STRAIGHTEN THE BIKINI LINE – a blog about pubic hair

Read Fanny Falkman Grinndal's, Sweden manager for VagiVital, personal thoughts on pubic hair, intimate shaving, and the active choice

During a girls' night, the topic of intimate shaving came up, something I myself hadn't really discussed since the 90s. Like many of my girlfriends, I shaved off most of the hair back then. We also plucked our eyebrows so hard that what remained was a very thin line that was supposed to represent eyebrows. The thong also made its entrance during the 90s, which also contributed to intimate shaving as it more or less consisted only of a thin string held together by a tiny, thin, and often transparent piece of fabric. We kept all hair in check with sharp razors, foaming shaving cream, and waxing – performed both at home and in salons.

After the 90s, we didn't talk much more about pubic hair. Maybe it was because life itself with pregnancies, marriages, divorces, and parenthood took over the topics of conversation. It was no longer as important to discuss pubic hair, but we all had a razor in the shower.

During my 15 years as a doula (Greek for support person during childbirth), I have of course seen many women's vaginas. The pubic hair has varied greatly – both fully shaved and smooth, lightly trimmed, as well as flourishing bushes. All vulvas have been equally beautiful to me, and whether they had hair or not has been completely irrelevant.

PUBIC HAIR THROUGH HISTORY

In ancient Greece and Rome, it was common to shave off all body hair, including pubic hair. This was considered a symbol of purity and elegance. In the 1960s and 70s, however, more natural body hair became popular, which included a substantial bush on the pubic area. But during the 1980s, the pendulum swung again, and it became more common to shave the pubic area, where both bikini fashion and the porn industry were some of the biggest factors behind intimate shaving. In the porn industry, a shaved pubic area was believed to improve image quality and create a more "aesthetically pleasing visual experience." The trend then spread to mainstream culture, where many women embraced it as part of their beauty routine.

A woman's pubic hair has always been a sign of sexual maturity, which throughout history has been regarded as something shameful and taboo. If you remove all the hair, you also remove all visible signs of her sexuality. A woman's body without hair was considered a non-sexual body.

In the early 2000s, I myself worked as a childbirth preparation course leader with the course "Annas Profylax," which naturally included conversations about the vagina. During the first years, we chose to show Gudrun Schyman's childbirth film to the pregnant couples. You can think what you want about Gudrun, but she was fantastic at giving birth. The problem was that none of the participants could take in anything at all from this childbirth film; what stuck in their minds was the sight of her substantial 70s bush. So we stopped showing that film.

HOW MANY SHAVE TODAY?

I can't find any really good research on what percentage shave or not and I also don't think it's worth contacting Statistics Sweden on this matter so instead I turn to my gynecologist and midwife friends who actually see women's genitals every day. According to them, it seems that very many still shave and younger girls shave off all pubic hair more often than women over 40. It is also not uncommon nowadays for women to use laser to remove pubic hair, which results in the hair never growing back. Some women trim a small "hairstyle", with a well-groomed triangle or a straight line over the pubis. Then of course there are many women who completely abstain from intimate shaving. So there seems to be a relatively large variation but those who shave the genital area are still in the majority.

ADVANTAGES OF INTIMATE SHAVING

There really aren't that many advantages to shaving the genital area, except that it can feel nicer and that some women find it easier to maintain hygiene without hair. It's simply a matter of taste. In any case, it is perfectly possible to maintain hygiene in the genital area whether you have hair or not. Shaving is more a fashion issue but also a matter of habit. Those who grow up and early learn to shave off all pubic hair will probably continue doing so even when they are 50+.

Or?!

DISADVANTAGES OF INTIMATE SHAVING

The disadvantages of shaving are actually many more. Pubic hair protects against both fungal infections and bacteria that can establish themselves in the vulva. Small wounds after shaving can also easily cause infections, inflammations, and ingrown hairs. The hair also has an important function as it creates an air gap between the underwear and the skin that makes it easier to maintain a favorable environment with a balanced pH value in the vagina, which reduces the risk of vaginal infections. The good lactobacilli in the vagina, which help keep unwanted bacteria away, thrive best in that environment. Shaving can also lead to dry mucous membranes, which in itself increases the risk of fungal infections. So the hair has an important function, yet so many women choose to shave?

You can find VagiVital ActiveGel for dry mucous membranes here

PUBIC HAIR, SEX & FASHION

Is shaving really mainly about sex and fashion trends? Do women shave the vagina primarily to "make it easier" for men during sex? Honestly, comments like "You don't want hair in your food" are not uncommon.

Intimate shaving is obviously neither fresher nor more hygienic – on the contrary! But maybe we THINK we are more hygienic? I myself have engaged in intimate shaving for most of my adult life. But I also realize that I rarely have asked myself the question why I have done it.

AN ACTIVE CHOICE

Of course, there are also many women who feel much better about themselves and their vagina when they shave it. Somewhere I think that is what the existence or non-existence of intimate shaving should be about. A vulva love! Based on an active choice. Make an active choice based on knowledge about the vulva and what you yourself want. Do you shave for your own sake or because your partner desires a shaved female genital area or because the norm considers a hairy genital area unclean? Let no one else make that choice – it is your vulva and therefore your choice ❤️

MY OWN CHOICE

When it comes to shaving the pubic area, I realized relatively recently that I myself have never made an active choice. Not really. I have just continued with my intimate shaving over the years out of habit. Something I learned early on and never really questioned. My intimate shaving has always been an initiative from me alone but in hindsight, it perhaps never really felt like a choice. It's just what you do. So I did. But now it was time for an active choice!

SILKY SMOOTH PUBIC HAIR

One day I just stopped. I simply no longer felt like continuing to tear around with the razor. My knowledge of the downsides of intimate shaving has not been lacking, but it had not previously stopped me from going at it. But now it was enough. I chose to quit. At least for now. Thanks and goodbye!

The decision felt a bit delicate and fragile but what I discovered was that as the hair started to grow back, a whole new vulva love also grew within me ❤️ In wavering moments, the memory of Gudrun Schyman's bushy 70s pubic hair could flash by, which spontaneously made me recoil. At the same time, it was so incredibly nice to avoid dealing with the razor. In the shower, I instead stood thinking about how many hours of my life have been spent shaving the vulva and also discovered a completely new feature of VagiVitals V Cleanser for intimate wash. I already knew that it cleans both oil-soluble and water-soluble impurities but I had no idea that it also acts like a conditioner for pubic hair and makes it silky smooth. It turned out so nice ❤️

You can find VagiVital V Cleanser here

The bikini season is slowly approaching, even though it feels unreal to imagine when looking out the window. I actually find it hard to see myself so "liberated" that I will strut around the beach this summer with a couple of substantial pubic tufts sticking out on either side of the bikini bottom. Somewhere around there is the limit because I am simply too vain. But who knows? Maybe I will choose to go all in summer 2023 and embrace a full bush or maybe I will go back to the 90s' strict intimate shaving or choose something in between? The most important thing is that the choice is mine!

Which choice do you make ❤️?

Take care of yourselves and Stay Pussytive!

/Fanny