The short and curlies. Happy trails. Bush. Pubes.
All of the above are slang terms for what’s on our docket for discussion today: pubic hair. While you may have had it for quite some time, you might be looking to learn more about it: what it is, why we have it, and whether or not you should remove it. Let’s dive in.
What Is Pubic Hair?
In short, pubic hair is defined as “the hair that grows around the sexual organs.”1 In the case of the female body, this term most commonly refers to the hair that grows on the mons pubis (pubic mound), labia majora (outer folds of the vulva), inner thighs, and around the anus. Your pubic hair is usually thicker, shorter, and coarser in nature than the hair that grows on top of your head—hence the especially delightful slang term for pubic hair: “short and curlies.”
When Does Pubic Hair Develop?
Quick language lesson: you might notice that pubic hair and puberty sound a little bit similar. That’s because they come from the same Latin root, puber, meaning ‘adult.’
So, it should be no surprise that pubic hair typically develops for most women during puberty—which begins anywhere between the ages of 8 and 13. According to Tanner stages of puberty, pubic hair growth for females typically starts around the labia, and then spreads as development continues.2
Why Do We Have Pubic Hair?
Here’s some news: female pubic hair puts in overtime hours. Your pubic hair serves tons of evolutionary purposes, including but not limited to:3
- Guarding your vulva and genitals from bacteria and potential disease (yep, just like eyelashes and ear hair)
- Keeping the skin of your vulva at optimal temperature
- Decreasing friction during sex
Researchers have yet to discover the breadth and extent to which pubic hair functions, but we’d say those three are pretty impressive to start with.
How Do I Take Care Of My Pubic Hair?
The answer’s pretty simple. Taking care of your pubic hair is as simple as keeping it clean with warm water and a mild soap or an intimate wash. If you’re looking for an extra-special spa day, you can even exfoliate your bikini line with a gentle scrub—beyond that, it’s completely up to you.
Do I Have To Remove It?
You’ve probably heard this before, but if not, let us be the first to tell you: no, you do not need to remove your pubic hair. Anyone that insists that you should is playing into troubling societal norms and misogyny. And they’re being a little weird, because your genitals (and the hair on them) are your business.
Then Why Does It Seem Like I Should?
Despite all the functions it serves and the fact that it doesn’t harm a fly, there are troubling stigmas around female pubic hair—and they’ve existed for quite some time.
Historians often claim that the first instances of pubic hair removal occurred in the B.C. days, when the Queen of Sheba was asked to shear her pubic hair before a rendezvous with King Solomon. Throughout history, removing pubic hair remained a standard practice for some—Ancient Egyptians innovated the first sugar waxes, Greek women would “singe” and “pluck” their pubic areas,4 and some Victorian women opted for burning it off with arsenic (ouch!). While recorded reasons for removal ranged from religious purposes to the style of the era, female pubic hair was sometimes seen as “unclean”—and in some civilizations, low class.
However, the standard of needing to remove female pubic hair—the expectation that all women be bare down there—really intensified in the 1970s and 80s, with the growth of the porn industry. “Removing [pubic] hair went from being ‘expected’ to the norm,” Heather Widdows, cultural anthropologist, explained in an interview with CNN.5 “Being hairless has come to be seen as the only ‘natural’ and clean way to present the body. Except it really isn’t.”
Since then, the expectation of just how much pubic hair women should have has ebbed and flowed, from completely hairless (one particular Sex and the City episode caused a huge Brazilian boom in the ‘90s and early 2000s) to full bush. And today? It’s honestly hard to keep track of what those with vulvas are expected to do.
There might be a long history of pubic hair removal and a ton of stressful standards around it, but you do not have to participate. Just like the hair on our heads, pubic hair has been subject to trends, expectations, and norm—but ultimately, personal choice wins out here. Do what you feel is best for you. And if you’re really at a loss, consult with your gynecologist to answer any questions.
What Should I Do With My Pubic Hair?
We’re more than happy to say it one more time: anything you want. Besides upkeeping hygiene, there’s nothing that you should do with your pubic hair.
Grow it out into a full bush, get it all waxed with a Brazilian, opt for a landing strip in the shape of a star, trim it at home, or do all four—your hair, your choice. No matter what anyone says.
