Is everyone who grooms the ladygarden secretly itchy?
August 5, 2012 6:56 AM Subscribe
Trimming my pubic hair is almost unbearably itchy. Is this fixable?
I am a woman. Sometimes I shave the edges of my public hair (my bikini line, I guess). This causes no problems.
Sometimes I trim my pubic hair, I like to trim it down to about one inch long, maybe a little shorter. This causes extreme itchiness as I am walking around and just going about life. I have talked to one female friend who does the same thing and has the same problem. What gives?
I know there are lots of women who trim, and I am guessing that not everyone has this problem. Do I need to trim shorter to avoid the itching? Is there some secret trick to avoiding itchiness? Am I just unlucky?
The itching tends to gradually stop after 1-2 weeks.
I am sure that it is not an STI (or caused by something other than trimming my hair), because I have been tested, I am monogamous, and I itch every time I trim, but never when I don't trim.
Please help!
I am a woman. Sometimes I shave the edges of my public hair (my bikini line, I guess). This causes no problems.
Sometimes I trim my pubic hair, I like to trim it down to about one inch long, maybe a little shorter. This causes extreme itchiness as I am walking around and just going about life. I have talked to one female friend who does the same thing and has the same problem. What gives?
I know there are lots of women who trim, and I am guessing that not everyone has this problem. Do I need to trim shorter to avoid the itching? Is there some secret trick to avoiding itchiness? Am I just unlucky?
The itching tends to gradually stop after 1-2 weeks.
I am sure that it is not an STI (or caused by something other than trimming my hair), because I have been tested, I am monogamous, and I itch every time I trim, but never when I don't trim.
Please help!
I think it's probably for one of two reasons. Either just simply the sharp edges of newly-cut hair (for that, try conditioning to soften the hair?), or an awkward length that makes the curl of the hair point the ends back toward the skin. For the latter, you could try trimming to a slightly different length (short enough to lie flat, or a little longer than you've been leaving it).
Even on my head (I have curly hair), I find certain lengths itchy, while longer or shorter doesn't bother me.
posted by emumimic at 7:19 AM on August 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Even on my head (I have curly hair), I find certain lengths itchy, while longer or shorter doesn't bother me.
posted by emumimic at 7:19 AM on August 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm also a regular lady-area shaver. I shave once every 10 days or so. I find that I itch on Day 2-3, and every day after Day 10. At Day 10, I have about a half inch of hair.
My conclusions about this are the same as emumimic:
(1) On Day 2-3, I itch because of the sharp edges of the newly cut hair
(2) On Day 10, I itch because of some awkward combination between the length, how my hair grows, how my hair grows, and how my underwear rubs against it.
For Reason 2, if you were to go commando, does it itch? I realize this is harder to test, but it is worth it to understand whether the itch is caused by your clothing in any way.
posted by xmts at 7:30 AM on August 5, 2012
My conclusions about this are the same as emumimic:
(1) On Day 2-3, I itch because of the sharp edges of the newly cut hair
(2) On Day 10, I itch because of some awkward combination between the length, how my hair grows, how my hair grows, and how my underwear rubs against it.
For Reason 2, if you were to go commando, does it itch? I realize this is harder to test, but it is worth it to understand whether the itch is caused by your clothing in any way.
posted by xmts at 7:30 AM on August 5, 2012
This may or may not help you, but if you're using a tool that cuts hair to a point or inconsistently, try switching to a tool that cuts hair bluntly. Most beard trimmers have a guard that sets up hair to be cut by the blade at close to 90 degrees.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:47 AM on August 5, 2012
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:47 AM on August 5, 2012
Are you using an adjustable electric trimmer thingy? With detachable bits on the front for varying lengths? Or are you doing it by hand? The former is far superior, and you can experiment with comfortable lengths.
posted by elizardbits at 11:27 AM on August 5, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 11:27 AM on August 5, 2012
Hair conditioner before and after trimming helps a bunch. And, if it's still bothersome vaseline or moisturizing cream can make it more tolerable.
posted by mightshould at 3:40 PM on August 5, 2012
posted by mightshould at 3:40 PM on August 5, 2012
Are you using an adjustable electric trimmer thingy? With detachable bits on the front for varying lengths? Or are you doing it by hand? The former is far superior, and you can experiment with comfortable lengths.
This matches my experience with facial hair, and my partner's with body hair. A good quality trimmer should not leave things sharp and scratchy.
posted by Forktine at 6:34 PM on August 5, 2012
This matches my experience with facial hair, and my partner's with body hair. A good quality trimmer should not leave things sharp and scratchy.
posted by Forktine at 6:34 PM on August 5, 2012
Nthing a lotion you feel good about applying (slathering on even) near the ladyparts. I find that when I'm itchy right after a shave it's a skin irritation thing.
posted by koucha at 5:24 AM on August 6, 2012
posted by koucha at 5:24 AM on August 6, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by masquesoporfavor at 7:10 AM on August 5, 2012