If you are entering a pageant swimsuit competition or about to embark on a modeling swimwear photo-shoot then you will need to get that perfectly polished smooth look. In our civilized culture body hair on girls and women is generally considered unsightly and repulsive so to give you the confidence you desire to look and feel your best, and to fulfill your full potential, you will need to remove your pubic hair. Pubic hair grows when you reach puberty which is about 9-11 years for girls. Pubic hair can at times feel uncomfortable and is often prone to collecting smelly sweaty deposits of dead skin causing bacteria to thrive, which in turn may cause irritation and even a rash. Luckily girls these days do not have to put up with that! Removing your pubic hair will not only give you complete swimwear confidence, but it will as a bonus keep you comfortable and clean during your period.
The practice of removing female body hair is not new, it can be traced back to ancient Rome and Egypt. Some of the first razors, made of copper, were used in Egypt and India around 3000 BC. Egyptian women removed their head hair and considered pubic hair uncivilized. Roman girls too desired the beautiful smooth classic look and would have all their body hair plucked out, one by one, by professional pluckers who were the equivalent to our beauticians of today, while in India women and girls from the Hindu Nair caste routinely removed their pubic hair. During the Renaissance it became fashionable for well bred young ladies of Italy to remove their pubic hair with a toxic paste made from arsenic and quicklime but it was an extremely hazardous treatment for if the paste was left on to long it would remove the skin also! Very painful indeed! By the mid eighteenth century the removal of pubic hair became a unwritten etiquette of feminine beauty among the ruling classes of Europe; upper class ladies and pubescent princesses alike would be routinely plucked to silky smooth perfection by their ladies maids. Thankfully these days there are countless products available to make removing your body hair quick and easy and relatively pain free.
If the thought of removing your pubic hair seems a bit daunting, don't worry for you will soon get the hang of it and it will soon become a normal part of your life, just like brushing your teeth and putting on your makeup. There are a number of ways to remove your pubic hair. Shaving is by far the most used method, but if you prefer a more professional longer lasting option then waxing is for you. It is not recommended you wax your own pubic hair yourself instead go to a beauty salon. Most good beauty salons have moved with the times and will do waxing treatments for young girls with their parents permission. The advantages of waxing over shaving is fairly obvious; the results are instant and long lasting and there is no stubby regrowth which some girls find uncomfortable. Waxing also weakens the hair so it grows back finer. If waxing is started early on it can in some cases eliminate hair regrowth altogether. On the down side waxing treatments are painful and expensive so you will need to save up your allowance.
If you want to completely remove all your body hair so it never grows back again then you should choose Laser Treatment or electrolysis which kills the hair root, but this is very time consuming and very, very expensive. Such treatments are not recommended for young girls so leave it for when you are grownup! Then there are hair remover creams. These are affordable and the results are generally good but extreme caution is advised. They can give you a very bad skin reaction which will be painful and sore for days. This option is not advised for young girls or teens! But if you do use this option make sure you use one that is especially made for your pubic hair and follow the instructions exactly. If you feel a painful stinging or burning sensation while using the hair remover cream, wash it off immediately as your skin is too sensitive.
Wet shaving with a good razor is by far the best and recommended option for young girls and teens. Shaving is cheap and easy and painless and it can be done in the privacy of your own home. If you have only just started to grow your pubic hair then your hair will be very fine and easy to shave off. If you have had pubic hair for a little while then your hair will be coarser so you may find it a little tougher. But the thing is not to worry about getting it wrong. Practice makes perfect and it will take you a few shaves to be competent with the razor. If you need help just get your mom or an older sister to assist you. And just to add there is no shame if you choose to get your mom to shave you. But if you follow our How to Shave Guide and our Helpful Tips, you can't go wrong.
Getting Started
1. A new sharp razor.
2. Shaving cream or Shaving Gel.
3. After shave moisturizer.
4. Scissors.
5. Small compact mirror.
6. A wash cloth or loofah.
Our Ten Step Guide To Shaving Off Your Pubic Hair.
1. TRIM HAIR DOWN. If it is your first time at shaving your pubic hair then it will be long and need to be trimmed. With the scissors carefully trim away as much of your pubic hair as you can, right down so it's only about a few millimetres in length. Do this before stepping into the shower or bath. Trimming your hair will take a while. Remember it's not a race so do it slowly and carefully. Some areas can be a bit tricky so if you are having difficulty ask your mom for help. When you have trimmed away as much of your pubic hair as you can, check with your hand mirror in those hard to see areas just to make sure you have not missed any stray hairs.
2. EXFOLIATE. Once you have finished trimming you are now ready to prepare your pubic area for shaving. It's best to have your shower or bath first as this will help soften the hair. Then with a warm wet washcloth or loofah, gently rub and exfoliate the skin of your vulva, pubis (the area above your vulva) and bikini line. This will help remove any dead skin and will let you get a cleaner shave.
