There's a trend that has declared the bush is back. But for some of us, it never left.
Growing hair down there is really more of a personal preference than a fashion statement. And if we're honest, women have been doing it since the beginning of time. While I have yet to embrace this movement that still has dozens of ladies tossing their razor and ghosting the woman who does her Brazilian (I personally like a clean cut down there), if you're Team Bush, there are a few things you should consider making sure it's good to go… or, I guess grow.
Keep It Soft
Just like going natural, deciding to grow out your pubic hair is a lot easier said than done. While we like to think it's as simple as not shaving, there's a lot more to think about, sis. For starters, do you really want it to be rockin rough and tough? Just because you have a bush doesn't mean it can't be soft. Thankfully, there are actually products out there like Fur Oil that keep it silky and smooth. You can also take on regular routines like using hair conditioner (that doesn't have any flavor, alcohol, or fragrance), and of course staying hydrated.
Get That Shape Up
Okay, so it's not as critical as getting a shape up as if you were rocking a fade, but if you do want to keep your bush looking nice and neat, it might be a good idea to at least trim it every once in a while. No, it won't ever be stuntin' Rapunzel status, and it's definitely all about your preference. If you decide to shape it, you can go to a pro or save your coins and take care of it right in your bathroom. Feel free to use a trimmer, a pubic hair clipper, or even shears for your hair. Whatever you decide, we can all agree that down there is your sanctuary, so be sure to sanitize and clean everything before and after your grooming session.
Easy On The Products, Boo
Let's not throw off that pH balance. While it might be fun to test out new products and see how your hair down there responds, keep in mind it's not the hair on your head. It's much more fragile and attached to an even more fragile part of your body. I think it's a great idea to determine what works best for you and your body. And sometimes that can only be done through trial and error. But once you find a handful of your go-tos, use them wisely and try not to go all willy nilly. Be smart in your discovery of what works best for you and what you do and don't like, eliminating any products as needed.
Give It Some Room, Y’all
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Another tip in keeping your pubic hair maintained is being sure to give it breathing room often. And it goes beyond that liberating moment when you take off your pants as soon as you get home from work. (But don't that feel good, though?) I know you got it and you want to flaunt it but wearing looser clothes every once in a while is actually a great way to let your pubic hair get some much needed breathing space. As much as we love sexy underwear, thongs (are we still blaming Sisqo?), and whatnot, the healthiest underwear for your pubic hair are the cotton ones as they don't sport synthetic fabrics.
Prevent That Itch
Since you have more hair down there, your vagina could be prone to more itching. But of course there's a fix for that too. Using anti-fungal creams like Gold Bond, specialty vaginal creams such as Vagisil, and anti-itch and burn products like Cortizone (I think most of us can attest to spotting at least one of these tubes in our home at all times) regularly can help prevent any excessive and uncomfortable itching and evenchafing, which none of us are fans of. If these basics don't do the trick, you don't have to take on the big chop and shave it all off. There are more intense options out there for you like CeraVe's Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch cream.
Exfoliation Is The Key
We've all not only experienced ingrown hairs but have given in to the temptation to pick them. If you say you've never done that, you're lying (just kidding). But on a serious note, while we've always heard that it's vital to exfoliate our face, it's also vital to keep our area down there exfoliated as well. This can help prevent or at least reduce ingrown hairs that might try to fight their way through. Instead of using tweezers to show them who's the boss, try a sugar scrub, toner, or even an exfoliating pad. This will get rid of all that dead skin that's trying to stop your vagina from being great. It also strips out any unhealthy bacteria from your hair follicles, which is clearly a major win.
