Body hair, also known as androgenic hair, is the terminal hair that develops on the human body during and after puberty. It's distinct from head hair and the less visible vellus hair. The growth of androgenic hair is linked to androgen levels and the density of androgen receptors in the dermal papillae. From childhood, vellus hair covers almost the entire body, excluding areas like the lips, palms, soles, and certain genital areas. The density of hair follicles varies among individuals. Androgenic hair follows a similar growth pattern to scalp hair but with a shorter anagen phase and a longer telogen phase.
Like leg, arm, chest, and back hair, androgenic hair starts as vellus hair. As people age, the hair in these regions becomes darker and more abundant, a process that occurs during or after puberty. Men often experience more abundant and coarser hair growth on the arms and back, while women experience a less drastic change but a significant change in hair thickness.
Pubic hair is the coarse hair found in the pubic region, often extending to the thighs and abdomen. The genital area is initially covered by shorter, lighter vellus hairs, which develop into darker, thicker pubic hair at puberty. This development is triggered by gonadotropin hormones from the pituitary gland, which stimulate testosterone production in the testicles and ovaries. The average age for pubic hair growth is 12 in males and 11 in females.
Zoologist Desmond Morris suggests that pubic hair acts as a scent trap, disputing theories that it developed to signal sexual maturity or protect the skin from chafing during copulation.
Just as scalp hair color varies, so does pubic hair color. Patterns of pubic hair, known as the escutcheon, also vary between sexes and individuals. In most females, the pubic patch is triangular and lies over the vulva and mons pubis.
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Pubic hair serves several important functions:
The skin in the genital region is delicate, and pubic hair acts as a protective buffer, reducing friction during sex and other activities. It's easier to rub hair against hair than skin against skin. Pubic hair may also help keep the genitals warm, which is important for sexual arousal.
Like eyelashes or nose hair, pubic hair traps dirt, debris, and potentially harmful microorganisms. It may protect against infections like cellulitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), vaginitis, and yeast infections.
Pubic hair appears at puberty, signaling sexual maturity and the ability to reproduce. It may have served as a visual cue for prospective mates in the past.
Pubic hair may trap pheromones, scent-carrying chemical secretions that affect mood and behavior, potentially increasing attractiveness to potential sex partners.
Read also: Confident Skin: Bikini Waxing Aftercare Tips
Despite the belief that pubic hair is unhygienic, it's not inherently so. Like other body hair, it traps sweat, oil, and bacteria, potentially leading to a slightly stronger odor. Regular washing should alleviate any concerns.
Grooming pubic hair has been common for centuries, with modern trends influenced by increased accessibility to porn, where hairlessness is the norm. Many remove pubic hair to conform to aesthetic standards, with some studies indicating that a significant percentage of women groom their pubic hair because they believe it makes their genitals more attractive. Partner preferences and personal comfort also play a role in grooming habits.
Hair removal, the deliberate removal of body or head hair, has been practiced in almost all human cultures since the Neolithic era. It may be done for cultural, aesthetic, hygienic, sexual, medical, or religious reasons. Standards of physical appearance and attractiveness vary for females and males across cultures.
Forms of hair removal have been practiced for centuries, using various tools and substances. Ancient Rome associated hair removal with status, linking smooth skin to purity and superiority.
Depilation removes the part of the hair above the skin's surface, with shaving or trimming being the most common method. Epilation removes the entire hair, including the part below the skin, using methods like waxing, sugaring, epilators, lasers, threading, intense pulsed light, or electrology.
Read also: Pubic Hair Loss: What You Need to Know
Waxing involves applying melted wax to the pubic hair, which adheres to the hair and pulls it out when the wax is quickly removed from the skin, usually with a cloth strip. Different types of bikini waxes include American, French, and Brazilian waxes, each removing varying amounts of hair.
Sugaring is an alternative to waxing that uses a sugar-based paste, which may include lemon, rather than wax.
Other hair removal methods include the use of chemical depilatory creams and drugs that directly attack hair growth or inhibit the development of new hair cells.
Each culture has developed social norms relating to the presence or absence of body hair, which have changed over time. In Western and Asian cultures, many men shave their facial hair, while women are often encouraged to remove hair growth in various areas, such as the underarms, legs, and pubic hair. In contrast, some Middle Eastern cultures mandate the removal of male and female body hair for hygiene purposes.
Different religions have varying stances on hair removal. Judaism does not obligate women to remove body or facial hair, while the Baháʼí Faith recommends against complete and long-term head-shaving outside of medical purposes. Sikhs oppose all forms of hair removal. The majority of Muslims believe that adult removal of pubic and axillary hair is religiously beneficial, while keeping the beard is recommended.
While hair removal is a common practice, it's important to be aware of the potential risks:
Pubic grooming injuries are surprisingly common, with cuts, burns, and rashes being frequently reported. In rare cases, these injuries may require medical attention.
Removing pubic hair may make a person more susceptible to common infections, such as UTIs, vaginitis, and yeast infections. Hair removal can also irritate the skin, leading to skin infections like cellulitis and folliculitis.
In rare cases, hair removal might result in the development of boils or abscesses in the genital area, which can develop from skin irritation and infections.
Limited research suggests that pubic hair grooming is associated with an increased risk of STIs, although more evidence is needed to determine if grooming directly contributes to this increased risk.
To reduce the risk of injury or infection during and after grooming, it's important to:
Pubic hair has been portrayed in art and culture throughout history. In 16th century southern Europe, Michelangelo showed the male David with stylized pubic hair, while female bodies were often depicted hairless. In the late 18th century, female pubic hair was openly portrayed in Japanese shunga (erotica).
The loss of fur in humans occurred at least two million years ago and may have aided persistence hunting in warm savannas. The modern-day notion of body hair being unwomanly can be traced back to Charles Darwin's theories, which associated body hair with "primitive ancestry" and suggested that less body hair was an indication of being more evolved and sexually attractive.
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