Waxing Nostalgic — Women Share 'Down There' Hair Habits

I remember when my mom taught me how to shave with a pink Bic razor and my dad’s shaving cream. “There is no need to go any higher than your knee,” she said. “No one will notice.” As if the act of shaving was for them (whoever they were) and not me!

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I noticed when I didn’t shave above my knees, and I preferred a smooth leg from ankle to hip. I bravely took my pink Bic razor to unchartered territory and was very proud of my smooth thighs. In my mid-20s, I learned I could even clean up my bikini line — or more if I wanted! I felt free! Why hadn’t someone told me about this sooner?

We didn’t talk about pubic hair back then and I felt in the dark about it for a long time. I’m not sure if we talk about it now, but it’s never too late, right? To start the conversation, I reached out to girlfriends far and wide to discuss (dare I say it?) pubic hair. As it turns out, I noticed a powerful trend in these discussions: our attitudes toward hair removal seem to evolve as we grow more confident and comfortable in our skin.

Keep reading for tips, inspiration and a reminder — from women of all ages — that it's your hair, your choice.

"In my younger years, shaving was my go-to method. It was quick and accessible and I could easily incorporate it into my routine. However, the downsides — like irritation, ingrown hairs and the frequent need for maintenance — soon became apparent. Now in my 40s, my preferred method is laser hair removal. This decision was influenced by the desire for a more permanent solution and the convenience it offers. Laser hair removal has significantly reduced the need for regular maintenance and has provided me with a level of confidence and comfort that other methods did not.” — Mia, 42, Delaware

"Ah, the bikini line! For as long as I can remember, I longed for answers to the question, how can I clean up down there with ease, comfort and success? As a youth, there just wasn’t enough information available to me and I felt like I didn’t know what to do or how to do it! Ultimately, I stumbled across an ex-boyfriend’s three-blade razor in the shower and I never looked back! A little shaving cream or hair conditioner (made from a smooth finish), the perfect men’s razor and a steady hand have been my go-to ever since!" — Mary, 56, Connecticut

“My [preferred] bikini-line grooming method used to be shaving, but it would often cause irritation and Bartholin cysts. I experimented with Brazilian waxing, but it was too expensive for me to maintain. Right now, I am using the Nair hair removal bikini cream. It removes most of the hair and I shave the rest when I'm in the shower. A male friend taught me that letting baby oil soak in before the shaving cream offers a much smoother shave." — Darrelle, 42, California