Overview
If you want to clean up your bikini line or remove all of your pubic hair, you can do so without spending a lot of money on hair removal products. Shaving is the most common removal method for pubic hair, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF). Unfortunately, the pubic area is more vulnerable to itching, razor burn, cuts and ingrown hairs than other areas of the body, because the skin is delicate and the hair is coarser and curlier than hair elsewhere on the body. Taking proper care of your skin before, during and after hair removal will prevent these complications and ensure a close shave.
Step 1
Cut away as much pubic hair as possible using a sharp pair of scissors. Clip close to your body, but be very careful not to cut your skin.
Step 2
Soak in very warm water or stand in a hot shower for at least five minutes to open your hair follicles and soften your pubic hair. This will enable you to achieve a close shave while minimizing skin irritation. Pat the area dry after soaking.
Step 3
Apply shaving cream or gel to the entire pubic region. Let the cream sit for several minutes before shaving. If you are removing hair from other areas of your body, shave the pubic region last to allow the shaving cream time to soften your coarse pubic hairs.
Step 4
Pull the skin taut in the area you wish to shave, and then run your razor across the hair in a downward angle, or with the direction of hair growth. Apply only light pressure with the razor. Shaving against your hair’s natural growth pattern will increase the risk of razor burn and ingrown hairs, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 5
Use more shaving cream if your skin becomes dry or feels irritated during shaving. Do not shave over the same area multiple times. Doing so increases the risk of razor burn and ingrown hairs.
Step 6
Rinse your pubic area well with warm water, and then apply baby oil or lotion to soothe and moisturize your skin. If you missed hair, leave it for the following day. Shaving the area twice in the same day increases the risk of itching and other complications.
Step 7
Apply 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to itchy or inflamed skin to minimize discomfort. The PAMF also recommends stopping shaving for two months.
Step 8
Treat razor burn with cool compresses and aloe vera applications, and apply an over-the-counter antibacterial ointment to cuts to prevent infection. Seek medical evaluation if you see signs of serious skin infection, such as increasing redness, swelling or pain.
Step 9
Remove ingrown hairs by pulling the hair free from the skin with tweezers. Sterilize the tweezers prior to use by pouring rubbing alcohol over them. Do not pick at ingrown hairs. The Mayo Clinic suggests exfoliating frequently to prevent and treat ingrown hairs caused by shaving.
Step 10
Wax your pubic hair if you want longer-lasting results. While waxing costs more than shaving and may be painful, the results last for several weeks and pubic hair should grow back thinner over time. Electrolysis is another alternative to shaving and it results in permanent hair removal, but this option is expensive.
