MYTH: Pubic hair makes sex less enjoyable. (And pubic hair does help cushion and protect the area, says Shah.) But, some women prefer the more intense feels that happen when they're hair-free, adds Askew. "In theory, you can get more direct stimulation without that buffer," she says.
A new survey of over 5,000 people conducted by AskMen and The Huffington Post found that 41 percent of their predominantly male respondents prefer women to have no pubic hair whatsoever.
Some people believe that removing their pubic hair increases genital sensation during sex. Indeed, studies suggest that there's a link between pubic hair removal and self-reported sexual functioning. However, one doesn't necessarily cause the other.
As mentioned above, pubic hair serves a protective function by trapping pathogens that could otherwise enter your body. Removing pubic hair may therefore make a person more susceptible to common infections, such as UTIs, vaginitis, and yeast infections.
Answer From Mary Marnach, M.D. There's no medical or hygienic reason for removing some or all of your pubic hair. But the removal process can be painful and cause many side effects, including: Genital itching, sometimes severe.
Pubic hair plays a role in reducing friction during activities such as sexual intercourse. It also plays a role in preventing dirt and pathogens from entering the genitals. A person can safely remove their pubic hair if they wish to, but they do not need to.
A combination of polls shows that 80 to 90 percent of women prefer some amount of grooming for starters. Only 10 to 20 percent prefer guys with a completely unkempt bush; this means that going wild below the waist is not the default look. It may require less work, but you're not playing the odds.
Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.
Interestingly, 84 percent of the men surveyed had a preference when it came to a woman's pubic hair, but only 9 percent would end a date or sex because of a women's grooming habits -- so they must not care all that much. And of the men polled, a whopping 88 percent do some grooming of their own.
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. "The sebaceous glands, which are so prevalent in hair-bearing skin, produce what starts as an odorless secretion," says Askew.
Many of the common “ingrown hairs,” skin rashes, infected hair follicles as well as more serious abscesses and skin infections in the genital region can be traced back to shaving.
Just like the hair on the head, the hair on the rest of the body, including the pubic area, is subject to graying. As people age, their skin produces less melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for giving skin and hair its color.
The research shows that body hair by itself is not a cause of bad body odor. But everyone is unique. Some guys report smelling better after their shave their armpits, body hair, or pubes. They feel that it makes them sweat less and smell better.
Sixty-two percent reported removing all of their pubic hair. The majority of women (59 percent) said they groom because it's "hygienic or cleaner," while just 21 percent said it's because their partner prefers it.
The Hollywood
It is completely bare from the front to the back, including the underside. This look is popular for both women's and men's pubic hairstyles. The Hollywood is one of the most high-maintenance pubic hairstyles. If you want to go for the full smooth skin look and feel, give this one a try.
Everyone has some hair in the area between their butt crack. This hair wicks away moisture and protects the sensitive skin around your anus.
If you're thinking about trimming it up, you're not alone. According to a U.S. study, just over half of men surveyed — 50.5 percent, to be exact — reported regular pubic grooming.
Men report grooming their pubic hair for various reasons including sex and hygiene, comfort, and curiosity. Reasons for pubic hair grooming by age are reported in Figure 1. The majority of men report grooming in preparation for sexual activity with a peak prevalence of 73% among men aged 25 to 34 years.
TRICHOMYCOSIS. Trichomycosis is a bacterial infection of axillary hair (trichomycosis axillaris) and, uncommonly, pubic hair (trichomycosis pubis). There are usually pale yellow concretions attached to the hair shaft: these are large bacterial colonies. Sometimes the casts are red, and rarely they are black.
A fungal infection of the hair called white piedra can also give pubic hair a white appearance. An overgrowth of yeast causes the formation of white or cream-colored nodules along the hair shaft. This type of fungus is also found on the eyebrows, eyelashes, and head.
Trimming with scissors Using scissors can be a safe way to give the pubic area a well-groomed look. Since the operation does not come into contact with the skin, trimming the pubic hair with scissors has a relatively low risk of injury.
To keep the pubic area smooth and hairless, you'll need to shave regularly, even daily. Consider if this is worth the trouble; it may become tedious after four or five weeks.
Most pubes grow between half an inch and 1.5 inches, according to Steixner.
Data showed that 46% of men prefer when their partners go completely bare down there. 70% of women, on the other hand, only expect a trim to keep things neat, not total removal. And while that might not surprise many people, just how adamant guys are about their preferences may be the most shocking data point.