Shaving pubic hair comes down to three things: trimming first, using the right technique, and taking care of your skin afterward. Skip any of those steps and you’re likely dealing with razor burn, ingrown hairs, or worse. Here’s how to do it properly from start to finish.
Trim Before You Shave
Razors are designed to cut short hair. If your pubic hair is longer than a quarter inch, a razor will clog constantly, tug at the hair, and irritate your skin. Before any blade touches the area, use an electric body trimmer with a guard attachment to get the hair down to a short, even length. Start with the longest guard setting and work shorter until the hair is a few millimeters long. This single step prevents most of the discomfort people associate with pubic shaving.
Prepare Your Skin
Warm water softens both the hair and the skin, making the razor’s job easier. Shave at the end of a warm shower, or press a warm, damp cloth against the area for a few minutes beforehand. The heat opens up hair follicles and reduces the force needed to cut each strand.
Gentle exfoliation before shaving helps prevent ingrown hairs by clearing dead skin cells that can trap hair as it grows back. A simple sugar or salt scrub works well. If you’re using a physical scrub (a washcloth, brush, or gritty product), do it several hours before shaving so your skin’s protective barrier has time to recover. A chemical exfoliant containing glycolic acid can be used closer to shave time without the same risk of raw skin.
Choose the Right Products
The groin is some of the most sensitive skin on your body, so what you put on it matters. Look for a shaving gel or cream that contains glycerin (which locks in moisture and creates a barrier between skin and blade), aloe vera, or allantoin. These ingredients reduce friction and calm irritation as you shave.
Avoid products with alcohol, menthol, fragrance, or sodium lauryl sulfate. These strip natural oils from the skin and cause stinging and dryness, especially on freshly shaved skin. Canned shaving foams are convenient but tend to be loaded with these harsh ingredients. A fragrance-free shaving gel or a simple, thick lather from a sensitive-skin shave cream is a better choice.
Manual Razor vs. Electric Trimmer
A manual razor gives a closer shave but carries a higher risk of nicks, cuts, and ingrown hairs because the blade sits directly against the skin. An electric body groomer with a guarded blade won’t get you as smooth, but it significantly reduces the chance of cuts and irritation. For the scrotum especially, many men find a trimmer safer and easier. If you do use a manual razor, use a fresh, sharp blade with multiple blades and a pivoting head. A dull razor is the fastest route to razor burn.
Shaving Technique by Area
The groin has several distinct zones, and each one requires slightly different handling. The general rule everywhere: shave with the grain (in the direction the hair grows), use light pressure, and take short, slow strokes. Shaving against the grain gives a closer result but dramatically increases your risk of irritation and ingrown hairs. If you want a closer shave after the first pass, reapply shaving gel and go across the grain (perpendicular to hair growth) rather than directly against it.
Above the Shaft
This area is the most straightforward. The skin is relatively flat and firm. Apply your shaving gel, pull the skin slightly taut with your free hand, and shave downward with the grain. Rinse the blade after every two or three strokes to keep it clear.
The Scrotum
Loose, wrinkled skin makes the scrotum the trickiest area. The key technique is creating a flat surface. Stand with one leg propped up on a sturdy surface like the side of the tub or a stool. Use one hand to gently pull the skin taut, stretching out the wrinkles. With the other hand, use slow, careful strokes with minimal pressure. Never rush this part. Many men find that cold water actually helps here, as it tightens the skin slightly and makes it easier to work with. If you’re nervous about nicks, stick to an electric trimmer for this area.
The Shaft and Inner Thighs
Pull the skin flat with your free hand, just as you would with the scrotum. Shave with the grain using short strokes. For the crease where your thigh meets your groin, the hair often grows in multiple directions. Feel with your fingers to figure out the grain before you start, and adjust your stroke direction as needed.
Post-Shave Care
Rinse the entire area with cool water when you’re finished. Cool water helps close pores and reduces immediate inflammation. Pat dry gently with a clean towel rather than rubbing.
Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer or an aftershave balm designed for sensitive or intimate skin. Products with aloe vera or allantoin are ideal for calming any redness. Avoid anything with alcohol, which will sting and dry out the freshly shaved skin. For the first day or two, wear loose-fitting cotton underwear to minimize friction against the area.
Preventing Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs happen when a shaved hair curls back into the skin instead of growing outward. They show up as red, sometimes painful bumps, and men with curly hair are especially prone to them. The best prevention is exfoliating the area two to three times per week between shaves. A gentle scrub or a product containing glycolic acid speeds up skin cell turnover and helps keep the hair follicles clear.
If you do get an ingrown hair, resist the urge to dig it out. A warm compress applied for 10 to 15 minutes can help bring the hair to the surface. Over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide or glycolic acid can reduce inflammation and encourage the hair to release naturally. Hydrocortisone cream can help with itching. If a bump becomes increasingly painful, fills with pus, or spreads, that may be folliculitis, a bacterial infection of the hair follicle, rather than a simple ingrown hair. Folliculitis involves infected follicles and sometimes needs treatment beyond basic skin care.
How Often to Shave
Most men find that shaving every few days keeps the area smooth without excessive irritation. Shaving daily doesn’t give your skin enough time to recover between sessions, and waiting too long means you’ll need to trim again before shaving. Every three to five days is a common sweet spot, though your hair growth rate and sensitivity will determine what works best for you.
It’s worth noting that frequency matters beyond just comfort. A large nationally representative study of over 7,500 U.S. adults published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections found that people who removed all their pubic hair more than 11 times per year had a significantly higher association with skin-transmitted infections like herpes and HPV, likely because shaving creates micro-abrasions that serve as entry points. This doesn’t mean shaving causes infections, but it’s a reason to let your skin fully heal between sessions and to avoid shaving if you have any open cuts or irritation in the area.