3 Reasons Why You Should Let the Carpet Match the Drapes

This No Shave November and beyond…

In preparation for going to third-base with her camp boyfriend, 13-year-old Nora Schwartz shaved her pubic hair. No one told her to do it, but it just felt right.

“Shaving does make me feel good,” said Schwartz, now a senior at Indiana University. “But I didn’t decide that, someone else did.”

Pubic hair — once a ’70s female porn star staple — has become increasingly tabú and more unfashionable than crocs. Despite the inconvenience of grooming, Schwartz is among a whopping 84% of women who report shaving their pubes, according to a study published in the JAMA Dermatology journal. Here are three reasons why you should put the razor down and let the carpet match the drapes.

1. Shaving doesn’t make you “cleaner.”

Somewhere between the dissolve of the iconic bush and present day, pubic hair was stigmatized as unclean. 59% of participants in the aforementioned study reported shaving for hygienic purposes — but who said pubes are dirty?

Dr. Debby Herbenick, a sex educator at IU, believes that when porn ushered in the crazy of bare genitals, it unintentionally correlated shaving with cleanliness. In reality, shaving can lead to painful ingrown hairs and leave people with vaginas more susceptible to contracting STIs.

“Celebrity discussion from women like Gwyneth Paltrow and characters in Sex and the City created this idea that more people were removing their hair,” Herbenick said. “But fads disappear and things go back and forth all the time.”

2. It’s expensive.

Women love DIY projects, so it’s no surprise that 94% of women in the JAMA study reported performing their own grooming; which is great, because replenishing stockpiles of razors isn’t costly — until you do the math and calculate a lifetime’s expense.

The average woman shaves 12 times a month and spends roughly $16 on shaving products, according to a survey conducted by the American Laser Centers. That’s about $192 yearly, and $10,000 over a lifetime. Imagine the shoes you could buy with those savings (or the causes you could support!).

3. Does your partner even like it?

Many women believe their partner prefers a clean, shaven look, according to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Schwartz admits that she shaves because she wants to maximize her attractiveness and “get the best sexual response from the dude.”

But after seven years of actively grooming her pubic hair, she realized that the men she went out with never complemented her on the bare look.

“A common misconception is that all guys mind pubic hair,” said Josh Liss, an IU alumni. “But it’s a nice surprise when I see a girl who hasn’t shaved.”

Shaving for male preference is common within the heterosexual hook-up culture because the woman doesn’t know what her partner wants, according to Herbenick.

“The gamble you take is, ‘I feel more of them prefer hair free than not, so I’m gonna go hair free,’” Herbenick said. “But many people find out when they’re in a long-term relationship that most people just don’t care.”

Ladies — skip the chore and let the hedges grow wild. You can use that extra time in the shower for something else. ?

No Shave November is a movement to promote cancer awareness and prevention education. To participate and support the cause, please check out No-Shave November and get involved!

Header image edited by Marcy Gooberman

Must be looooooove on the braaaaain 🧠. Or was that s£x? 👀🤭 Our brains are our largest s£x organs and sometimes they get a little sad, hyperactive, anxious, or overwhelmed. You won’t always be in the mood for s£x and that’s okay! Keep communication with your partner open and ongoing, check in with yourself and your mental health, and lean on the support of a trusted therapist or doctor if you need some extra guidance. 🫶🏽 Anything you would add?

I mean 😏

It is not wrong nor should it feel shameful to ✨seek pleasure.✨ I think those of us who grew up more religious were taught that you should always be in service of others and giving of yourself rather than concerned with our own needs or passions. While it is wonderful to be generous with giving (and can in fact be a source of pleasure), it should be equally encouraged to pursue your own pleasure — it whatever form it may take! It may feel self-indulgent, but why is that a bad thing? Pleasure boosts our mental health. It helps us cope with a difficult world, with anxiety, depression, and stress. It makes us feel good! It gives us something to look forward to. Pleasure helps us connect with others and with ourselves. Pleasure (as long as it is not at the expense of someone else’s safety or well-being) should be a priority, for our joy and for our health. It really is so important! Where do you find pleasure? I personally love a good massage… 💆🏽‍♀️

It’s time for a talk, friend. Let’s be clear, you nor your partner ever has to do *anything* you’re not comfortable with. That said, if it’s something you enjoy and that’s pleasurable to you, it’s okay to ask your partner for it! They can say no, but if they invalidate your pleasure, much less expect you to do something they won’t do?? The ball is then in your court to decide if this is the partner for you. You deserve someone who cares about and prioritizes your pleasure. Who is thrilled to be acquainted with your body, all of it! S-x can be vulnerable to talk about, but when you do…it’s so much better. 👅 included. Ask your partner what their hesitations are and have a *conversation.* Maybe they’re nervous, intimidated, or struggling with shame. Maybe they’re down to try other things you would enjoy and build up to it. The point is, it shouldn’t just be automatically dismissed. You can decide what’s right for you and what makes you feel aroused, validated, and appreciated. Whatever you do, don’t internalize their rejection. Your body is beautiful, desirable, and definitely worthy of pleasure. 😋🥰

A UK study published in the International Urogynecology Journal found that only 46% of participants correctly identified that a female has 3 holes in the external genitalia. 😬 Not great. We’re taught so desperately little about our bodies and so discouraged from exploring them that we don’t even know what we’ve got going on down there! Understanding your own anatomy (and getting educated on your partner’s anatomy) can boost pleasure 1000x!! So take a mirror, use your hands, and get comfy exploring! 🪞🕵🏽‍♀️ And if you really want to get informed (and inspired 😉), head to our website for our basics on pleasure and anatomy. What do you think? Could YOU correctly label a diagram of what lies beneath?

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