Have you ever been about to hook up with a cute guy when you realized you’ve been so busy that you forgot to manage your hair situation down there? As collegiettes, we worry about bad hair days; it’s hard enough having to worry about how the hair on our head looks, let alone how it looks on other parts of our bodies. But should we even worry? We often wonder, will he be grossed out? Will he say anything about it? Does it matter?
We talked to 15 college guys and picked their brains on grooming in that private area and what style they prefer on you. Even though guys’ opinions shouldn’t completely sway your grooming decisions, aren’t you still curious to know what they think?
Most guys say ‘no’ to going unshaved
All but one guy we talked to say they are not fans of the au naturel look. Many even find the natural look to be a sign of poor hygiene (we know this is not true, but they don’t) and say that an unkempt pubic area is a major turn-off.
“As much as guys are stereotyped for being unclean and not caring about things being messy, girls’ hygiene down there is the number one, unanimous exception to the rule,” says HC’s Real Live College Guy Pat Bradley, a junior at Merrimack College.
About 33 percent of guys mentioned that they find hair inconvenient when they want to hook up with you. “Anything unshaved can be gross, especially if she wants you to go to town down there,” says Pat. “If I see she hasn’t shaved really close, it’s an instant turn-off and it can affect my decision on hooking up again.”
“Some stubble on occasion is one thing, but since girls shave most of their [body] hair anyway, why not shave down there?” says Andy, a senior from San Francisco State University.
“I like [giving oral sex to] my girl [and] it’s easier when there’s a clear canvas,” says Jacob, a senior at the College of William and Mary.
Other guys aren’t as bothered by hair. Mike*, a senior at Fordham University, doesn’t mind a bit of hair, as long as it’s not out of control. “A small bush is not bad, but when it is really bushy, then it gets a little uncomfortable. If a girl likes [or] wants to receive oral, then she should be aware that having a bush can make a guy less likely to do it. But having a small bush is totally fine.”
Although Gordy*, a senior at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, doesn’t prefer a lot of hair, he’s not repulsed by it either. “[It’s] not my favorite, but [it’s] not disgusting the way some guys might say [it is].”
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Most guys prefer no hair at all
After hearing that guys don’t like a girl to sport excessive hair down there, it might not come as a surprise that most guys prefer girls to go down the smooth and bare route. The majority of college guys we talked to (73 percent, to be exact) prefer the completely hairless look.
Joe*, a junior at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, says that he has a preference for bare nether regions because it is “very clean and it is a sign of good hygiene.” Gordy* from KPU prefers the bare look because he enjoys the feeling, which he describes as “sexy and smooth.” According to Pat from Merrimack, “ultimately, completely clean-shaven is most attractive and sexiest.”
How the styles ranked
Although 73 percent of guys prefer the clean-shaven look, most don’t mind hair as long as it looks clean and well-kept. When given a list of styles to choose from, and given the option to select all the styles that they like, 53 percent of guys chose the landing strip as one of their preferences, 47 percent chose a clean trim (can have hair in any style as long as it is trimmed down), and 13 percent say they don’t care as long as it is clean.
John*, a 2012 graduate of Simon Fraser University, prefers the landing strip or a clean trim because, “it’s clean and natural, aesthetically pleasing.” Although he thinks a Brazilian wax would be a good thing, he knows that some girls can’t bear the pain and respects if they choose to shave or keep a bit of hair.
Even though Mike* from Fordham prefers no hair at all, he is comfortable with any style (as long as it is not “out of control”) and at the end of the day, it’s all about you! “I have met different girls and all with different preferences. I am all about making sure that the girl is comfortable. If she feels comfortable with her grooming situation, then I am happy.”
More than half the guys don’t know what a vajazzle is
While we’re speaking of grooming, we might as well cover adornments. Vajazzling is a trend where a girl decorates her bare pubic area by sticking on jewels and glitter to form a design. In other words, bedazzling your vagina. With celebrities like Jennifer Love Hewitt and the girls from the UK reality show The Only Way Is Essex rocking the vajazzle, it’s not surprising that 40 percent of guys we spoke to know of the trend. But of those guys who do know what vajazzling is, none were keen on the idea.
In addition to the adjectives “stupid,” “bizarre,” “strange,” “silly” and “excessive,” the guys described vajazzling as absurd and a waste of time for the girl. “[It’s] possibly one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen,” says Pat from Merrimack. “I’d probably think she was way too high strung or obnoxious if that surprised me. If the girl told me ahead of time, I’d avoid her. It’s just weird.”
“I think that it is pretty pointless,” says Mike* from Fordham. “As a guy, I am not going to stop and say ‘wow, so shiny,’ especially if I am just trying to be intimate with my girl.”
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Most guys have not requested a change of your grooming habits
Although many guys have a certain preference (or at least have a certain style they are opposed to), most have not asked a girl to change the way she grooms herself. About 80 percent of guys say they haven’t yet had to ask a girl to change her grooming habits, but of that 80 percent, 75 percent would request a change if they felt they needed to in the future.
“I have not ran into a situation where I needed to ask a girl to change [her] grooming style,” says Mike from Fordham. “Girls usually do a great job keep[ing] that part of their body clean but I do not think I would ask someone to groom down there unless it is really bushy.”
“Sometimes it is a sensitive topic for many girls,” says John* from SFU, who would only ask a girl to change her style if she conveyed she was open to suggestions.
“I’ve never blatantly asked, but I’ve had girlfriends in the past ask me and I’ve been very honest about my opinions on it,” says Pat from Merrimack. “I wouldn’t just tell a random girl though, that would be weird.”
Most guys would change their grooming style if you asked
If guys can ask us to clean up down there, it’s only fair that we get the same privilege. And most guys understand that. Of those we surveyed, all were willing to change their grooming habits to your preference if you asked. While 30 percent say they would definitely change the way they groom if requested, 70 percent say they would at least consider it or do it conditionally. Most would be open to your suggestions as long as you ask nicely or are willing to reciprocate.
“I would either do it, or certainly consider it,” says Mike from Fordham. “It would be unfair for her to be groomed down there and for me not to be.”
“I’d totally change if a girl I was in a serious relationship [with] asked, but I typically like to give the same courtesy I’m expecting,” says Pat from Merrimack. “So I keep it clean and have never been asked to change that.”
John from SFU* is also willing to change his grooming style, “as long as I’m not chafing and it’s nothing too extreme.”
So when it comes to hair on the nether regions, don’t be afraid to talk to your guy about it. You want to make sure he is at ease to ensure that you both have a good time. Still, at the end of the day, it’s your body so do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable.
What do you think of these guys’ opinions? Sound off by leaving a comment!
*Names have been changed for privacy