Five methods work for the intimate area: shaving, depilatory cream, waxing or sugaring, an epilator and laser. Shaving and cream keep the skin smooth for a few days, waxing and epilators pull the hair out by the root, so the result lasts longer, and a laser course reduces hair growth noticeably and for the long term. The skin here is thin and easily irritated, so every method has its own rules.
Shaving pubic hair
A razor cuts the hair at the skin surface, so the smoothness lasts 1-3 days. It is the quickest and cheapest method, but in the intimate area it is easy to cut yourself. In a large survey of US adults, one in four of those who removed their pubic hair had been injured at least once, most often with cuts. Women were most often hurt on the pubic mound and inner thighs, and the risk was higher in those who regularly removed all their pubic hair. Women who waxed instead of using a razor had repeated injuries less often.
To avoid irritation, trim long hair first with a trimmer or scissors. Then wet the skin with warm water, apply shaving gel or foam and leave it for 2-3 minutes to soften the hair. Shave with a sharp blade in the direction the hair grows and go over each spot only once: repeated passes and shaving against the grain more often end in irritation and ingrown hairs. Replace a blunt blade straight away. After shaving, rinse with cool water and apply a moisturiser without alcohol or fragrance.
If red dots and ingrown hairs appear after shaving, it is most often razor irritation. How to calm it and prevent it is covered in razor burn and bumps: how to treat and prevent.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, shaving vs. waxing, DermNet, shaving, JAMA Dermatol 2017: pubic hair grooming injuries in the US (PubMed)
Depilatory cream for the intimate area
Cream dissolves the hair at the skin surface. Hair grows back more slowly than after shaving, but faster than after waxing. For the intimate area, only use a cream that clearly says it is for the bikini area or sensitive skin: a leg product does not belong here. The instructions say where it can go: usually the pubic mound and bikini line, never mucous membranes.
Before the first use, test the cream on a small patch of skin and stick exactly to the time in the instructions. Left on too long, it can cause a chemical burn, and redness and irritation can appear even in people without skin problems.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, depilatory cream
Waxing and sugaring
Wax and sugar paste pull the hair out with the root, so the smoothness lasts 2-4 weeks. For the wax to have something to grip, the hair needs to grow to about 6-12 mm, and for those days you live with short stubble. Waxing is noticeably painful, especially on the deep bikini.
Wax that is too hot burns, and afterwards folliculitis, ingrown hairs and darker skin can appear. Wax is not applied to irritated, sunburned or broken skin. If you are planning laser, stop waxing, sugaring and epilating 3-4 weeks before the session: they remove the root, and that is exactly what the laser needs.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, shaving vs. waxing, DermNet, waxing
Epilator
An epilator works like a set of tiny tweezers: rotating discs catch the hairs and pull them out by the root. The result lasts longer than shaving, but in the intimate area it hurts. As after waxing, folliculitis, ingrown hairs and marks on the skin can follow.
Sources: DermNet, epilation
Laser
Laser hair removal in the intimate area works on the hair root through the skin, without pulling anything out. Over a course there is noticeably less hair, what remains grows finer and lighter, and shaving with its cuts and ingrown hairs gradually stops. In the intimate area a course usually takes 6-10 sessions: the first three 4-5 weeks apart, then according to how the hair grows back. After that one maintenance session 1-2 times a year is enough, more in how many laser hair removal sessions do you need.
You can treat the whole area or parts of it: the bikini line, the deep bikini, the perianal area or everything together as Hollywood. How they differ is covered in Brazilian vs Hollywood laser hair removal.
In the intimate area the laser is felt more than on the legs: the skin is thin and the hair is dense and dark. Contact cooling eases the burning at the moment of the flash. The area is shaved the day before, and between sessions only a razor is used.
Sources: AAD, laser hair removal FAQs, Cleveland Clinic, Laser Hair Removal
Which method to choose
For smooth skin for the weekend, a razor is enough. If you are tired of stubble, cuts and ingrown hairs, laser is the choice: over a course there is noticeably less hair. The times in the table are a guide: everyone's hair grows at its own pace.
| Method | How long it lasts | How it feels | Main risk in the intimate area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaving | 1-3 days | Painless | Cuts, irritation, ingrown hairs |
| Depilatory cream | Longer than shaving, shorter than waxing | Painless | Chemical burn if left on too long |
| Waxing and sugaring | 2-4 weeks | Noticeable | Burns, folliculitis, ingrown hairs |
| Epilator | Longer than shaving | Painful | Folliculitis, ingrown hairs |
| Laser | A course of 6-10 sessions, then 1-2 times a year | Warmth and a pinch, with cooling | Redness for a few hours, rarely a burn or marks |
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, Laser Hair Removal
The intimate area during pregnancy
During pregnancy shaving remains the cheapest and most convenient option, even if a growing bump makes it awkward: a mirror and a trimmer help. Depilatory creams have not been shown to be harmful in pregnancy, but there are no studies proving them safe either. Check with your doctor before waxing: the skin is more sensitive at this time.
The safety of laser during pregnancy has not been studied, so many doctors advise postponing it. We do not do laser during pregnancy, more in laser hair removal during pregnancy.
Sources: American Pregnancy Association, hair removal and pregnancy
How it works with us
We treat the whole intimate area: the bikini line, the deep bikini, the perianal area and Hollywood. At the consultation the specialist looks at your skin and hair and sets the power for your area. The session takes place in a private room, the materials are single-use, and contact cooling works with every flash. If you currently wax, book your consultation in advance: wax has to be stopped 3-4 weeks before the first session!
Reviewed by: MEDULLA team