Pubic Hair

Pubic hair ("pubes") is the terminal body hair that develops in the genital region at puberty. It varies in pattern, density, texture, and color between individuals and populations; both biological and cultural forces shape how people treat it.

Development & Biology

Pubic hair appears during puberty (pubarche) under the influence of androgens and local follicular sensitivity. Stages of development follow Tanner staging; in females, pubarche often follows thelarche but timing varies.
Hair types: vellus (fine) converts to terminal (thicker, pigmented) hair in androgen-sensitive sites. Follicles are associated with sebaceous glands and sensory nerve endings.

Function

Protective: reduces friction and may trap debris and pathogens; historically suggested roles include parasite defense (evidence shows pubic hair can slow lice transfer).
Sensory: follicles amplify tactile stimuli via mechanoreceptors; fine hairs near erogenous zones can increase sensitivity.
Social/Sexual Signaling: pubic and axillary hair retain scent and may function in mate signaling; cultural interpretation of these signals varies widely.

Grooming Practices, Styles & Trends

Common practices: natural (no grooming), trimming, waxing (bikini/Brazilian/Hollywood), shaving, sugaring, depilatory creams, laser, and electrolysis.
Styles: triangle (classic bikini), landing strip/French wax, full or partial Brazilian, freestyling, and decorative shaving/stenciling.
Trends: Western grooming has shifted across decades (20th–21st century) with a rise in pubic-hair removal for aesthetic and erotic reasons; surveys indicate grooming is common but motivations (hygiene, aesthetics, partner preference, porn influence) vary.

Health & Risks of Grooming

Short-term risks: razor burn, nicks, folliculitis, ingrown hairs, and skin irritation are common with shaving and epilation if performed without care.
Epilation risks: waxing and sugaring can cause skin lifting, burns (from overheated wax), and transient pigment changes, particularly on darker skin.
Infection & STIs: grooming itself does not cause STIs but can create micro-abrasions that may theoretically increase transmission risk. Some population studies have explored correlations between grooming practices and STI incidence.
Lice (Pthirus pubis): heavy removal of pubic hair has reduced the prevalence of crab lice in some populations.

Clinical Considerations

Excess hair (hirsutism) or abnormal patterns warrant clinical evaluation for androgen excess or endocrine disorders.
Permanent hair reduction (laser, electrolysis) is effective but requires multiple treatments and suitability depends on hair color and skin phototype.

Sensitivity & Sexual Experience

Grooming alters tactile feedback: removal typically reduces friction and can make skin feel cooler; some surveys report changed sexual sensation after grooming but experiences are individual.
Writers: treat sensitivity as idiosyncratic—some characters prefer hair for warmth and texture, others prefer removal for aesthetics or sensation.

Writing Tips

Use grooming choices to reveal character: ritual, conformity, rebellion, intimacy, or trauma recovery.
Describe sensory details: texture (soft curls, coarse bristles), smell (soap, wax), temperature, and the small physical reactions (a gasp from a wax strip; the sting of a nick).
Avoid moralizing language; respect agency and variety.

Example

"She kept a neat landing strip for the beach but, at home, let the rest breathe—a little solace in a body she owned."

Why it works: links public presentation to private comfort and agency.