Which Pubic Hair Style Is Healthiest?

From au naturel to totally bare, pubic hair trends come and go. But is one look better for your health? Here's what gynecologists think.

Landing strip, Brazilian bare, au naturel—when it comes to pubic hair, every person has their personal preference. But does one pubic hairstyle offer more health benefits than the others?

A 2016 study published in British Medical Journal concluded that the more pubic hair, the better.1 Researchers surveyed more than 7,500 people about their pubic hair styling habits and found that any type of grooming was associated with a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, and chlamydia.

To better understand how pubic hair style affects health, Health posed the question to two gynecologists.

Au Naturel Pubic Hair Health Benefits

The short answer: going au natural is the healthiest pubic-hair policy. "Your pubic hair is there to protect the skin around your lady parts because that skin is very sensitive," Donnica Moore, MD, a Chester, New Jersey-based gynecologist and president of Sapphire Women's Health Group, told Health.

Dr. Moore said pubic hair acts as a buffer, protecting you from irritation or infection when your genitalia rubs up against itchy or uncomfortable fabrics and surfaces, such as tight underwear or damp yoga pants.

Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of ob-gyn at Yale School of Medicine, said there's no reliable research making the case that one pubic style is healthier. However, Dr. Minkin said conventional wisdom often leads gynecologists to suggest that pubic hair should remain as nature intended.

"There's not much data, but it's hypothesized that pubic hair prevents friction and keeps away dirt from your genitals," Dr. Minkin told Health. "We've evolved to have hair on our genitals for a reason."

To Trim, Shave, or Wax Your Pubic Hair?

In one study, over 75% of people surveyed reported grooming their pubic area. Unfortunately, more than a quarter of that majority also said they'd injured themselves, giving themselves cuts, burns, or rashes while grooming their pubic hair.

Which pubic hair grooming method is safest? 

"In general, the more thorough the technique, the higher the risk for injury," Katharine White, MD, an OB-GYN at Boston University School of Medicine, told Health.

That's why, to get the protective benefits of your natural pubic hair, you might want to opt to trim rather than shave, wax, or laser.

"Clipping is going to be less risky than shaving, and shaving is less risky than waxing," explained Dr. White. To trim safely, Dr. Moore recommended using blunt nail-clipping scissors and holding the hairs in place with a fine-tooth comb while you trim.

Here are some tips to avoid injury while trimming, or clipping, pubic hair:

Stand while trimming. Standing helps you to see what you're doing, which could reduce injuries.

Trim your own pubic hair. More injuries occur when a partner does the trimming, possibly because your partner cannot feel what's happening.

Tips for Shaving Pubic Hair

If you prefer to shave, remember that the skin under your pubic hair is sensitive and vulnerable to skin irritation. Go with the grain of the hair, use a new razor every time, and soak in warm water to soften the hair so it's easier to cut.

Make sure to use new blades; old ones can carry unwanted bacteria that can cause razor burns, bumps, folliculitis, and other irritations to the skin and hair follicles.

To get your best pubic hair shave, try these tips:

Before you shave, wet your skin and hair to soften it.

Apply shaving cream or gel.

Shave in the direction that the hair grows.

Rinse after each swipe of the razor.

Store your razor in a dry area.

Tips for Waxing Pubic Hair

Nothing quite beats waxing for giving super smooth results (and some pain), but there are some drawbacks. Waxing can cause ingrown hair and skin irritation.5 Another drawback to waxing is an increased chance of Staph infection around the hair follicle, said Sherry Ross, MD, an OB-GYN and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. 

Other waxing tips (if you're going to a waxing professional) include:

Avoid retinoid creams before waxing.

Reduce discomfort by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever 30 minutes before the wax.

Soothe your skin with cold packs if you have pain.

You should get waxed at a salon or spa that doesn't "double dip." Instead, the aesthetician should use a new wooden stick each time they stick it into the wax pot. If the aesthetician uses only one stick per client and keeps dipping that same stick into the wax pot, that's "double dipping."

A Quick Review

Leaving your pubic hair au naturel is the pubic hair style gynecologists recommend. However, most people take some measures to groom or style their pubic hair. If you trim, shave, or wax your pubic hairs, follow the tips outlined here for the best results.

Credit: Health.com