6 Pubic Hair Myths Women Need to Say Goodbye to

There are a lot of circulated rumors and truths about life between a woman’s legs. What you should do, what you shouldn’t do, what you should wear down there, what you shouldn’t wear down there, how you should wear them, the list goes on.

Thankfully, WomensHealthMag has published a very helpful article on a woman’s pubic hair, setting the record straight. This is based on the findings of experts, Wendy Askew, M.D., an ob-gyn with the Institute for Women’s Health in San Antonio and Sejal Shah, M.D., a New York City dermatologist and RealSelf contributor. Read and find out more below.

1. Pubic hair protects you against STD’S (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

A good number of women believe that having just the right amount of pubic hair protects you from STD’s or infection, when it’s the opposite that happens. The more hair you have down there, the more you sweat, the more you sweat, the more you breed germs. When intercourse happens, there is exchange of fluid and bacteria, The vagina area itself is a host to bacteria, good and bad, but it is all balanced out by its natural PH level. This is however not a mandate to go bald down there, but minimal hair down there is recommended.

2. Pubic hair makes sex boring

This is an individual/partners decision. The reality however is that pubic hair down there, does not in any way stop you from having a great sex time. It will vary on a woman’s vaginal form. Some women need extra stimulation for sex if the clitoris is found inside the labia. Fact still remains, pubic hair in no way affects your sex life.

3. Pubic hair color matches the color of hair on your head

“For the most part, pubic hair tends to match eyebrow color, except that it’s a little bit courser,” says Dr. Askew. Your pubic hair will not always match your hair color. For black women, this might be difficult to ascertain, except you have a magnifying glass and super sensitive eyes to determine what shade and color is what. It will be either a shade darker or lighter, they won’t always match the hair on your head.

4. Pubic hair is a turn off for men

Again, this is going to be a decision for your husband to make. Some men find it sensual, some prefer to have all the hair taken off their wife’s privates. Research has shown that in some instances, pubic hair could be a turn-on because it’s full of pheromones. Pheromones are chemical factors that seep out of your skin when you sweat. Every body has a unique scent down there, depending on how often you groom, this might be a scent or an odor, which means it might be a turn-on or a turn-off.

5. Pubic hair never stops growing if you don’t groom

Imagine walking around with locks of hair shooting out of the sides of your under wear. “The hair stops growing when it reaches a certain point, It will stop and basically stay at a certain level, and then it will shed and new ones will grow,” says Dr. Askew. Dr. Shah also says that generally the hair stops between 0.5 and two inches. “We typically see it after women go through menopause and they have hormone deficiencies, A majority of women experience not only losing the hair maybe they’ll go completely bald—but the hair will become much more sparse, much finer, and much less densely populated.” says Dr. Askew.

6. If you have sensitive skin down there, you shouldn’t shave your pubic hair

Most times, women approach this the wrong way. If you are one of those people who break into bumps after a shave, you might just need to change techniques. Before shaving, trim the hair to a lower level first, them exfoliate your bikini area with a scrub or soap a day or two before you shave, this well help get rid of dead skin around the area and make it easier to get the hair off. Use warm water to pat your pubic are, this will help to relax the nerves and soften the skin, so if you use a blade or a hair removal cream, it comes off easily and you can keep the bumps at bay after. Invest in a good razor or a hair removal cream that has elements of coconut in it, they are said to be much more gentle on the skin.