For those who don't shave... how to deal with pubes and bathing suit? :)

[laohaire]

Was just curious. I'm not a strict non-shaver, and sometimes enjoy shaving, but do hate the pressure society puts on us women to be hairless all the time.

But the thing I hate the most is when I want to go swimming, I can't just throw on a bathing suit and jump in - I've got to shave! And I might even consider not shaving the legs or the pits, but I feel really self-conscious about having pubic hairs hanging out of the swimsuit. And then I get annoyed all over again that women basically "have" to wear this bathing costume that "forces" them to shave.

I have very average pubic hair; it's not growing halfway down my legs or anything like it does for some women, but all the same, you can see it if I'm wearing a bathing suit and don't shave. Surely that's the case for nearly every woman?

So what do you do? Just let it hang out? Specifically wear boy legs or other attire that cover it up? Do you shave the pubes just to swim even if you don't shave otherwise?

If you shave it, don't you get red bumps? Aren't they as ugly as pubic hair?

Gosh, what's a woman to do???

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Was just curious. I'm not a strict non-shaver, and sometimes enjoy shaving, but do hate the pressure society puts on us women to be hairless all the time.

But the thing I hate the most is when I want to go swimming, I can't just throw on a bathing suit and jump in - I've got to shave! And I might even consider not shaving the legs or the pits, but I feel really self-conscious about having pubic hairs hanging out of the swimsuit. And then I get annoyed all over again that women basically "have" to wear this bathing costume that "forces" them to shave.

I have very average pubic hair; it's not growing halfway down my legs or anything like it does for some women, but all the same, you can see it if I'm wearing a bathing suit and don't shave. Surely that's the case for nearly every woman?

So what do you do? Just let it hang out? Specifically wear boy legs or other attire that cover it up? Do you shave the pubes just to swim even if you don't shave otherwise?

If you shave it, don't you get red bumps? Aren't they as ugly as pubic hair?

Gosh, what's a woman to do???

I am VERY hairy and do shave my legs and armpits...but I've never had to shave my bikini area. I tend to wear suits with a wide crotch rather than high cut suits though. If the edges of my pubic region are showing in the suit it's not modest enough for my taste KWIM? I keep things trimmed so nothing floats it's way out while I'm swimming.

[laohaire]

My suits are very standard. Not high-legged, no thong, etc. Just your typcial one piece bathing suit. Of course I'm not sure your typical bathing suit is modest enough by my standards but that's another topic

[amcal]

I don't shave it all off but, in the summer I do use a moustache/beard trimmer just in the bikini area - it keeps the pubes at bay for quite a while and I don't get the razor bumps.

[Chamomile Girl]

I buy suits that have boyshorts or I wear board shorts.

[Ellien C]

I wear skirted suits for that reason. I found about 4 suits about 12 or 15 years ago and I remember thinking what a STEAL it was - you just put it on and wear it! No worries about anything sticking out. After 3 summers of complaining that they look like crap (and I only swim 6 or so times over the summer) I finally bucked up and paid for new Lands End skirted suits. I'm happy again.

[jimblejamble]

Check out athleta.com They have little swimming shorts...a bit pricey, but since it's nearly impossible to find bathing suits that cover what I want to be covered, it's worht it.

[rainyday]

Originally Posted by amcal

I don't shave it all off but, in the summer I do use a moustache/beard trimmer just in the bikini area - it keeps the pubes at bay for quite a while and I don't get the razor bumps.

That's what I do too. I have plenty and I don't like seeing tufts sticking out!

[ledzepplon]

Originally Posted by JessicaRenee

Check out athleta.com They have little swimming shorts...a bit pricey, but since it's nearly impossible to find bathing suits that cover what I want to be covered, it's worht it.

I second that. The suits are very high quality (the two I have ordered, anyway) and they fit very nicely. I love the skirts and shorts options they offer. I think they have a lot on sale right now, too.

[jenP]

I fifth the recommendation for skirted suits or shorts.
I have no qualms about being hairy and letting it show, I don't try at all to hide my pit hair or leg hair. But for me, I feel pubes are more private and personal so I do wear something that covers them. (but that's just me - I do not pass judgment on women that let it all hang out.) I will NOT shave them off - been there, done that, OUCH.

Jen

[ursusarctos]

The shorts idea is good! Though I've worn a normal bikini bottom without shaving and it's been ok. I'm just careful to keep checking to make sure it hasn't shifted too far over to one side or the other Usually I do shave the edges of my pubes though when I shave my legs (which is rarely but more often in the summer). I find that using a brand new razor and strictly not shaving against the grain helps me mostly avoid red bumps in that area. Also keeping the hair trimmed can help it not peek out at the sides.
I agree with your frustration about basically being forced into shaving by a standard bathing suit shape though...

[sandravb79]

OP, what about waxing? There are a lot of natural "wax recipes" out there, with sugar and honey and whatnot.

[YinYang]

I'm not sure if this falls way off the Mothering spectrum but I swear one of the very best investments I ever made was laser hair removal in that area.

Shaving or not, I had a lot of issues with ingrown hairs that would become problematic and grossly infected. Always made me feel unclean and nasty - not good in that region!

It did cost around $1000 when all was said and done (can't remember, $x amount per visit) but I will say that while it took me a good 5-6 treatments, even after just TWO, I could have easily gotten away with wearing skimpy bikinis to my heart's content.... and had about a 75% reduction in the ingrown hair / infection department.

Well worth the investment. I'm not a wealthy girl and I still find this to be money very well spent (over waxing and other expensive cover ups). JMHO.

And I can say now, I truly don't remember the last time I shaved! :

Good luck!

[MoonStarFalling]

I don't shave but I do trim with a beard trimmer plus length guard (pits and pubes). Cuz I don't like them 6 inches long

I always wear skirted suits though. I really don't want people seeing my crotch even if it was hairless. The shorts seem to be really popular now.

[leavemealone]

I get DH to wax the edges where it would show when wearing a suit.

[laohaire]

I have to say, if I'm not a shaver I certainly wouldn't be a waxer! To me, waxing is the extreme of shaving, on the other end of the continuum.

I like the swimsuits with boy shorts and so on. Maybe someday I'll be out of debt and can afford one! (Honestly, I'd like to mail order one of those gorgous model bodies for myself to go along with it.. sigh).

[ursusarctos]

Originally Posted by laohaire

(Honestly, I'd like to mail order one of those gorgous model bodies for myself to go along with it.. sigh).

Actually, I don't know if you've tried them yet but at times when I've had more, ah, curves I've found boy shorts much more flattering than bikini bottoms. So you may not need one of those model bodies!

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by ursusarctos

Actually, I don't know if you've tried them yet but at times when I've had more, ah, curves I've found boy shorts much more flattering than bikini bottoms. So you may not need one of those model bodies!

Yeah, they probably would look better!

I still need one of the model bodies

Don't mind me, it's just been something I've been working on this year (and haven't gotten anywhere!!). It's my midlife crisis (at age 32) or something.

[sunnysandiegan]

Originally Posted by laohaire

It's my midlife crisis (at age 32) or something.

That struck me as hilarious...

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by ursusarctos

Actually, I don't know if you've tried them yet but at times when I've had more, ah, curves I've found boy shorts much more flattering than bikini bottoms. So you may not need one of those model bodies!

really? Because I found them to be less flattering on me as I got older and rounder. I like the old lady skirts now. They cover that mommy pooch on my belly.

I waxed my pits once last year for my HS reunion and it wasn't too bad. It was just like ripping a bandaid off. I think it helped that the hair was long and I'm just not that hairy.