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!

I have a daughter and I also have sons. As a parent, it's my job that they don't get any funny ideas to do with his women should look. My sons have seen enough of my body to not harbour any unrealistic expectations of their future girlfriends.
Why can't people accept that women can do what they want, and ENJOY with their own bodies without outside influence. Is the idea distasteful that a female might enjoy anal sex, or oral sex without pubes? God forbid. This all must be to do with MEN, because girls are too nice for that....

It's okay Womble, you're nearly at the age when growing it back is no longer a choice.

Porn has influenced this, the camera gets a better view if a woman doesn't have hair. That hair has got less and less.... now men are doing it. To be fair if my DH removed his hair I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole.

These women saying they do it for themselves and there is no pressure are hilarious.

Right, like you really spend the time and ££ on getting on all 4s in front of a stranger to have the hair ripped off your fanny and arse crack as an act of self love. So dishonest.

And if you're worried about hygiene - does that mean you all shave your heads, too? Because there's a lot of grime, sweat, grease and dead skin that accumulates on a scalp. But of course you don't.

Of course you have bald bits and a full head of hair.

Because that's how society likes you.

My son's girlfriend tells me that all the 'posh' girls (her words and she was referring to her private school friends) are now definitely not shaving. This is London and may be different elsewhere.

I think it's a trend. I'm not into trends.

So, is there a secret to not getting red blotches, or itchy, or stubbly? Or do you just get used to it?

Yep - get it done by a professional! And over time you get less/finer hairs growing which also means no itch.

It seems that in communal changing rooms they have seen some other women naked and think hair is dirty and gross, preferring the shaved look. Where does this even come from?

This has actually made me think - I have never and would never tell my DS that hair is gross, but the only female he has seen naked is me, and I'm completely hair free. I have no idea whether he even knows that some women are really "bushy" (and not about to ask because he is only 10). But now I'm wondering whether he might grow up having a "preference" to bare if that's what he is used to seeing IYSWIM?

@SheSparkles "Pubic hair naturally thins out as we age, she why is the reference always to being child like-surely it should be OAP like?" Do you really need to ask?

@Glitter I lose it through illness. Sometimes I have a flair up. Sometimes I don't. I spend a couple of quid and do it myself.

I don't shave my head because I don't lose massive blood clots through my scalp every month. Plus I wash my hair. I like to avoid needing a shower every time I change sanpro (which for the first 48 hours is every 30 mins to an hour...)

@JacquesHammer
You have a medical issue. Clearly not my target audience.

pina well tell your son that women actually DO have pubic hair, for goodness sake! He needs to know what men and women naturally look like!

@sunandmoonshine May I explain what I mean by "You may find it very creepy women have made this connection. I find it very creepy you have not."

This does not mean that every man who likes women shaved will have the same thoughts. And it is fine to defend your preference or anyone else's. But I think pretending that you cannot see why some women are worried or concerned is or appears to be disingenuous.

However it's no coincidence that young women are getting vaginal bacterial infections through this sort of extreme grooming.

Eh?? Data to back that statement up?

The only time I ever get an infection is when I take antibiotics. See previous post about how long I've been having a full wax.

then surely this would still have been quite a widespread phenomenon before ten advebt of the Internet.
And it wasn’t

The lady who owns the salon I go to would tell you that they have been doing waxes (be that full Hollywood or a Brazilian strip) at least daily for YEARS - she's told me people are more open about it these days.

I'd be interested to hear the views of any beauticians or salon owners if there are any on here to see if their experience is similar?

*These women saying they do it for themselves and there is no pressure are hilarious.

Right, like you really spend the time and ££ on getting on all 4s in front of a stranger to have the hair ripped off your fanny and arse crack as an act of self love. So dishonest.*

Ok @GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz ok so I'm a liar and cannot possibly think for myself......?

"If it’s was just that people feel more comfortable talking about it, then surely this would still have been quite a widespread phenomenon before ten advebt of the Internet."

It was, Google the hair removing habits of older Cultures.

Queen Victoria banned it during her reign.

