To think the no pubes thing is a trend....

[inmyshoos]

My previous career had me seeing people's genitals on a daily basis. Most had full pubic hair. Now I can see (mostly on naked attraction) that fully shaved is the fashion.
But was slightly surprised when a 50 something friend of mine said he prefers shaven as I assumed he would be less 'trendy' like me with my 80s stylefanny
Is it just a personal preference?? In my day at work it was defo rare to see fully shaved. Out of 20 people you'd be lucky if 2 were bald!

This is topical for me because I've just booked my well over due smear, and it's something I'm overly anxious about because I'm a very hairy person so don't feel comfortable going as is but also don't feel comfortable shaving it all off either and I've spent too long worrying about it. I used to have a small landing strip for years and shave everything else, but it took a lot of time and effort. First two pregnancies I shaved everything off because I couldn't see, third one I gave up and didn't shave at all.

When I realised that DH has stopped (he was shaven when we met years ago and isn't of the younger generations) I decided I was stopping too. I never thought I'd be comfortable enough not to shave it all. Now I occasionally trim it, or do bikini line only if I'm going swimming. But I'm anxious about the smear. It's so wild I need to trim it somehow I feel, especially as most women my age apparently shave it all off.

I have to say OP I thought you were in favour of it shaven off with your words 'lucky to find' in your first post, but see in further replies that isn't the case.

Archery, you're not allowed to say it comes from porn when posting about it on MN. I mean, what a ridiculous suggestion .
Ratonastick, I'm with you on this .

It always baffles me when people say hair is dirty and gross. It's keeping your vagina clean, so doesn't that mean the hairless ones are more likely to actually be dirty- exposed to all that bacteria the hair protects against?

It's the fact it's normal in porn which is why I don't want to do it anymore, aside from he ridiculous time and effort.

Interesting OP that your friend is in his 50s, wonder if he's been doing it for years as I know a few (very few) men who are hung up on being sweaty so shaved but that was years ago when they were very sporty.

Womblinglove and WhatToDoAboutThis2017

Have you ever tried anal sex?

I don't need to stick a pen in my eye to know what it's like! 🤣🤣🤣

There is the same pressure for men (well at least younger men) to be bald/shortly trimmed. It is a preference for a lot of people whether it be for tend reasons, for sexual enjoyment or both. If people are happy with it I see no problem. If begrudgingly because of pressure that is a problem.

I definitely feel it is a current trend, hopefully one that will end soon, I also agree with Honky about it's origins.

I have just spent a week in a rural part of an eastern european country with DD where access to health services were minimal and she developed an abscess on her fanny. This was caused by shaving and an infected hair follicle. Four days of agonising pain, no doctors and a very swollen labia before it burst. Some holiday for her.

Is it really worth it?

Atticusss
Please feel free to just leave your pubic hair exactly as nature intended. Healthcare professionals don't care if you're covered in hair from head to toe, as long as you're clean

My pre-teen has started to grow pubic hair. I don't shave (apart from the odd tidy up for swimming), am I supposed to tell her she should shave it because future sexual partners prefer it? Of course not! It's none of my business what she does with it as she grows up but, for now, it's not part of the stuff I give her guidance on - bras, periods etc.

I should probably mention that my ex used to shave occasionally too and it totally grossed me out. I used to just try not to look at his man bits like that!

shhh I think it is our business to make sure our pre-teens don't feel pressured into doing things they don't need to, like shaving off body hair. We need to instil them with the confidence not to follow the crowd and be a sheep.

You're too invested in other people's genitalia. I'm glad you've changed career because you should not be looking at women judging and thinking, 'yuk'.
I'm 30 and it was the 'trend' when I was a teenager so if it's still a 'trend', then it isn't new. Like shaving legs and underarms.
To answer your question, maybe before women had too many worries about having to bare all to a medical health practitioner, than bothering to shave for the occasion. Now waxing has risen in popularity and so being hair- free lasts longer.
The 'I don't see what's attractive about a child's vagina' argument is nonsensical. A child's vulva is a child's vulva. A grown woman's vulva is a grown woman's vulva.

I should probably mention that my ex used to shave occasionally too and it totally grossed me out. I used to just try not to look at his man bits like that

They are extra funny all bald aren't they?

You're too invested in other people's genitalia.

@Anniethingose the problem is, so is everyone else. Women who don't shave are told they are "dirty", can't have "good sex", are made to feel embarrassed about their natural state. Girl children who are far too young to be thinking about partners are already disgusted and embarrassed at their own developing bodies. Boys are already been taught that natural bodies are disgusting and unattractive. Incorrect information about hygiene is taking root.

I hope to instil body confidence in my preteen but I'm taking the "don't identify pubes as an issue " approach for now.

I can't shave because it's too itchy, it would drive me insane. I had a full wax a few years ago and felt SO much more comfortable and clean. It's totally personal preference but for me, it's about comfort!

The 'I don't see what's attractive about a child's vagina' argument is nonsensical. A child's vulva is a child's vulva. A grown woman's vulva is a grown woman's vulva.

I find men who want women to wear "schoolgirl" outfits weird and creepy too, despite the fact that a woman wearing a schoolgirl outfit is still just an adult woman wearing adult-sized clothing. Context matters.

I've never been told those things, archery and I won't be teaching my daughter she is dirty if she doesn't shave. Like me, she can do what she wants with her own body.
I've never been influenced indirectly, via a man, by porn or directly by porn so I wouldn't know about all these outside pressures by society.

ArcheryAnnie. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Totally agree!

I didn't mention anything to do with school girl fetish outfits! I agree on that.

My standpoint is laziness and comfort. I don't shave down there. I trim for length and shave the sides for swimming. I am dark-haired and my body hair has been the bane of my life for years. I used to get horribly bullied by lads at university over my arm hair (so used bodyhair bleach). But I could never be arsed to shave my legs (covered in tights and trousers - UK climate) or my undercarriage (wasn't on the radar then).

I go around naked loads around dd, so hopefully she'll see it as natural. I not convinced by people who claim that is no effort to shave their pubic hair. It is coarser than normal body hair - that is what makes it pubic hair. It will itch and it will cause ingrowing hairs for most people because of its structure. I'd like dd to escape the hassle if nothing else. Life is too short to shave your armpits let alone your intimate folds.

And 99% of the time no-one sees that area. I managed to avoid leg shaving while in relationships and got away with it most of the time. This reminds me of Caitlin Moran talking about women expecting spot checks for hotness and always wearing sexy knickers that would enable them to pass instead of big comfy ones.

I'm not saying what I do with my pubic hair because that's what OP wants. But if I wanted to have none at all, some, or all, then I like to think I can be trusted to make my own mind up about my own preference about my own comfort and appearance without garnering 'yuk' judgments by medical professionals or anyone else.
If I had no hair down there, I should not be viewed as some brainless, poor victim of some male agenda.

For the people who do remove all - how do you cope with the itching?

It doesn't happen. Get waxed or use cream. Exfoliate and moisturise daily.

I do find it wearing when people extrapolate "I find it cleaner for me" to "women who don't remove their hair are unhygienic"

I never so much as trimmed a bikini line until I lost my hair through illness. The revelation that first month when I menstruated and found out how much better it was FOR ME including no need for a strip wash each time I changed Sandro, way less soreness of skin was amazing.

It has made a pretty shitty time every month that much easier to deal with.

But on the other hand I can see how it would feel nicer (if not look more attractive) and I can also understand how other women don't mind putting in the time and effort. A bit like filed and polished nails versus untended nails.