Waxing vs Shaving: Which One Is Better For Pubic Hair Removal?

Waxing_vs_Shaving-PublicHair

Ever shaved your pubic hair and had it grow back stubbly and not-so-sexy? Shaving around your pelvic region can be quite a chore. But there is a better way…

Shaving is annoying, and some women have thrown it out the door all together (more power to you!). But for those of us that do choose hair removal, shaving legs and underarms isn’t as bad as the dreaded pubic hair. No, most of us don’t want the pre-pubescent look, but we still like to be trim and proper, right?

When shaving pubic hair become common?

In 1915, Gillette hit the market with the first razor targeted specifically at women, called the Milady Decolletée. Around the 1930s shaving one’s legs started to be a societal norm as hemlines began to rise. The custom became mainstream in the ’40s when factories stopped making women’s stockings because of wartime efforts.

So that explains shaving legs, but what about pubic hair? Turns out shaving “down there” didn’t start with a porn star or the Brazilians. In fact, removing pubic hair dates back hundreds of years in the Muslim culture. In the Middle East and Northern Africa, removal of all body hair was a ritual all females performed in preparation for their wedding night.

Modern options for removing pubic hair

We can only imagine what those early ladies had to use to get rid of body hair. Today we have a suite of options for removing hair–electrolosis, threading, waxing and shaving. So why is waxing better than shaving when it comes to your pubic hair?

Waxing removes the hair from the root, so the hair takes longer to grow back. And when it does grow back, it is thinner (thank goodness!).  Plus, waxing pubic hair helps avoid razor bumps and the itching sensation that’s typical when hair grows back after shaving. Some people might have a slight reaction to waxes, so I recommend waxes that are soy-based waxes rather than petroleum-based.

DIY Pubic Hair Sugar Wax Recipe

You can even make hair removal wax yourself! Here’s how:

1. Warm 2 cups of sugar, 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice in a shallow saucepan.

2. Heat on a medium flame, stirring often, until the mixture become golden brown.

3. Transfer to a microwave-safe container, and allow to cool just until it’s pliable and safe for skin.

4. Rub the sugar wax on your skin, let it cool and harden for a few seconds, then pull it off, taking the hair with it.

With this DIY recipe, you don’t need wax strips and you can save the unused wax for another time.

You might have to put up with a few wincing moments while the strips are removed. But come on, we are women–we can handle it, right?

Waxing Tip: Wait 3 weeks since after shaving, and 4-6 weeks after waxing to get another wax.

See Also:

Now & Then: The Bold Brow

Fashion History Mirror Feminism: From Corset to Casual, A Visual Tour Through Time

image: NuageDeNuit | Chiara Vitellozzi

Juliette Donatelli

Working in the field of sustainability for over seven years, Juliette is passionate about its intersection within the fashion industry. Juliette began studying ecological conservation, and led consumer awareness campaigns around the world from water usage in southern California, riparian restoration in South Africa, food distribution in Paris and bison habitat in the Great Plains. She has launched her passion--consumerism and sustainability--into a place where it hits home--fashion. Juliette is the founder and editor-in-chief of spadesandsilk.com, Director of Sustainability at Manufacture NY, and loves to read, dance, swim and enjoy the occasional glass of champagne.