# Is it standard practice for young(ish) women to shave/wax pubic hair... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544 "2013-02-16T21:38:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/21 "2013-02-16T23:32:27Z")
I’m a man in my mid twenties. I’ve seen plenty with pubic hair, plenty without. I wouldn’t really call young women completely removing their pubic hair standard, but it’s pretty common. It’s not as standard as women shaving their legs and armpits. I’m apparently the only person in the world who has no strong preference or opinions about this matter. Shaved is fine, natural is fine. I’m referring to pussies. I do prefer my women to remove the hair from their legs and armpits. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/22 "2013-02-16T23:34:59Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > It’s much easier just to shave it all then mess around with shaping and grooming and trimming. People look at me like I’m crazy when I say that exact same thing about why my face is clean shaven. My sample size is 5, and it was 60% natural, 40% shaved. Of course that was 10 years ago and the women ranged from about 23-31 at the time, so YMMV. It’s fun when women switch it up from time to time, but I don’t really have a big preference. ---
**Author:** ![FrillyNettles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ea924/32.png) [@FrillyNettles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrillyNettles)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/23 "2013-02-16T23:36:09Z")
Woman, 40’s. I shave the labia, trim above. I’ve no desire to shave more than the labia, though. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/24 "2013-02-16T23:39:03Z")
Soon to be 35, single never seen it in person, don’t want to. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/25 "2013-02-17T00:00:21Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Soon to be 35, single never seen it in person, don’t want to. Never seen a pussy in person? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/26 "2013-02-17T00:16:46Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Never seen a pussy in person? 😃 Sorry, this was in bad taste. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/27 "2013-02-17T00:30:34Z")
I’m a 45 year old male. Up until 2008 I did not see any shaved beaver in the wild. Quite a few in captivity (strip clubs). After 2008 when I became single again after a long relationship most that I came in contact with were shaved completely or mostly. Which I prefer. I always liked it. Probably because when I was younger it was a rarity. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/28 "2013-02-17T00:34:47Z")
Female, 50. Other than trimming around the panty line, I go au natural. I’ve never had any complaints and only one comment. The Fella likes it. I have shaved a couple of times in the past, but holy shit! that stuff itches when it grows back in. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/29 "2013-02-17T00:40:21Z")
> [@missred](#): > > Female, 50. > > Other than trimming around the panty line, I go au natural. I’ve never had any complaints and only one comment. The Fella likes it. > > I have shaved a couple of times in the past, but holy shit! **that stuff itches when it grows back in**. Totally, and that’s why I only do it once in a while as a ‘treat’ for my husband. Drives me crazy when it’s growing back! ---
**Author:** ![EverwonderWhy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EverwonderWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverwonderWhy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/30 "2013-02-17T00:46:06Z")
I agree with this: > [@Sateryn76](#): > > It’s much easier just to shave it all then mess around with shaping and grooming and trimming. Which is why I go completely bare. I am 35 and have been shaving/waxing year-round since I was 21 or so. This is also my experience: > [@Blackberry](#): > > I and the other women around my age that I’ve talked about it with all shave. It would be weird not to. Except, my sister only shaves or trims during swimsuit season and resultantly suffers from razorburn - which is another reason I keep it up year round. To each their own. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/31 "2013-02-17T00:47:35Z")
Started when I was 18. I’m 28 now. I used to do it all the time, but in the last 5 years I only do it when I know someone else is going to see it. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/32 "2013-02-17T00:51:44Z")
**Ambi** -never seen a _bare_ pussy in person. (unsurprised it was unclear) ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/33 "2013-02-17T00:54:05Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > **Ambi** -never seen a _bare_ pussy in person. (unsurprised it was unclear) I know what you meant, I was making a joke (at your expense). Hence the subsequent apology. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/34 "2013-02-17T00:57:10Z")
Male, 33, never seen a full-on bush in person. Most of the pussies I’ve seen have been bare or with the lightest of ‘landing strips’. I definitely prefer no hair to hair. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/35 "2013-02-17T00:58:35Z")
Early on my partners, like most of my friends, I guess, were untrimmed. I recall in the early 70s one friend recounted his night with a girl he had met while out of town. To our astonishment he revealed that she was shaved. Since then I have seen lots of variants of trims but since the 21st century only one totally untrimmed bush. As to shaving, I have had a few partners who have tried it, but only once each as far as I recall. The regrowth seemed to be the problem. Does waxing alleviate the ingrown hairs and such, because I don’t know that any tried that back in the past. ---
**Author:** ![EverwonderWhy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EverwonderWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverwonderWhy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/36 "2013-02-17T01:26:44Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Does waxing alleviate the ingrown hairs and such, because I don’t know that any tried that back in the past. I think not letting the hair grow out again alleviates a lot of irritation (razorburn, itchiness, etc) issues. With waxing the hair is pulled out at the root, as opposed to shaving, which just cuts the hair off at the surface. So, with waxing, the regrowth is less of an irritant with decreased likelihood of ingrown hairs, IME. However, with waxing you have to have some regrowth in order to have something to wax. I think one is advised to have at least three weeks hair growth in order for waxing to be effective. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/37 "2013-02-17T01:46:35Z")
Not that anyone asked for tips, but things will stay smooth and non-itchy after waxing and shaving if you exfoliate the area during every shower. Sounds counterintuitive for a sensitive area, but using a facial scrub or rough sponge in the bath and/or an alpha hydroxy acid lotion after a bath will prevent ingrown hairs. (Not on broken or damaged skin, though! Let any scrapes or bumps heal before exfoliating.) ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/38 "2013-02-17T02:17:33Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Every woman I have ever been with born before July 27th, 1959 has been a completely au naturel, take-me-as-I-am wild and woolly bushwhacker. I know you didn’t instead this but you are within twenty days of my mother’s birthday and it disturbs me. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/39 "2013-02-17T02:39:50Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > I know you didn’t instead this but you are within twenty days of my mother’s birthday and it disturbs me. Don’t worry. Your mom, like all our parents, probably only had sex that one time. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544/40 "2013-02-17T04:39:54Z")
Male 28. Rarely unshaved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-standard-practice-for-young-ish-women-to-shave-wax-pubic-hair/650544.md?page=3)