How to Shave Pubic Hair Near Your Vagina Before Sex

Trim your pubic hair so it's more manageable.

If the hair around your vagina is long, it will clog your razor quickly. Take a pair of clean, sharp scissors and trim the hair close to your skin. You may want to use blunt-nosed scissors designed for grooming your pubic area so you don't accidentally poke yourself. Sometimes, partners may want to trim or shave each other, but this isn't a very safe idea since you're more likely to accidentally cause injury.

Soak in a bath or hot shower for at least 3 minutes.

The hot water softens your hair and skin so shaving is easier. Working with hydrated, smooth skin can also prevent irritation and ingrown hairs so don't skip this step. It's fine to use hot water before you begin shaving, but you'll want to use warm water after you've finished since your skin will be super sensitive to heat.

Exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells.

Rub a loofah or exfoliating body scrub around your pubic area. Then, rinse off while you're still in the bath or shower. Exfoliating might not seem like a big deal, but it really helps your razor from getting clogged when you shave. Plus, it minimizes your chances of getting those dreaded ingrown hairs! It's totally fine to use a homemade scrub, too! Try a body scrub or simple sugar scrub.

Get into a comfortable standing position.

Don't try to shave while you're sitting or laying down. Research actually showed that more serious trimming injuries happened when the person was laying down. Instead, stand in the shower so you can lean forward slightly with your legs spread apart. This way you can see what you're doing. It may help to place a mirror on the ground below you so you can see your vagina better.

Apply shaving cream to your skin and let it sit for a few minutes.

Spread a generous amount of shaving cream near your vagina. Try to use a fragrance-free or sensitive shaving cream since these are less likely to irritate your skin. Then, wait a minute or two so the shaving cream can soften your skin and hair. You've probably heard that you can use baby oil instead of shaving cream. You can use this in a pinch, but the fragrance might bother your skin. Never use just soap to prepare your skin for shaving—it's not moisturizing and it won't protect your skin from irritation.

Shave down in the direction your hair grows.

Use your free hand to pull your skin taut and shave with downward strokes. After every 1 or 2 strokes, rinse the razor so it doesn't get clogged. Go slowly and apply more shaving cream if you feel like you need it. Keep shaving until you've removed as much of the hair as you want. You can use any type of razor as long as it's new and sharp. Dull blades make it harder to shave and you're more likely to nick yourself. Splurge on a quality razor—you can find razors with multiple blades or moisturizing strips for instance. While you can shave all the hair off or leave a strip, you can also play around with fun styles. Buy grooming stencils at most beauty supply stores. Just press the adhesive stencil to your pubic area and shave the hair around it. When you remove the stencil, you'll see a design like a heart, triangle, or lightning bolt.

Rinse your skin with warm water.

Let the water rinse away the tiny hairs and shaving cream. Keep the water temperature comfortably warm—you may be more sensitive to heat right now. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing your vagina since it probably feels pretty sensitive!

Wash your vagina if you used baby oil when shaving.

Mineral oil like baby oil can weaken condoms. So, if you're planning on getting some action after shaving, it's really important that you wash your vagina with soapy water to remove traces of the oil. A study showed that even 60 seconds of exposure to mineral oil reduced the strength of the condoms by 90%!

Moisturize immediately after shaving.

Massage lotion around your vagina to lock in moisture and soothe your skin. Get out of the bath or shower and pat your skin dry. Then, reach for a lotion that won't clog your pores to minimize your risk of getting ingrown hairs. These are labeled "Non-comedogenic" or "Won't clog pores." You might want a fragrance-free moisturizer or one that contains aloe vera gel since these are gentler on your skin. Try shopping for a moisturizer that's got the eczema seal approval—these are the best on sensitive skin. Again, skip moisturizing your skin with baby oil if you plan on using condoms for protection since the oil will weaken the latex. Don't apply aftershave or perfume to your vagina after you shave since it will really sting!

Wear loose clothes after shaving.

Skip tight panties and clothing since they'll rub against your sensitive skin. Friction can also cause bumps and you don't want that! Instead, wear soft fabric like cotton that's gentle against your skin. Natural fabrics also let your skin breathe rather than trap moisture.

Avoid scratching or picking the skin.

It's completely normal for your vagina to be a little red or bumpy after you shave. This is another reason why it's a good idea to shave the day before you plan on having sex. Give your skin time to calm down and resist the urge to scratch if it feels itchy. Sometimes, applying aloe vera gel or 1% hydrocortisone lotion can help. If you notice ingrown hairs, don't reach for the tweezers to pull the hair out. Instead, leave it alone so you don't introduce bacteria that could lead to an infection. Ingrown hairs will heal on their own.