3. APPLY SHAVING GEL. Once done you are now ready for shaving. Apply a good amount of shaving cream or gel to your vulva, pubis and bikini line making sure you cover all the hair. It's better to use shaving gel instead of shaving cream as you can see all what needs to be shaved.
4. SHAVE. Now using a fresh, clean razor, pull your skin taut and slowly shave in short strokes in the direction that your hair grows. Going in multiple directions with your razor can lead to cuts and serious ingrown hairs. Remember not to apply too much pressure, the sharp blade should be doing the work for you. If you do need to make a second pass for a closer shave, you can go across and against the growth after you've first gone with it—this will help minimize irritation and shaving burn. If this is your first time shaving you may want to ask your mom to help you.
5. RINSE. In between strokes, it is important to make sure to rinse the blade of your razor. Any stuck pieces of hair will prevent it from working as well. Note: Never use your fingers to dislodge anything stuck in your razor blades. Water pressure from a faucet/tap only or if you are taking a bath you can slosh the razor from side to side in the water and tap it on the side of the bath.
6. CLEANSE. After you're finished shaving, rinse all the remaining excess shaving cream or gel away with warm water.
7. CHECK SMOOTHNESS. If you find that you have missed a few areas of feel prickly stubble simply apply some more shaving gel and shave the remaining hair, then cleanse again.
8. CLOSE PORES. Once you are feeling happy with your shave it is important to close the pores of your skin. Turn the shower to cold and spray your vulva, pubis and bikini line for about minute. The cold water will help close your skin pores and sooth irritation. It will also help prevent red pimples.
9. DRY. Gently pat your shaven vulva, pubis and bikini line dry with a clean towel.
10. MOISTURIZE. Your skin will be dry after all the exfoliation and shaving, so to finish off you'll must re-hydrate your skin with a unscented moisturizer or an after-shave lotion made especially for your vulva. Don't skimp on the moisturizer! To much is better than to little. Gently rub it in the whole area where you have shaved. Note: Your vulva is very sensitive so you must always use a moisturizer after shaving otherwise you will get a painful and uncomfortable razor rash and pimples.
You are now beautifully clean and smooth and ready to go!
Our Ten Helpful Tips For Shaving Success!
Now that you've got the basics down, read on for a few more pointers that'll help you prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn while you're removing your pubic hair.
1. MAKE SHAVING THE LAST STEP. Shaving the second you get into the shower is a surefire way to earn yourself a raging case of razor burn, so make shaving your pubic hair the last thing you do in your shower or bath routine. It’ll give your hair follicles a chance to properly soften, which lowers your risk for irritation by a lot.
2. GIVE YOURSELF TIME. Shaving your pubic hair is a delicate operation and should not be rushed. So always allow yourself plenty of extra time to get the job done before you need to do other things, such as going to school or seeing friends etc.
3. INVEST IN A GOOD TRIMMER. Owning a pair of grooming scissors or a bikini area trimmer will help you get ready for shaving especially if it’s your first time or its been a while and your pubic hair has grown long. When clipping your pubic hair it is advisable to put some newspaper down upon the floor to collect the hair ready to bin. You don't want your mom to complain about you making a mess!
4. CHANGE OUT YOUR RAZOR BLADES REGULARLY. Proper tools make all the difference. Use a shaving cream or gel without heavy fragrances, and leave it on the area for a minute or two to soften the hairs. Then pick up a fresh razor and get the job done. Using one that’s old and worn out will at best be inefficient and, at worst, give you a rash and razor burn.
5. DO NOT DRY SHAVE. Dry shaving without water is a sure way to get razor burn and a very sore vulva. Do not do it!
6. AVOID FRAGRANCED BODY LOTION. Unless you use clean beauty products, chances are your favorite body lotion is loaded up with fragrances that can irritate freshly shaved skin. Buy a product that’s specifically geared to soothe the area or use a mild natural moisturizer like aloe vera to hydrate and protect your skin.
7. AIR YOUR SHAVED SKIN. It is advisable to let your shaved skin breath for a time after shaving. So leave off your underwear and just wear a skirt. Airing your vulva will give your skin time to recover and reduce irritation.
8. SPOTS AND PIMPLES. If after you shaved you get a few red spots or pimples (all girls will from time to time) use a small amount of mild antiseptic on them. They will go in a couple of days or so.
9. GET INTO THE SHAVING HABIT. Once you have started shaving your pubic hair is is recommended that you should get into the shaving habit, just as you do for your legs and underarms. Depending how quickly your pubic hair grows it is best to shave about every other day or so. Older teens may find that they need to do it every day while younger girls who have just started to grow pubic hair may only need to shave about once a week. It all depends on the speed of your hair growth.
10. POSITIVE ATTITUDE. It is important to have the right positive attitude about shaving off your pubic hair. The idea of shaving down there may at first seem a bit weird but it is worth remembering that it is perfectly normal and acceptable for girls and women (and boys and men too), to shave off their pubic hair.
