You can see the latest installment in the Guardian here:
These are all good questions to be asking and the debate is always worth having. But I believe that it falls short, because I have never seen anyone discuss the merits of pubic hair in regard to actually having sex. Neatly trimmed pubic hair versus a wild bush may may give certain “signals” to a potential partner, but what about when the signaling is over and you are in bed with someone?
Well, the short answer is that pubic hair or the lack there of can make sex a very different experience for both partners. There are other factors involved too of course, like the amount of lubrication involved (natural or artificial) and condoms.
If a woman has no public hair on her outer labia, then it changes the sensations of penetration for both her and her partner. For her partner (assuming adequate lubrication) it creates a much smoother, more slippery sensation. Not more intense, not less intense – or better or worse even necessarily – but different. For the woman there may be less stimulation of the outer labia, since there is no hair to be pulling on them.
Pubic hair and its lack can become quite significant in longer sex (say more than 15 or 20 minutes). Depending upon the position/s that you are having sex in, pubic hair above the genitals (so on one’s pubic mound) can be problematic. If you have it and your partner doesn’t, or vice versa, then over time it can become abrasive. Having “neatened” pubic hair in this region I have found on occasion that I will get a little skin irritation in this area if my partner has more public hair than I do. Of course this is only really a problem when having sex in missionary position or similar where there is very close contact.
At the end of the day, I am not inclined to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t have. But I will say this: experimenting can be fun! If you have never shaved, then I highly recommend giving it a go. Try it and see what you think and don’t let fashion or anyone else tell you what is right for you.
If you do decide that being partly, mostly, or completely bare works for you, then I highly recommend laser hair removal. It is quick, mostly permanent and getting to be quite cheap these days. It has worked well for me and once done avoids the difficulties of ingrown hairs and the need for regular shaving.
John.
Hey John
As an advocate of being completely bare, I just wanted to weigh in on the debate. I have over the years experienced sex with both pubic hair and no pubic hair, and have to say that from a females point of view I find sex without far more enjoyable. However there is something to be said for pubic hair on the male when riding him as it creates friction on the clitoris. Very enjoyable. Having said this, I have experienced just as much stimulation from men that are bare. I find sex without pubic hair far more stimulating than with. The slippery, full skin on skin sensation is remarkable and I will never go back to pubic hair.Yes I have had laser and I highly recommend it. I will say for a woman it is painful, especially when they do the inner labia,but if you buy the numbing cream it’s fine. I would also like to add, I did not do this for fashion or because anyone asked me to, I did it because they simply hurt, but the plus side is, sex is so much better bare.
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to have a woman’s view on this subject and to hear that yours was a practical decision. Just what I like to hear.
I have to agree that bald labia makes for an amazing, slippery, skin on skin sensation (especially when there is plenty of natural lubrication happening!). The issue of friction against a woman’s clit is an interesting one. Personally I would think that attention to angle of hips could overcome the lack of pubic hair, but then body shape and how partners fit together plays a role too. So many delightful experiments to consider!
As a male, I can agree that there are aspects of the laser hair removal that can be quite painful, but I cannot imagine that it would be worse than waxing. I am lucky that my skin doesn’t react badly to the laser and if it ends up tender, then a little aloe vera fixes it almost immediately.
John.
Ah experiments. I do like the sound of that. It will be interesting to know the outcomes. And in answer to your question, laser does hurt more if no numbing cream is used.
Experiments indeed. That of course is a whole other subject! And perhaps fit for its own blog post one day.
Regarding numbing cream, the place that I go to has never offered me any. Now I am wondering if they were being deliberately mean! Still, I don’t find it too hard to bear.
John.
The cream is called Emla cream, it’s expensive $20 for 5g tube, however for your inner labia and anal area it’s a must. You don’t really need it for other areas as much but definitely for the more sensitive areas. I find I do not need it at all under my arms as this doesn’t hurt at all. Yes I do believe they were a little sadistic in not offering you the cream, maybe they think men just don’t need it :)
It’s nice to know that there is an option for those sensitive areas! But I think that it is definitely easier for men than for women, so that my well have been why it wasn’t offered to me.