry dressing (gauze). Do not pop any blister. If the injured area is larger that the siae of a dime, see your doctor. Keep the injury clean and watch for signs of infection. If the area becomes infected, see your doctor.

Yeah, we probably scared you with those last two paragraphs, but remember, with caution, these complications do not happen all that often.

But also remember, once you shave or trim your pubic hair, be prepared for your partner's admiration and perhaps keen attention to the area!