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I Had Chronic BV Until I Said Goodbye To Antibiotics and Hello to Holistic Health – Read More
Featured image by Getty Images
- Care For Pubic Hair Down There - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Guide To Pubic Hair Mainenance & Grooming - xoNecole: Lifestyle, Culture, Love, Wellness ›
- How Do You Shape Your Bush? - YouTube ›
- The Full Bush Is the New Brazilian! How to Transition Like a Pro ›
- 12 Reasons To Rock A Full Bush ›
- How To Grow Out Pubic Hair ›
- How To Landscape Pubic Hair Without Upsetting Your Vagina ›
- The Best Ways to Keep Your Pubic Hair in Check ›
- The Smart Girl's Guide to Grooming Your Pubic Hair ›
- How To Take Care of Your Pubic Hair | Teen Vogue ›
- How to Trim Your Pubic Hair (with Pictures) - wikiHow ›
- How To Care For Your Pubic Hair | Vaginal Health | THINX Blog ›
RELATED
Camesha created the organization after her struggles with mental health and the lack of community she experienced. The Chicago native explains how she created Sista Afya to be rooted in “culturally grounded care.”
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“So at my organization, Sista Afya Community Care, we focus on providing mental health care through a cultural and gender lens,” she tells xoNecole. “So when we think about the term intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, we think about the multiple identities that lead to certain experiences and outcomes as it relates to Black women.
“So in the context of culturally grounded care, being aware of the cultural history, the cultural values, and then also the current issues that impact mental health outcomes.”
Words like “strong” and “independent” have long been associated with Black women for some time and many of us have begun to embrace the soft life and are using rest as a form of resistance. However, some of us still struggle with putting ourselves first and overall shedding the tainted image of the “strong, Black woman” that had been forced on us.
Camesha shares that while there’s more and more communities being created around empowerment and shared interests like running, she still questions, “are Black women really comfortable with being vulnerable about sharing their experiences?”
Being vulnerable with ourselves and others play an important role in healing the instinctive nature of always being “on” for everyone. “I'm currently facilitating a group on high functioning depression, and yesterday, we talked about how when Black women may be struggling or have shared their concerns with other people. They may be minimized, or they're told to just be strong, or it's not so bad, or I went through something worse back in Jim Crow era, so you should be thankful,” she explains.
“So I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people. So that is probably a very common theme. I think we've made a lot of progress when we talk about the superwoman syndrome, the mammy stereotype, the working hard stereotype, the nurturing stereotype. I think we're beginning to unpack those things, but I still see that we have definitely a long way to go in that area.”
I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people.
Roman Samborskyi/ Shutterstock
While we’re unpacking those things, we know that we’re still women at the end of the day. So as we continue to serve in various roles like mothers, daughters, sisters, and caretakers, we have to make caring for ourselves a priority. Camesha reveals four ways we can still care for others without abandoning ourselves.
Trust
First things first, trust. Camesha explains, “Some of the burdens that Black women have can be linked to not feeling like you can trust people to carry the load with you.
“It's hard because people experience trauma or being let down or different experiences, but one of the things that I found personally is the more that I'm able to practice trust, the more I'm able to get my needs met. Then, to also show up as my best to care for other Black women.”
Know Your Limitations
Another thing Camesha highlighted is Black women knowing their limitations. “The other thing that I would like to bring up in terms of a way to care for yourself is to really know your limitations, or know how much you can give and what you need to receive,” she says.
“So often, what I see with Black women is giving, giving, giving, giving, giving to the point that you're not feeling well, and then not receiving what you need in return to be able to feel well and whole individually. So I really think it's important to know your limitations and know your capacity and to identify what it is that you need to be well.”
Don’t Take On A Lot Of Responsibilities
Next on the list is not taking on so many responsibilities, sharing herself as an example. “The other thing is taking on too much responsibility, especially in a time of vulnerability.
“One thing that I personally struggled with was being so passionate about community mental health for Black women, and saying yes to everything and taking on so much responsibility,” she reveals. “That affected me to do well in serving Black women and then also impacting my own well being.”
Practice Self-Care
Lastly, she notes the importance of practicing self-care. “The last thing is really practicing regular self care, regular community care, so that it's embedded into your daily life. So for me, having prepared meals, going to the gym, getting eight hours of sleep, spending time with friends and family, all of those things are part of my self care that keep me at my best,” she explains.
“Then community care, leaning into social networks or social groups, or spending time with other interests or hobbies. That's a part of my community care that keeps me going, so that I can take care of my needs, but also to be able to show up best in care for others.”
Find out more about Camesha and Sista Afya Community Care at communitycare.sistaafya.com.
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