Debunking Crazy Myths About Pubic Hair

#1 Myths about pubic hair you don't have to believe

Pubic hair are there for a reason. They are believed to protect you from certain harmful bacteria, provide cushioning and are nothing you need to be ashamed of. We bring you some common myths that play an important role in making women feel embarrassed about their pubic hair.

If you’ve ever wondered which of the myths about them are false and which are true, here are the facts you need to know.

#2 MYTH: Don’t Shave If You Have Sensitive Skin

I could just mean that you need to change your approach if you have sensitive skin and not stop shaving completely. Shaving aggressively real close to the skin and not using any type of emollient shave cream will make you more prone to breaking out or having a cut.

The bacteria in your nether region can easily have access to areas under your skin and may cause bumps and infections. If you’re keen about having your pubic area smooth, you can make use of a shave cream or any other hair-removal methods like waxing or laser hair removal.

#3 MYTH: Being hairless just feels better.

FACT: It’s completely subjective. Some people think hairfree hoo is better and feels nice but then there are others who feel the bushy cushion is better. Neither preference is right or wrong — it’s whatever floats your boat.

#4 MYTH: It’s nasty

No, it’s natural. Women have always had pubic hair and there shouldn’t be any pubic-hair shaming going on. If the argument for it being nasty is that it collects particles from the vagina you should remember that your vagina is actually a very clean place! The hair on your head, however, collects the nasty particles in the air every time you walk around the city.

#5 MYTH: It grows back thicker

Don’t be afraid to shave or wax because you think the hair will grow back thicker; this is simply not true. You will not fight off a growing army of unruly hairs if you do a little maintenance down there. It may, however, grow back coarser. But not thicker.

#6 MYTH: The hairier the woman, the more likely she is to bear twins.

The confused link between sexiness, fertility, and pubic hair in the early modern period resulted in some pretty weird ideas. The most basic equation was, the more pubic hair, the more babies you'll have — in one go. Italian physician Giovanni Marinello declared in 1563 that women with lots of pubes were much more likely to produce twins or triplets. (He was writing this in a book for ladies, too.)

#7 MYTH: It creates a smell

First off, pubic hair can actually mask some of the natural odor of the vagina. Think about it: it’s like a little fuzzy wall keeping the smell in. Furthermore, not only does pubic hair not produce a foul odor, it actually helps produce a good odor—that of pheromones.

#8 MYTH: It's where the Devil conceals his mark.

If you've ever studied the Salem Witch Trials, you'll know that witches, during the massive hysterical witch hunts in early modern Europe and America, were supposed to be the Devil's servants, and that the Devil left a "mark" on them to show it. Said marks could, conveniently, be anything from moles to boils — but the doctrine of the time said that they'd probably be under the pubic hair. Because it was so lascivious and sexy, you see. So a lot of "witches" endured unwanted shavings on top of everything else.

#9 MYTH: Men hate hair down there

FACT: A survey revealed that most guys don’t give a damn if you are bald or bushy there.

#10 MYTH: The carpet matches the drapes.

No. Just no. The outdated expression “Does the curtain match the drapes?” is, simply put, bullsh*t. In fact, for most women pubic hair tends to match eyebrow coloration. So, there’s that.

#11 MYTH: Pubic hair never stops growing.

Reality: Thankfully—for groomers and those who go au naturel—the hair stops growing when it reaches a certain point, says Askew. "It will stop and basically stay at a certain level, and then it will shed and new ones will grow," she says. The length at which it halts varies from person to person, but Shah says it generally stops between 0.5 and 2 inches. Eventually, it might even become thinner. "We typically see it after women go through menopause and they have hormone deficiencies," says Askew. "A majority of women experience not only losing the hair—maybe they'll go completely bald—but the hair will become much more sparse, much finer, and much less densely populated."

#12 MYTH: The more, the modest-er.

For some reason, the famous Greek surgeon Galen thought that an excess of fuzz would keep a woman modest. The thought process behind this? That the pubic hair would cover the vagina, and somehow make women less sexual. Obviously, this is not true. Next.

#13 MYTH: Pubic hair ruins sex

FACT: This one varies from woman to woman. Many think pubic hair leads to less friction between the sheets, making sex time a bit smoother. But, some women prefer the more intense feels that happen when they’re hair-free.

#14 MYTH: Pubic hair can turn into serpents and wicked monsters when a woman is menstruating

This particular medieval recipe for mayhem comes from a commentary on the De Secretis Mulerium, a text from the Middle Ages literally meaning "Women's Secrets," which has the charming warning that the pubic hair from a menstruating woman will turn into a serpent if you bury it in fertile earth and heat it up a bit. Lest you think this is an isolated incident, another text has it too, only the result is "wicked venomous beasts." It's literally monstrous compost.

#15 MYTH: It can be used as a love potion.

Pubic hair has been a powerful part of love potions in many societies, particularly in medieval and Renaissance Europe. It was put in potions with honey, mead, mandrake root, and rose petals, and served to the object of your desire. If that worked, lovers would proudly wear their ladies' pubic hairs on their sleeves — or in their hats; there's a persistent rumor that soldiers wore curls of pubic hair on their helmets as a favor. (In World War II, some soldiers apparently wore it on badges.)

#16 MYTH: It’s the same color as your other hair

A woman’s pubic hair typically matches her eyebrows more than it matches the hair on her head. And let’s not forget that women can dye their pubic hairs so you never know what you may find down there! If you do decide to dye down there, make sure you purchase dye specifically made for pubic hair—those for head hair can be too harsh

#17 MYTH: Pubic hair protects against STDs.

Reality: Actually, quite the opposite. Pubic hair acts as a breeding ground for bacteria. "There's no question that being hair-free in that area is cleaner simply because of the fact that the hair does provide bacteria," says Wendy Askew, MD, an ob-gyn with the Institute for Women's Health in San Antonio. While researchers haven't studied germs in pubic hair specifically, studies have shown alarming amounts of bacteria in men's beards, says Askew.

Still, many women incorrectly assume pubic hair protects them from genital warts and STDs that result from skin-to-skin contact. "Pubic hair alone is not sufficient enough to protect against STDs," says Sejal Shah, MD, a New York City dermatologist and RealSelf contributor. In fact, it could help the virus thrive. A Chinese study concluded HPV present in a man's pubic hair could lead to HPV-related issues in their female partners.

#18 MYTH: A Full bush is a Turn-off

Reality: Technically, it depends on your partner, but there is some evidence that pubic hair could be a turn-on because it’s full of pheromones. “The sebaceous glands, which are so prevalent in hair-bearing skin, produce what starts as an odorless secretion,” says Askew. “Then, it mixes with the bacteria that we have on the skin and in the hair, and it produces a scent called a pheromone. You will have more of an odor or a smell if you have pubic hair or if you don’t groom because the bacteria populations are going to be there.” People who are scent-sensitive might be attracted to it. Growl.

#19 MYTH: You can’t use shaving cream

In fact, you should use shaving cream. One of the major concerns with shaving down there is that the area dries up. Shaving cream moisturizes and protects the area so, by all means, use it, just try not to get any inside your vagina.