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Original poster

I’ve grown all my pubic hair back and I love it!

315 replies

BuffaloCauliflower · 14/06/2019 21:03

Sorry I know this is a weird post, but I’m 31 and have a full bush for the first time since I was 14, and I need to talk about it.
I started shaving pretty much as soon as I had hair, I was sexually active at 14, and despite a lot of professed feminism I had clearly internalised something about a need to remove my public hair. I’ve been bare or maybe the odd strip ever since 14.

A couple of weeks ago I somehow flicked the telly over onto Naked Attraction (what the hell is that show?!) and noticed a whole line up of totally pubicly bald women, and had such a strong reaction. We’re adult women! We’re meant to have hair! What was I doing? So I’ve left it all to grow back and honestly it feels so good. It’s all soft and nice and I feel weirdly sexy, how did I never realise before?

All women should absolutely do what they want with their own bodies and their own hair, I’ve argued long and hard for why I shaved, so please don’t take this as a judgement, but as an adult woman with my natural hair for the first time ever, I’m feeling so liberated and just wanted to share!

OP posts:
cheesemongery · 15/06/2019 00:00

Really? Been happening for centuries and became popular in Europe during the 1990's well be for the prevalence of internet porn.

1990's? Grin

must have been all the acid.

IAmAlwaysLikeThis · 15/06/2019 00:01

lyingwitch no one is saying don't do what you want.

We're talking about the pressure from media, peers, porn etc to be completely bald at all times.

It is not a coincidence that this has become a huge thing in recent years. I also used to feel so much pressure to be hairless even though I didn't enjoy the time, upkeep, rash etc. Having a bush is seen as dirty, lazy and unclean by many these days. It shouldn't be like that. It should be a completely open choice.

It's fine if you choose it, truly choose it. But there is a ridiculous amount of pressure on women to make that choice.

LurpakIsTheOnlyButter · 15/06/2019 00:02

I've shaved bald for years. I grew a full massive bush prior to my first wax. I had always shaved before.

I really quite liked having a big massive bush. It felt sexy. But I also like being clean, fresh and totally bald. Also sexy.

Basically, who gives a shit what anyone else thinks? It's your body. Do what you like.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
QOFE · 15/06/2019 00:06

Also in the never shaved camp Grin

Fuck that shit. I do my armpits a couple of times a year, and er that's it.

It's not put any men off yet... And tbh any man it did put off would be a lucky escape in my opinion!

WorraLiberty · 15/06/2019 00:08

It's fine if you choose it, truly choose it. But there is a ridiculous amount of pressure on women to make that choice.

Why will some MNetters not accept that it's not just women???

Young men are also put under pressure by their peers to shave their pubic region and their chests and backs too.

It's a fashion fad and one that'll eventually go away to make way for the next fashion fad.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 15/06/2019 00:12

IAmAlwaysLikeThis, no, that isn't the case, certainly not on this thread. Any women who remove their hair are mocked and insulted. Not by all posters but by a very vocal minority. Those posters feel justified to make vile comments. If a posters were to make any comment about women with pubic hair being unclean they would be rounded on by EVERY poster on the thread. Why is that?

I accept that there is pressure on women (particularly) to remove their hair but surely, we are a big enough group (hair-removed or not-removed) to stand up to this and claim our right to do what we want with our bodies without censure? Can we really not do that?

I personally don't like HD-brows. I say nothing to anybody, never comment because, why would I? If only that were the default, across the board, when it comes to women's bodies.

But, as always, so many women use their formidable power in an impotent way, to challenge and condemn other women.

We will never be free of media pressure because we choose not to recognise our own prejudices. I used car advertising on the last thread, I'm certainly not immune to advertising, it's insidious. I applaud the adverts that show women as they are; it is generally other women that will not accept their own sex if their deviate in any way from what is considered the 'norm' of their own narrow perspective. Generally, if you don't conform to what the vocal 'tribe' thinks, then you're an outsider and worthy of derision. How ridiculous that is.

IAmAlwaysLikeThis · 15/06/2019 00:12

Well Worra, we were discussing women.

If you want to discuss men, go ahead, but that's not what I was discussing.

Not every discussion has to be about men too.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 15/06/2019 00:18

We were only discussing women because they are the default target of other women's censure...

There is certainly no reason not to mention that young people, regardless of sex, are under pressure to remove their hair.

WorraLiberty · 15/06/2019 00:18

Not every discussion has to be about men too.

Of course not but equally, discussions should probably reflect the truth as much as possible.

And the truth is, that both males and females (particularly younger ones) are generally put under pressure by their peers in this particular day and age.

WorraLiberty · 15/06/2019 00:19

Exactly Lying and to mothers of boys, the pressure is just as important to recognise.

