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How to trim your pubes… for guys

Grooming your pubic area used to be the sole preserve of women. Many of their partners seem to like it and women have complied in growing numbers, creating an entire industry dedicated to styling, waxing, shaving, depilating and generally maintaining their nether region rugs. Guys wouldn’t even think of trimming their bush.

Well, those days are over. More and more men are experimenting with their pubic vegetation, shaping it, cutting it shorter or even getting rid of it altogether.

But why?

According to practitioners of this growing trend, there are several benefits to keeping your crotch-forest in check:

  • Thinning out or removing the jungle hiding your crown jewels will make your assets look bigger.
  • Some say it facilitates more sensual lovemaking, while others simply find the thought of exposing themselves down there quite erotic.
  • It makes for easier personal hygiene and cleanliness.
  • Your partner might find the idea of working with a clean slate more inviting than having to dive into a bristly thicket every time they’re on an oral assignment down south – nobody likes pubes stuck between their teeth.
  • As with other forms of bodily alteration, it allows you the opportunity to give free reign to your personal creativity.

But how?

There are several options when it comes to landscaping your groin beard. Each of them has pros and cons and you might want to experiment with several before settling on a favourite method.

Trimming

This is the easiest way of keeping your short and curlies… well, short. Using a pair of scissors is the cheapest way to go, but be careful when you wield the thing near your delicates. You’re well advised to invest in an electric trimmer made especially for male body hair – they are much safer and yield more even and uniform results in look and length. You’ll need to trim your bush on a regular basis and the re-growth can be quite bristly and itchy.

Tweezing

Unless you have loads of free time on your hands and the pain threshold of John Rambo, we don’t recommend this painstaking method.

Depilation

This involves spreading a fowl smelling cream on your pubes, leaving it there for a while to do its job of dissolving the hair and then wiping off the entire mess. Depilation creams – yes, there are ones made especially for men – are a cheap, easy to use and painless hair removal option. The results last longer than shaving and the hair will also grow back less dense and softer. The creams can be abrasive to sensitive skin and may cause an allergic reaction, so test yours out on a small spot on the inside of your elbow and keep an eye on it for 48 hours.

Waxing

While this method delivers the smoothest of finishes it’s also the most painful of the techniques available to you. You can do the job yourself at home, but that tends to be more messy and excruciating than necessary, so get over your embarrassment and let the professionals at your local beauty salon do it – many of them now cater specifically for male grooming.

Arrive clean, freshly showered and dry – no body lotion, which will stop the wax from doing its job. Wear comfortable, loose clothes to prevent irritation afterwards and don’t trim or shave beforehand – the process works best on longer hair. Be sure to tell the beautician exactly what you want. They will spread hot wax or alternatively a sugary paste on the area to be cleared, apply a strip of cloth and then rip it off in one brisk motion. The results tend to last for two to four weeks and if continued on a regular basis you can expect diminishing re-growth with time.

Shaving

Here’s the procedure:

  • Trim your hair with a pair of scissors or a body trimmer.
  • Have a warm bath or shower to help open the pores and ease the shaving process.
  • Use a quality shaving foam or gel which will help to soften the thick pubic hair and provide lubrication. Leave it on for a couple of minutes before you start to shave.
  • Carefully shave with a new pivot-head, multi-blade razor or a male grooming razor specifically designed for the job. Don’t use an ordinary electric razor.
  • Once you’re done, apply a gentle powder or moisturising shaving balm to the shaved area. Don’t use aftershave, especially on your testicles!

Electrolysis

This method will permanently remove your pubic hair by zapping and killing individual hair roots, so think matters through well before you commit to it. It’s fairly expensive, but if you want to get rid of your bush for good, it may be a good investment to go this route. The procedure must be carried out by a professional electrologist, can cause moderate discomfort and is best performed over a series of weekly appointments.

Laser treatment

Using a laser beam to kill off tour pubes’ hair follicles may sound a bit James Bond, but is perfectly safe. In most cases laser hair removal is permanent, but it tends to work better for dark as opposed to lighter coloured hair. You can expect to go for several moderately painless and relatively pricey treatments.

(Andrew Luyt, Health24, August 2010)

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