The removal of public hair has always been discoraged when female sexuality is being surpressed and sex is back to being a Male/reproduction activity.

@Atticusss it is 100% your choice, shave or whatever or don't. How you feel is up to you. The healthcare professional will not be phased but YOU need to not be phased once you have made your choice. If you choose not to shave just be confident that this is you, as you are and do not allow one single person to make you feel bad about it.

Excellent comments by @ArcheryAnnie

@Anniethinggose I think you are very naive about how much influence you have/will have over the opinions of your children. I wish your ideas were correct and we just gave them a positive image of life and a positive body image! It's not that simple. If it has been for you you are either an excellent parent or very lucky, or both.

Of course I accept women can enjoy their own bodies, but society doesn't work in a void. Do you think whether your kids enjoy sex will be down to you?

I have a teenage daughter, I've never said anything negative about her, about body hair or anything to do with her body. But she is already shaving her legs. She says it is nothing to do with what anyone else thinks.

Maybe that is true but in reality our society views (especially on women in society) are deeply influenced by cultural expectations, opinions of others around us (boys, girls, not just parents). I agree with @shhhfastasleep I tried instil body confidence in my preteen (in the past) and now teen. And I agree"... I'm taking the "don't identify pubes as an issue " approach for now."

I find it quite cringey when people lament over how much better their sex life is now they are shaven. Usually middle aged women who have rediscovered their sex life after a poor partner. I've done both and it didn't make any difference to me. Actually unshaven is better because I'm not planning on when I can shave before potential sex or worrying about stubble. I honestly don't see how unshaven makes oral SO much better. I've never had someone lick my labia during oral sex thank goodness. Shaven or not shouldn't make any difference in that aspect.

Implying unshaven people who like lights off during sex or people who don't like anal are prudes is equally pathetic. You don't sound like a fun, sexually independent woman; you sound like a victim of patriarchy and porn for men.

@GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz

I think you're lying to yourself about why you make the choices you make, yes

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream he does know, (DH is as hairy as they come, from head to toe!) and he knows that I "remove" my hair, I'm just pondering the point that at 10 he hasn't SEEN it, there's a difference between knowing and seeing for yourself!

I absolutely wouldn't want him to think one is good one is bad when he is an adult, but the comment from the pp just made me wonder whether I am subconsciously or inadvertently making him have a preference?

Also the comments about children are just to shut the discussion down.

I hate facial beards and I like men to tidy up, down there, at least. I'm not into children, though.

It doesn't matter what I do to my lower regions, at 50, fully through the Menopause and birth/miscarriages, I certainly don't look childlike.

@Birdsgottafly "The removal of public hair has always been discoraged when female sexuality is being surpressed and sex is back to being a Male/reproduction activity."

Lots of cultures have practiced the removal or trimming of female hair in the past. Muslim culture (apparently), Japanese culture, etc and I don't know many cultures remotely interested in promoting female sexuality. Almost all cultures have suppressed female sexuality so not sure how you can necessarily align the two things.

@PinaColadaSong
I mean you've said you go for a wax for hygiene reasons. Do you not shower daily then? And what about your head as mentioned earlier? Does your love of hygiene not extend to your scalp?

About the itching/ingrown hairs, it's all down to genetics/pot luck. No amount of 'professional' epilation is ever going to stop me getting abcesses, and I am not unusual in that. Even in my legs. And I very, very rarely shaved, have waxed from age 12. And yes, due to pressure exclusively. Which pisses me off greatly. In fact, I get pissed off every time I epilate, because I KNOW it's is dure to pressure and pressure alone.

Suggesting that it's not down to pressure is simply absurd. Of course it is.

The day underarm shaving becomes the norm I am moving to the North Pole. Something else to waste women's scarce time/dwindling stores of energy on FFS!!!

On a more serious note, pina's post is actually very important - children need to know what a natural/normal body looks like. Please shavers and non-shavers alike, do make sure you do this.

@Atticusss

Removing all pubic, underarm and leg hair is the modern way. It is as common as daily bathing or showering is, these days.
It feels clean and comfortable. I cannot imagine not wanting to feel fresh always.