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Dear Jo & Ross,

I really enjoy your column in the buzz and have an idea — waxing. Whether it be men or women, bikini or back, I think it would be a good topic.

— Maggie

Thanks for writing us, Maggie. We agree. There is a lot to say about keeping or cutting pubic hair and almost as many ways to style one’s pubes — from shaggy to Mohawk to bald.

We adorn our bodies in a number of ways. We may style our facial and head hair, get a tattoo or pierce our ears, eyebrows, nipples or lips. We all do something on a daily basis to add to or adjust the way our bodies look — and for many different reasons. Waxing our body hair is no different.

Removing pubic hair has been around for centuries. In some cultures, hair removal can be traced back as far as 4000 BC. In Western society, as fashion covered less area, women removed more pubic hair. In recent years, bodybuilders and male fashion models have led the trend for men to also remove their body hair. Besides waxing, some people shave, “sugar” (a process using a honey-like substance) or use electrolysis or laser processes to make themselves smooth.

Styling Your Love Fuzz

Traditional bikini wax removes the hair on the inner thigh not covered by a bikini bottom. Some women choose to remove some or all hair around their anus and labia as well, which sometimes gets called a Brazilian wax, Playboy strip or a French wax (leaving a “landing strip” along the opening of the labia majora). Men may also get a Brazilian, removing the hair from their scrotum, shaft and anus. For both men and women, hair may be left on the top of the pubic bone, often styled like a triangle, rectangle or heart.

There are many reasons why folks choose to remove their hair. Some people believe that removing their hair is more sanitary because hair may hold the body’s odors or secretions. Ironically, one of the hypothesized purposes for pubic hair in humans is to help transmit pheromone odors. Others find that their genitals are more aesthetically pleasing without (or with less) hair, allowing their partners and themselves a better peek at their packages. In fact, some men may wax because the absence of hair may gain them an “optical inch” in length. For others, waxing increases the sensations in the smooth, sensitive skin around their vulva, anus and penis.

There are also expectations upon men and women to fit certain beauty standards. In Sex and the City, Miranda gets chastised for pubic hair peeking out from her bathing suit. In porn, most of the actors are hairless. Hair above the waist is also viewed with scorn — mustached or hairy-legged women or men with back hair (for example) become the butt of jokes. Definitely, our own decision to remove, change or maintain our body hair is complex, but we can’t deny that there’s a lot of pressure suggesting that being hairless is “sexier.”

Waxing Down

If you decide to wax, here are some important tips. Waxing requires enough hair to grab onto, so do not shave beforehand. You can trim the longer hairs down to 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch before waxing. Shaving beforehand can also irritate the skin, which will make the waxing process more painful. If you’re having a professional perform the waxing, you may want to freshen up beforehand with personal cleaning wipes, but don’t take a shower immediately beforehand. A shower will soften the hairs and skin, making the removal process less effective.

There are many at-home kits for hair removal, and many people choose to use these for cost, convenience and privacy. Although professional waxing can be expensive, they are often less painful and faster. When choosing a professional, find out how experienced they are at the process, and make sure you feel comfortable with them.

Is It Right for You?

Removing your hair is your personal decision; there are usually no health reasons to either keep or chuck your pubes. At the same time, the way we look may change the way we feel about ourselves, in part because of the ways our peers, our partners and the media say our bodies should look. Getting in touch with how you enjoy your body and what makes you feel sexy will help you decide.

The beauty of pubic hair is that no matter how you style it, it always comes back. Most changes that you make (waxing, shaving, etc.) are not permanent, so if you decide you like it better another way, your pubic hair is very forgiving.

Next week, we’ll talk about taking back the night.