How to Shave Your Pubes – A Guide for Men

How to Shave Your Pubes – A Guide for Men

If you’re wondering how to shave down there or simply how to trim your pubic hair, you’ve come to the right place. If you, like many men, have decided to take your manscaping regime to the next level and shave your pubes down to bare balls, with the right tools and this handy guide you should be well on your way.

Now while you’re probably standing in front of a mirror with a razor in one hand and your privates in the other, wondering how the hell you’re supposed to comfortably take a blade to your plums without inflicting serious injury whilst shaving, don’t despair. With a few key pointers, you’ll be jangling your hair-free junk in no time at all.

“There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum, it’s breathtaking, I suggest you try it.” -Dr Evil, 1997

If you’re going to take the plunge and shave your pubes then here’s our list of essential things to remember when you’re removing your rude-rug, for optimum results and an irritation-free nutsack. Enjoy.

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What You’ll Need to Shave Your Pubes

• An All-Purpose Trimmer
• A Shower / Water
• Shaving Cream or Shaving Gel
• A Quality Razor
• Moisturiser

How to Shave Down There

Step 1. Trim Your Public Hair

We also recommend choosing a trimmer or body groomer to trim your pubic hair first. Trimming your hair before shaving can help to prevent clogging your razor blades and reduce irritation when you shave.

Figure out how far you want to go and draw up some mental boundaries. Use a pair of clippers to take off most of your existing down-there hair to the stubble. Don’t use the same clippers you use on your face, either (just in case you’re that kind of an animal that we have to state the obvious) – different bacteria from different parts of your body can cross-contaminate…. You know what just trust us, it’s gross. Get a pair of pube-clippers and keep them far away from your other stuff.

Tips for Trimming Your Pubic Hair:

• Wet your pubic hair with warm water to soften the hairs to make them easier to cut.
• Choose a fixed comb length for your trimmer to take the bush down bit by bit.
• Trim in the shower for easy cleanup.

Step 2: Have a Hot Shower

Once that’s done, have a hot shower. This softens the roots and makes sure you’re nice and clean where it counts, reducing the risk of irritation and infection.

Step 3: Choose a Razor

This is seriously, seriously important. The razor you decide to use to shave your pubes could make the difference between a clean-cut set of cojones or literally a clean-cut – possibly even an unwanted vasectomy. As much as you like the old-world gentlemanly appeal of the vintage-styled safety razor you use to shape your handsome beard, invest in a modern razor like a Gillette Fusion or a Schick Hydro for downstairs. The more blades, the less pressure you’ll need to apply to your baby-berries, and we don’t need to explain why that’s a positive.

Tips for Shaving:

• Always disinfect your razor before use.
• Replace your blades often – A sharp blade ensures your razor cuts hair smoothly.

Step 3. Apply Shaving Gel

Shaving oil and shaving cream have never been more of a friend to you than they when you’re slicing the hairs off your avocados. Once you’ve comprehensively trimmed the area with clippers and warmed your wiener, apply shaving oil then shaving cream. Liberally. Keep some on hand too, you’re going to want to reapply for each stroke.

Tips for Choosing Shaving Cream:

• To prevent irritation, use shaving cream, gel, or moisturiser that contain natural ingredients.

Step 4. Keep it Tight & Use Light Gentle Strokes

We cannot stress this enough. Limp, sagging skin drags and catches under a moving razor like nothing else, and nothing else sags like a sad sack, so keep the skin taut while you shave to avoid a worst-case scenario. The brief, uncomfortable pulling sensation against your testes is far more pleasant than the Dexter-Esque aftermath that results from an accidental scrotal snip, so take heed.

While the skin is tight, focus on short, slow strokes – you don’t want to go hard and fast as you’ll end up having to do it again, and one of the keys for avoiding irritation here is to minimise contact time with the razor. Unlike shaving your face, there isn’t as much of a ‘grain’ to follow per se, so work with what direction’s most comfortable for you, and which provides the greatest visibility.

Going off course into unchartered territory is a dangerous prospect, so stay within your line of sight for best results.

Tips for Shaving Your Pubes:

• Don’t push too hard and let your blade do the work.
• Rinse your blades often under water between strokes.
• Pull your skin taut.
• Reapply shaving cream as necessary throughout.

Step 5. Apply Aftershave & Moisturiser

This is crucial. You see, aftershave on your face helps soothe skin and smells nice for a bit, but on your balls, it plays a much greater role in reducing the risk of irritation and possibly infection. As blood is thicker than water, pubes are thicker than the rest of your hair, and as such, are more likely to become ingrown. Find a good quality alcohol-based aftershave and apply it liberally – not just straight after the fact, but in the following days too.

Consider applying moisturiser as well as it helps to soothe the skin. Don’t forget to dry your skin thoroughly as well once you’re done!

Tips for Applying Aftershave:

• To minimize post-shave irritation use cortisone cream.
• Try not to get cream or gel near your penis.

What to Do About Ingrown Hairs or Bumps in Your Pubic Region?

It is not uncommon to get rashes, bumps or ingrown hairs in your pubic region after shaving. If you notice this, it’s best to stop shaving until these symptoms go away. These tips may also help.

Rashes

• Do not scratch your rash as this can make irritation worse or lead to infection.
• Use cortisone cream to reduce itching.

Ingrown Hairs

• Let the hair grow back naturally for a couple of weeks before you decide to shave again.
• Use warm and wet clothe to massage the area and to reduce any pain.
• Resist the temptation to use tweezers to pull them out which can lead to infection.

Razor Bumps

• Use an aftershave or soothing lotion to relieve any irritation.
• Let the hair grow back naturally until the bumps disappear and consider shaving less frequently.

There you have it – use the above advice carefully and you’ll be well on your way to experiencing the breathtaking feeling Mike Meyers’ eponymous evil doctor so eloquently describes. Happy shaving!

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General FAQ

What is the best way to shave your pubes for guys?

The most important thing to do when shaving your pubes is to prepare first. Trim your pubes, have a how shower, a brand new razor and plenty of shaving cream to hand.

Can I shave my pubic hair?

Yes, you can shave your pubic hair but do be careful. It is best to go slowly and we strongly recommend trimming your pubest first so you don’t clog your razor.

Citations

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Ingrown hair:
  https://mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-hair/symptoms-causes/syc-20373893
• Pubic Hair Grooming Prevalence and Motivation Among Women in the United States, (2016) Tami S. Rowen, MD, MS1; Thomas W. Gaither, BS2; Mohannad A. Awad, MD2; et al:
  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2529574
• Pubic Hair Preferences, Reasons for Removal, and Associated Genital Symptoms: Comparisons Between Men and Women (2015) Scott M. Butler, PhD, MPH, Nicole K. Smith, PhD, MPH, Erika Collazo, MPH, Lucia Caltabiano, BS, Debby Herbenick, PhD, MPH:
  https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(15)30903-6/fulltext
• Complications related to pubic hair removal (2014) Andrea L. DeMaria, PhD, MS, Marissa Flores, BS, Jacqueline M. Hirth, PhD, MPH, Abbey B. Berenson, MD, PhD:
  https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(14)00065-9/fulltext