You certainly don't have to shave before sex if you don't want to. Shaving pubic hair (or not) is a cosmetic preference, and it does not mean you are "cleaner" if you shave. If you do prefer to shave, try not to do it right before sex. Instead, shave the day before to give the area time to calm down.
A clear majority of women prefer a simple trim. While there will be eternal debate over whether or not the balls and anus should be smooth, most women agree that as long as things are kept in order, the style of trimming isn't a deal-breaker.
Some men prefer female pubic hair to be trimmed and tidy.
“I think it's just hygienic to keep it trimmed and cleaned. I wouldn't want a girl to go down on me if it looked like an unkempt forest,” says Nathan, 23. “To me,” says Micah, 29, “a trimmed bush says, 'I take care of myself. '”
It's fine to say to her, “I'd like it if you shaved sometime, and I was wondering if you'd be open to that,” and maybe even suggest shaving her yourself and making it a sexy activity—as long as you understand, it's her choice in the end.
Pubic hair removal is common — approximately 80 percent of women ages 18 to 65 report they remove some or all of their pubic hair.
And guys do seem to be fans. Of the 500 men surveyed by Schick, 79 percent said they like neatened-up bikini areas, while 21 percent either don't care or are turned off by it. (Of course, if guys want it so much, perhaps they should pick up the salon tab…but that's another story!)
Pubic Hair Trends
According to the researchers, when asked if they removed their pubic hair, 80% of women and 39% of men removed their pubic hair near the time of the survey. Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair.
Pubic hair is normal, and the amount of hair in the pubic region varies from person to person. There is no standard for the amount, the thickness, or the area that pubic hair will cover. People may notice an extreme variation in hair growth due to hormonal changes.
For females, the most common areas to depilate are underarms, legs, pubic area, eyebrows and face. For males, the most common areas are the face, abdomen, back, chest, groin and legs. Shaving is the most common way to depilate the underarms, legs and pubic area.
It Can Enhance Sexual Sensitivity
Some research shows that people who shave their pubes report greater sensation during sex, so there might be a connection between trimming your secret garden and enjoying sex more.
Raise your chin and place two fingers above your Adam's apple; the top half is your index finger, and the bottom is your middle finger. Shave the top half at your usual setting then set your beard trimmer to a slightly lower setting and shave the bottom half.
Nicks and razor burn should be left alone and remain untouched. Regular shavers should shave the day before a date to prevent regrowth, and trim as needed, but don't shave more than once every 5 to 7 days.
Almost 60% of Austrian and German men shave their pubes. This is followed closely by Belgium and The Netherlands, where over half of the men surveyed like to keep their downstairs tidy. Islanders are apparently much more conservative about body grooming. Only 10% of British and Irish men even shaving their arm pits.
MYTH: A full bush is a turn-off.
Reality: Technically, it depends on your partner, but there is some evidence that pubic hair could be a turn-on because it's full of pheromones.
Using a hair removal cream will last just about as long as shaving. Waxing is more painful and has more infection risks, but it will last for weeks. Electrolysis is your best option for permanent hair removal, but it can be expensive.
Removing pubic hair is not necessary to keep the vulva or vaginal area clean. Pubic hair can help protect the skin and prevent chafing. Hair removal is a personal preference.
In general, pubic hair in females naturally covers the labia majora (outer lips) to the inner thighs and form a triangle-like shape up to the pubic bone. Some women will naturally grow thicker or thinner hair than others, so typically there's no cause for alarm when there's slight variation.
If you want to keep things bald on your lower abdomen and below, you need to shave in the direction of hair growth several times a week. You may be able to go a few days without stubble forming, but that depends if you did a closer shave or left room for the hair follicles to breathe.
There's really no right or wrong age for kids to begin shaving. It all depends on when their body changes and their interest level.