Pubic Hair, Shaving, and Those Little Bumps: What Is Normal

Growing hair in new places

This week several of you asked about hair "down there": why it is on the area a swimsuit covers, when people start shaving, and what those little bumps are. These are great questions, and they are completely normal to wonder about.

Growing pubic hair is one of the early signs of puberty. It usually starts as a few soft hairs and slowly becomes thicker and curlier over time. Everyone's amount, color, and thickness is different, and there is no "right" way for it to look.

Why do you even grow it?

Pubic hair is not a mistake or something to be embarrassed about. It actually has jobs:

• It helps protect the sensitive skin underneath.
• It reduces rubbing and friction.
• It helps trap and move away sweat and bacteria.

In other words, your body grew it on purpose, and it is a healthy sign that you are developing.

Do you have to shave or remove it?

Here is the honest answer: no, you do not have to remove any of it. Whether to shave, trim, or leave it completely alone is a personal choice, not a rule.

• Lots of girls and grown women never remove theirs, and that is perfectly clean and normal.
• Some people trim or shave a little, often just the area near the edges of a swimsuit.
• There is no "correct" age to start, and there is no age you are supposed to start by. This is about what you feel comfortable with, not what anyone else expects.

If you are thinking about removing some, it is a good idea to talk to a parent or trusted adult first, so they can help you do it safely.

If you do decide to shave

Shaving pubic hair is more likely to cause irritation than shaving legs, because the skin is delicate. If you and a trusted adult decide it is okay, these help:

1. Do it in a warm shower or bath so the hair is soft.
2. Use a fresh, clean razor and plenty of soap or shaving gel.
3. Shave gently in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
4. Go slowly and only do the outer area, never inside.

Remember, hair grows back, so there is never any rush to do this.

What are those little bumps?

A few of you noticed small bumps and wanted to understand them. The most common causes are gentle and normal:

• Ingrown hairs, where a hair curls back into the skin instead of growing out. These can look like a small red or dark bump.
• Normal skin glands and hair follicles, which can feel like tiny bumps even when nothing is wrong.

The most important thing: please do not pick, pop, or squeeze them. Popping bumps can push in bacteria and cause irritation, soreness, or an infection, which makes things worse, not better. Instead:

• Keep the area clean and dry.
• Leave the bumps alone, and most calm down on their own.
• Loose cotton underwear helps your skin breathe.

When to check with an adult

Most bumps and ingrown hairs settle by themselves. Still, tell a parent or doctor if you notice:

• A bump that gets bigger, very red, hot, or painful.
• Something that oozes or does not go away after a couple of weeks.
• Itching or soreness that keeps bothering you.

Asking is never embarrassing. Doctors and parents have seen and heard it all, and they would rather help you feel comfortable.

The takeaway

Pubic hair is a normal, healthy part of growing up. You do not have to remove it, there is no deadline to do anything, and those little bumps are usually nothing to worry about as long as you leave them alone. Your body is yours, and you get to decide what feels right, with a trusted grown up to help. Sosô is here for the rest of the questions.