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Vogue said it’s back. Women’s Health called it the summer’s biggest beauty trend. Betchesnamed an entire season after it: “Bushkini summer.”
It’s official. Full Bush Summer is in full effect — especially now that lesbian reality television darling Gabby Windey proclaimed she wants hers wild, free, and lush.
While having a big bush has been a popular pubic hair style since time immemorial, “bush representation" has waxed and waned over the years, literally. In the early 1900s, after the advent of the razor, the campaign against body hair framed full bush, particularly for women, as unhygienic and manly. The pendulum swung back in favor of the bush in the 1970s, becoming the golden standard for the porn industry, with full-bushed nude models gracing the pages of popular adult magazines. After the golden era of the bush, the ‘80s through the 2010s beckoned in a long-standing trend of body hair removal. The low rise jeans of the early aughts were dawned by virtually body-hairless celebrities. It wasn’t until the mid-2010s that the rise of popular feminism beyond academic spaces encouraged people to grow out their body hair, including a short-lived trend of dying your armpit hair.
But now, we are so back.
Though let’s face it, for queer people, full thick body hair has always been in vogue, for the most part. There isn’t a stereotype about hairy lesbians for nothing. In part, that's because many queer people reject heteronormative beauty standards attached to gender like the idea that women need to be hairless. It’s fitting that a sapphic icon would officially usher us into the new golden age of the full bush.
Now that we’ve established the bush is back, we need to go over how exactly to maintain your bush to make it as lush as possible this summer. From shaving to trimming to ingrown hairs, we’ve got you covered. Read on for everything you need to know on how to style and nourish your bush.
A Guide to Grooming (Or Not Grooming) Your Pubic Hair
Pubic Hair, explained: If you have a bush — or your pubic hair is fully grown out — maintaining it can be an important part of your health and self-care. Here's how to prune your luscious bush.Vogue said it’s back. Women’s Health called it the summer’s biggest beauty trend. Betchesnamed an entire season after it: “Bushkini summer.”
It’s official. Full Bush Summer is in full effect — especially now that lesbian reality television darling Gabby Windey proclaimed she wants hers wild, free, and lush.
While having a big bush has been a popular pubic hair style since time immemorial, “bush representation" has waxed and waned over the years, literally. In the early 1900s, after the advent of the razor, the campaign against body hair framed full bush, particularly for women, as unhygienic and manly. The pendulum swung back in favor of the bush in the 1970s, becoming the golden standard for the porn industry, with full-bushed nude models gracing the pages of popular adult magazines. After the golden era of the bush, the ‘80s through the 2010s beckoned in a long-standing trend of body hair removal. The low rise jeans of the early aughts were dawned by virtually body-hairless celebrities. It wasn’t until the mid-2010s that the rise of popular feminism beyond academic spaces encouraged people to grow out their body hair, including a short-lived trend of dying your armpit hair.
But now, we are so back.
Though let’s face it, for queer people, full thick body hair has always been in vogue, for the most part. There isn’t a stereotype about hairy lesbians for nothing. In part, that's because many queer people reject heteronormative beauty standards attached to gender like the idea that women need to be hairless. It’s fitting that a sapphic icon would officially usher us into the new golden age of the full bush.
Now that we’ve established the bush is back, we need to go over how exactly to maintain your bush to make it as lush as possible this summer. From shaving to trimming to ingrown hairs, we’ve got you covered. Read on for everything you need to know on how to style and nourish your bush.
How to shave down there
You might be wondering: why would a guide on bushes tell me about how to shave? For some people who have just begun their bush journey, or just feel unable to deal with so much hair, shaving or trimming a bit around the edges can make a bush more comfortable. If you’re going to do it, here are some tips on how to shave down there gently and safely:- Consider your tools. Whether you’re using an electric razor or a classic disposable razor, you’ll want to make sure that your tool is sharp and clean. Using a rusty old razor might feel convenient at the moment but can irritate your skin, is more likely to leave behind bumps, and overall make for a less comfortable shave.
- Use shaving cream. You might think lathering up with soap will suffice but shaving cream is designed to create a smooth area for your razor to glide over. It can help you avoid cuts along the way.
- Shave in the same direction as the hair. Following the grain of your hair can help you avoid ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Make sure to pull the skin tight and go with the flow of your bush.
- If it’s feeling bumpy, consider waxing instead. While shaving can be an affordable option for folks, if you’re experiencing a lot of irritation, waxing instead can reduce razor bumps and the chance of ingrown hairs.
How to get rid of ingrown hairs
Sometimes with great hair comes great responsibility. Ingrown pubic hairs can happen to anyone, whether or not you’re trimming or shaving. This irritation occurs when your hair gets trapped under the skin, blocking sebum, oil, and dirt along with it, which can sometimes lead to a skin infection. They often look like raised, discolored bumps around your genitals. If you want to address ingrown hairs, there are a few tips that can help:- Apply a warm compress. Sometimes, putting a war wet washcloth over the bump for 10 to 15 minutes can help clear it and make the hair come out.
- Tweeze it. Similar to a splinter, sometimes ingrown hairs just need some help coming out. Tweezing it with a clean set of tweezers can help drain the area.
- Scrub it gently. Exfoliating away the top layer of skin can help make the process of getting rid of an ingrown hair faster. Consider using a washcloth and warm water.
