There’s so much chatter about whether to have pubic hair or not that it’s easy to forget it’s there for a reason. Pubic hair eases friction during sex and stops dirt, debris and other harmful organisms from getting into the vagina, just as eyebrows and eyelashes protect the eyes.
There’s nothing shameful about pubic hair growing around the vulva. It’s completely natural. And yet it’s a rare sight to see pubic hair peeking out from underneath a set of bikini bottoms. And when people do show their pubic hair, it can be met with mean comments.
So where does this discomfort and shame come from?
Vulvas in online media are often hairless, which doesn’t reflect reality. While some people do choose to remove their pubic hair (which is totally fine), lots of people don’t (which is also completely fine). They might give it a trim from time to time, or they might let it grow free. They might even cover it in body glitter and style it like a fancy shape. It’s all down to personal choice.
Pubic hair grows in different ways on different people too, as you can see here.
A gallery of different types of pubic hair
My pubic hair is...
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...very long and straight, so I usually end up with a pubic Mohawk.
-D, 24
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...hairless - I’ve had it all lazered off. It’s hard to know now if this IS a personal preference, or if we have been conditioned to dislike this aspect of our bodies (which is extremely sad).
-G, 35
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...different all the time. Sometimes hairless, sometimes full hair. Sometimes half and half. I don't think it needs to be any one way and we can pick and choose.
-M, 30
It’s important not to reinforce negative views about pubic hair or to suggest that a friend or partner should remove theirs to be more acceptable. This can make them feel ashamed about the natural state of their body, and it could have a lasting impact on their relationship with themselves.
A note on ingrown hairs
For people who do remove their pubic hair, it’s common to get ingrown hairs, which can cause red bumps on the skin.
Ingrown hairs are nothing to normally worry about. However, like anything that feels painful, uncomfortable or out of the ordinary for your body, it’s best to ask your GP to check. (There’s no need to be embarrassed, they’ve seen it all before!)