BummyKnocker · 15/06/2019 00:21

I had no notion of ever removing pubic hair, trimming yes for swimming costumes but removing it was unknown to me until a friend mentioned she was going to get her bikini line waxed, so I said, 'why, are you going on holiday' to which she was nonplussed and said, no it was a regular thing!!!!

So I thought I was behind in the beauty dept and duly tried home waxing, epilating, shaving, even went full bald, (which some men were all over Hmm ) all ended with rashes and discomfort, thought fuck it, I was happier not knowing. I trim now, but that is it.

IAmAlwaysLikeThis · 15/06/2019 00:23

OK I'll bite.

Are boys seriously feeling like they have to wax everything, asshole included?

No. They are not.

Do we still see positively-viewed male figures with hairy pits, stomachs, legs and so on?

Yes, we do.

I don't remember the last time I saw a woman with hairy pits go unremarked on. If a woman has hair, it's front page news.

It is a total false equivalence to say it's the same for men and boys. Yes, they feel pressure, no doubt. But it is apples and oranges.

ineedtostopbeingsolazy · 15/06/2019 00:26

I wouldn't mind shaving it even a bit but the itching drives me mad whenever I do my bikini it's horrendous. Whenever I do my legs the itching is so bad about two days after it starts not straight away. No idea what it is no one else I know has this issue.
So can't shave my pubes and I'm dark haired..it can get wild Grin dh doesn't care he likes it which is just as well as that's what it looks like!

S1naidSucks · 15/06/2019 00:26

I can’t concentrate on what I’m supposed to be reading, because I keep thinking about Kate Bush now. Confused

I may have to stop drinking.

ineedtostopbeingsolazy · 15/06/2019 00:27

I tidy it all up with clippers and use cream but no shaving.

WorraLiberty · 15/06/2019 00:28

Yes, they feel pressure, no doubt.

And that ^^ is exactly what I'm saying.

It doesn't have to be a 'like for like' comparison to every single shaved body part.

Just the fact anyone male or female feels under pressure to remove any of their body hair is a bad thing.

But pretending it's just a female thing is silly and very short sighted.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 15/06/2019 00:29

Women certainly get the rawest deal. Not only are they under pressure from the porn industry and from men, they have to explain themselves to other women too.

I've heard women/girls gossiping, giggling and judging women who 'fail' in their grooming upkeep, I've not been party to men doing that. Perhaps they just think it silently or discuss it in the pub over a pint? Who knows. I can only comment on my own experience and that is that I will always feel more scrutinised by other women.

Not sure what 'biting' has to do with it. Post or don't post, nobody cares.

WorraLiberty · 15/06/2019 00:34

No-one should feel under pressure to remove their body hair and no-one should be judged for not doing so or for doing so.

Yet, so many are judged for doing both.

It's never too long before someone on Mumsnet makes the silly 'pre-pubescent' dig and this thread (just like the 100 others) certainly didn't disappoint.

Just let people do what they want with their own hair and stop the digging, judging and sniping.

crazyasafox · 15/06/2019 00:40

What a fucking weird thread!!! Confused

Do you just want women to talk about their minge @BuffaloCauliflower ???

crazyasafox · 15/06/2019 00:46

Completely agree with @WorraLiberty there are always people on these kind of threads who come up with the pre-pubescent line.

If you think a grown woman in her 20s, or 30s or 40s or older, who has shaven her pubes off, looks like a 10 year old little girl, you need help. Seriously.

WorraLiberty · 15/06/2019 00:55

crazy, I honestly don't believe they really think that. I think it's just a thinly veiled dig at other women's personal choices that are different to their own.

Thinly veiled but very nasty.

crazyasafox · 15/06/2019 00:59

@WorraLiberty

Yes it IS a horrible thing to say and it IS a dig.

But why? If women want to do it, so what?

Are these other women jealous and insecure because they haven't got the nerve to shave all their pubes off or something???

over50andfab · 15/06/2019 00:59

I’m still hoping someone will answer my question re the best (safest) implement to do a decent strim- as in undercarriage shortening etc...please???

justbeniceplease · 15/06/2019 01:01

Women certainly get the rawest deal. Not only are they under pressure from the porn industry and from men, they have to explain themselves to other women too.

This has literally never happened to me. Only on Mumsnet have I ever been aware of anyone's choose regarding public hair. The porn industry and men have literally NEVER made me feel under pressure.

crazyasafox · 15/06/2019 01:01

@over50andfab

Any disposable razor will do. Just used some soap/shower gel to 'shampoo' the pubes, then just gently shave. Really simple. Only the outside. So you don't risk hurting yourself (inside anywhere!!!)