Skip to main content
Go to homepage

Print Page

What's the Best Way to Remove Excess Pubic Hair?

I am 13 years old and I am finding that my pubic hair is a bit embarrassing. I don't want to begin shaving it, because I only want it gone around the edges where it can stick out of my bathing suit. Also, shaving makes the hairs come back thicker and darker. Is there a way to remove it painlessly and with the least downsides? What is safe for my body?
– Steph*

The hair that shows when you wear a bathing suit is what hair-removal products politely call the "bikini area." Lots of girls choose to get rid of it. You can shave it. Just be sure to use shaving cream and a sharp razor. The good news about shaving is that it doesn't actually make hair thicker or darker, it just looks that way. If you want to avoid the stubbly look you can get from shaving, you can use depilatories or wax. 

A depilatory is a cream or liquid that removes hair from the skin's surface. Depilatories work quickly, are available at drugstores and grocery stores, and are painless. But some people have an allergic reaction to the chemicals in the depilatory, which may cause a rash or redness. Before using a depilatory on pubic hair, read product labels to find one that says it's safe to use on the bikini area.

With waxing, a sticky wax is spread on the area of skin where the unwanted hair is growing. A cloth strip is then applied and quickly pulled off, taking the hair root with it. Waxing can sting a bit while it's being done, but the results last longer than with shaving or depilatories. It takes longer for the hair to grow back because the hair is removed at the root, below the level of the skin.

You can buy home waxing kits in drugstores and beauty supply stores, but if you've never had waxing done before it's best to visit a salon so you can see how it's done.

Other options for hair removal are laser hair removal and electrolysis, although these can be expensive.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

Reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD
Date Reviewed: Nov 4, 2020

What next?

Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
There are 10 nurses in the picture.

And we have many more pediatric primary care providers in Northeast Ohio. You can meet some of them here.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The five differences are:
– Phone color
– Coat pocket
– Stethoscope earpiece color
– Stethoscope bell dot
– Clipboard paper color

Need help finding a doctor, choosing a location or getting a general question about Akron Children's answered? Call us or fill out the form and we'll help in any way we can.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The two matching doctors are 9 and 14.

With virtual visits, you can see our pediatric experts from the comfort of home or wherever you are.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The correct path:
The Correct Path
We offer many ways to get pediatric care all over Northeast Ohio. Use this page to find the right kind of care and the most convenient location for you.