Literally hidden behind layers of fabric, the topic of pubic hair is easy to avoid. I clearly remember sitting on the toilet in middle school and seeing a single hair growing (my first pube!) and while exuberant to finally be a woman, never told my mom or any of my friends. Now, I feel like there is pressure for women to be hairless down there, and I assume most girls follow a strict shaving regime. So, in order to destigmatize the subject of pubic hair and to follow my curiosity, I interviewed 30 girls at CU Boulder about their pubic hair preferences. The results were intriguing.
COMPLETELY BALD
As the picture probably infers, this sleek cut consists of, you guessed it, no hair. According to my data, 27% of CU women like to feel the breeze down there. One girl I interviewed said she becomes “itchy if I don’t shave completely” and others explained being bald was a sexual preference. A few girls claimed to go completely bald if their boyfriend was in town or they were “going to get some action and let it grow out in between.” These results are shocking because I was under the impression most girls shave off all their hair.
GOATEE
The second shortest pubic cut is the feminine goatee. Without getting into too much detail, this cut is bald except for hair around the crack and lips. Sometimes girls aim for the smooth, bald look but give up halfway when a literal razor blade brushes too close to our more sensitive areas. One girl with a goatee stated, “going full bald gives me razor burn and it itches when it grows back so I usually keep a little hair.” Another girl explained, “I don’t like going full bald because I feel so anxious about a guy seeing my stuff. I’m afraid he’ll be grossed out.” Although we shouldn’t let men influence how we shave, this is the sad truth behind many women’s pubic styles. According to my data, 13% of girls at CU have their own little stubble hidden underneath their Calvin Kleins.
THIN BUSH
Not to be confused with a full bush, the thin bush is a light coating of hair with visible skin. It’s like sprinkles on ice cream. Most girls cycle from thin bush to completely bald. Of the girls I interviewed, 37% chose a thin bush over other hairstyles. This is the most popular style based on my data. One girl explained her shaving regime and said “I typically let it grow out kind of long before shaving so I don’t irritate my skin as much.” I’m pleasantly surprised with these results because it’s inspiring to know many girls proudly grow their pubic hair out.
FULL BUSH
As you can probably tell from the name, a full bush is basically an empowering afro in between your legs. One girl I interviewed explained “keeping a full bush makes me feel like a grown woman rather than a child.” Another girl claimed “I’ve always struggled with shaving it and when it starts to grow back it feels so uncomfortable. I recently stopped shaving everywhere and feel happy about my choice. I am wary about swimsuit season, but we’ve got time till then.” I don’t know if it’s because of the cold weather here or a large population of feminists who don’t shave, but 23% of the girls I interviewed like to keep it all natural. I wonder if the money saved on razors goes towards conditioner, but that’s an article for another time.
SHAVING TIPS AND TRICKS
Most of the girls I interviewed complained about the difficulty of shaving. One girl in particular ranted about all the struggles of shaving, saying, “my back hurts half-way, it leads to in-grown hairs that are very uncomfortable, and it always itches after. I think that there’s a reason there’s hair down there (evolutionary/biologically speaking), and it’s too time-consuming to shave/wax periodically.” Although me and probably every other girl on Earth can relate to this, there are some remedies which may help. Using sugar-scrubs, mousse, and quality shaving cream can help prepare your skin for the razor and can decrease irritation and discoloration. After shaving, it is important to moisturize with products for sensitive skin like coconut oil or a non-scented lotion. A few of the girls I interviewed raved about their electric razors, and one even claimed to shave her lips on her period to make tampon insertion easier. Even as a grown woman who has been shaving for almost half my life, these tips were somewhat new to me. Here’s to girls helping other girls!
ALL PUBES ARE BEAUTIFUL
No matter what end of the hair spectrum you land on – ranging from new-born-bald to Eve’s-Biblical-bush – the way you cut your pubic hair is personal choice. Wear your hair in the way which makes you feel the most clean, confident, and comfortable. At the end of the day, pubes are just hair between our legs only select people will see, so it’s not something to worry too much about. You are a beautiful, worthy woman just for existing and your hairstyle doesn’t change that. Remember: you are a woman, not a landscaper.