5 minute read
Summer is upon us and as the world slowly reopens, we’re (hopefully) making plans, seeing people, and taking part in this “hot girl summer" everyone’s been on about.
Through quarantine a lot of personal grooming that used to be the norm fell by the wayside. But, now that we can see people again and it's getting hotter outside, there may be some body modifications being considered by anyone putting on a bathing suit over the next couple of months. Body modifications like waxing, shaving and/or lasering off pubic hair.
So, let’s talk about why you might consider rocking a bush this summer.
All body hair is where it is for a reason. Nose hairs help keep out allergens in the air, eyelashes keep floating debris out of the eyeballs, and pubes help keep genitals safe and healthy.
There are exactly zero health benefits to removing pubic hair, which is ironic since various studies done on body hair cite the reason people often remove it is because it makes them feel “cleaner”.
Here are three incredible ways pubic hair can work for you and your vulva:
- It acts as a booby trap to stop any outside “debris”
Debris including bacteria which can cause infections such a BV, STDs (still use protection even if a bush is present, please) and viruses. Any of these, which could easily get to the skin on a bald vulva, has a much greater chance of getting caught in the pubic hair and thus not entering the body.
- It helps keeps skin smooth and free of irritants
Irritants such as itching bumps and ingrown hairs, which can be painful and lead to follicle infections such as folliculitis. The vulva skin is incredibly sensitive and the best way to care for it is truly to leave it alone.
- IT CAN REGULATE TEMPERATURE!
Can you believe that!? Most people don’t have their genitals in the open breeze on a regular basis so airflow can be tricky, especially when the weather gets hot. Hair helps to move sweat away from the vulva, helping eliminate risk of swamp crotch.
Big positives, and that’s not even counting the societal implications of normalizing body hair on women and/or those who present femme. There are very easy correlations to make between the presence of body hair and feminism, which is wonderful, however wouldn’t it be cool if body hair was truly neutral and a choice anyone could make without overt or covert messaging no matter where personal values lie?
A lot of articles available online now seem to deem the removal of body hair as a choice that is no longer affected by the media or pop culture. Seeing as the age range of when tweens and teens start removing body hair is younger then ever (just this year Vagisil released a line of “intimate care” targeted to youth that includes a vulva exfoliant and is flavoured like creamsicles), it’s hard to believe this is not still a loaded topic.
Of course, if you’re in the bush free camp, no judgement! Everyone should have the freedom to exercise their right to choose, despite what may be reflected back in media.
Whatever you decide to do with the hair down there, it's your body and it's nobody else's business!
Maybe this summer though, consider forgoing the full Brazilian and just asking for “a little off the sides”. Try it for the children!
