In the interest of making sure you're shaving your vulva safely and effectively, here's a step-by-step guide for how to shave your pubic area from start to finish, plus how to treat and prevent razor burn near the vagina including reasons why you get pimples on the vagina after shaving and what to do.
How to Shave Your Pubic Area in 6 Steps
1. Trim Hair
Shaving your pubic area is easier when you've already trimmed off any excess hair. Grab a pair of small scissors and trim your pubic hair so it's only a few centimeters long.
2. Exfoliate
Use a loofah, washcloth, or exfoliating sponge to gently exfoliate your skin before shaving. Exfoliating first will allow you to shave the hair as near to the root as possible. Harsh exfoliants aren't necessary and can actually do more harm than good in your pubic area. A simple scrub-down is all you need.
3. Apply Shaving Cream
Apply a generous amount of shaving cream to the areas you want to shave. It's best to use fragrance-free shaving cream on the area, as creams with fragrance can irritate the delicate skin.
4. Shave
Pull the skin taut and shave in the direction of your hair growth to avoid irritating the hair follicle.
5. Rinse
Rinse away any excess shaving cream and dry off.
6. Moisturize
Follow up shaving by applying a fragrance-free lotion. If you're about to get dressed and go out, you can also put on powder to prevent rubbing or chafing (talc-based powders or baby powder are not recommended).
People with sensitive skin or thick pubic hair may find that razor burn is hard to prevent. Razor burn near the vagina is a common experience associated with pubic shaving. Pubic razor burn will go away on its own in time and does not necessarily require treatment. The following home remedies may also help reduce skin irritation from razor burn:
- Use a cool compress: Applying a cool compress to the affected area could help reduce skin swelling and soothe razor burn.
- Soak in a warm bath: Taking a warm bath may open up the pores and relieve swelling and skin irritation.
- Wear loose cotton clothes: Wearing breathable, loose fabrics that do not rub against the skin may help reduce irritation and discomfort.
- Bathe in oatmeal: Oatmeal baths are a traditional remedy for soothing the skin and relieving itchiness. The starch and beta-glucan in oatmeal are protective and moisturizing. Oatmeal also contains phenols that have an anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effect.
- Massage in coconut oil: Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer with antiseptic qualities. Because coconut oil is solid in cooler climates, it melts into the skin as a person applies it, which may feel soothing.
- Apply aloe vera gel: People have used aloe vera as a topical skin treatment for thousands of years. Although its wound-healing effects are unproven, applying aloe vera gel may help reduce irritation from razor burn.
Read on to see which of the following conditions are the source of your post-shave pimples, and what to do.
1-Ingrown Hair:
Perhaps the most common culprit behind vaginal pimples, ingrown hair is the result of shaving in the wrong direction, i.e. sideways or against the grain (opposite to the direction of hair growth). This improperly shaved hair regrows in the wrong direction, hence forming the characteristic small, sometimes prickly, raised bumps. People with curly pubic hair are also highly susceptible to ingrown hair.
Such pimples usually disappear on their own. However, consult your doctor if they start getting bigger, warmer, or more tender, which may indicate an infection.
2-Razor Burns:
An unexplained itch accompanied by red-colored rashes may indicate a razor burn. In some cases, small red bumps that are tender to the touch and emit burning sensations may also appear over the vaginal area. Also, they may occur throughout or only appear in one small patch despite shaving the entire area at the same time.
Like ingrown hair, pimples caused by razor burns usually resolve on their own. Just avoid shaving for a few weeks, and try an oatmeal bath, warm compress, or direct raw honey application in case of pain and itchiness.
3-Contact Dermatitis:
The hypersensitive nature of the vaginal area makes it highly susceptible to breakouts with even the slightest irritation. Dry shaving or shaving against the grain can be one such irritant, resulting in itchy, red pimples all over the vagina. Contact dermatitis may also result from certain creams, detergents, soaps, or deodorants.
In addition to avoiding the source cause, applying bland petroleum jelly or soaking in a warm bath infused with 5 tablespoons of baking soda for 10-15 minutes can provide significant itch-relief.
4-Folliculitis:
Ingrown pubic hair or shaved hair that curls back into the skin during regrowth can result in an infection in the vaginal area. Characterized by pus-filled bumps and red, swollen and inflamed vaginal skin, post-shave folliculitis can also be contracted from a dirty or moist razor that transfers the accumulated bacteria or fungi on the skin while shaving. It is further aggravated by sweaty and tight clothing.
Like all other shave-induced bumps, folliculitis pimples clear up on their own. Meanwhile, pain and itchiness can be relieved through oral antihistamines.
If pimples persist, consider alternate hair removal methods like hair removal creams, waxing, laser treatment, or electrolysis.
Another option is trimming the hair to keep it short, rather than removing it entirely. Doing this will prevent razor burn completely.