Pubic hair grows because your body produces specific hormones during puberty that trigger hair growth in the genital area. It’s a completely normal part of human development, and it serves several practical functions: reducing friction, protecting against infections, helping regulate temperature, and enhancing sensory awareness. Every adult human body grows it, and it’s there for good reasons.
Why It Starts Growing
Pubic hair appears because of a process called adrenarche, which is when your adrenal glands (small glands sitting on top of your kidneys) begin producing higher levels of certain hormones. This starts earlier than most people realize. The adrenal glands begin maturing around age 3, and by ages 6 to 8, they’re producing measurably higher amounts of hormones called androgens. These androgens are eventually converted into testosterone and other compounds that cause hair to sprout in new places.
For most kids, visible pubic hair appears sometime after age 8 in girls and after age 9 in boys. If it shows up before those ages, it’s called premature pubarche, and it’s usually just an early but harmless variation of the same process. The hair typically starts fine and sparse, then gradually becomes coarser and curlier over several years. This is one of the earliest visible signs of puberty, often appearing before breast development or voice changes.
It Reduces Friction
The skin in the genital area is thinner and more delicate than most of the body. Pubic hair acts as a physical buffer between skin surfaces, reducing chafing during walking, exercise, and sexual activity. Some experts describe it as a kind of “dry lubricant” because hair sliding against hair produces far less irritation than bare skin rubbing against bare skin. Without that cushion, the groin area would be much more prone to redness, soreness, and raw spots from everyday movement.
It Protects Against Infections
Pubic hair does more than just sit there. It functions as a barrier that helps keep bacteria, dirt, and other irritants away from the genital skin. But the protection goes deeper than simple physical blocking.
Human hair has been shown to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. In women specifically, pubic hair harbors certain Lactobacillus species, beneficial bacteria that actively prevent colonization by more dangerous organisms. These Lactobacillus populations have a strong inhibitory effect on E. coli, which is the most common cause of urinary tract infections. Hair itself also contains proteins and peptides with antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi.
Research published in a 2023 study proposed that extreme pubic hair removal may negatively affect the urogenital microbiome, essentially stripping away a community of protective bacteria that had been keeping harmful organisms in check. The findings suggested that women who completely removed their pubic hair had roughly twice the odds of reporting a history of certain sexually transmitted infections compared to those who didn’t groom at all, though the relationship is complex and influenced by other factors like number of sexual partners. Removing pubic hair can also create tiny wounds (microtrauma) in the skin’s barrier, which could make it easier for pathogens to enter.
It Helps Control Temperature
Your genitals are sensitive to temperature changes, and pubic hair plays a role in keeping conditions stable. The hair traps a thin layer of air close to the skin, which acts as insulation in cold conditions and allows airflow in warm conditions. This is the same basic principle behind body hair elsewhere, but it’s particularly relevant in the groin, where reproductive organs benefit from consistent temperature regulation. The hair also wicks moisture away from the skin surface, reducing the damp environment where yeast and bacteria thrive.
It Enhances Sensation
Each pubic hair follicle is surrounded by a dense network of sensory nerve endings. These are specialized touch receptors that detect even subtle movements like a light breeze or gentle contact. When a hair is bent or deflected, it activates these surrounding nerves and sends tactile information to the brain.
The types of nerve endings around hair follicles are remarkably varied. Some respond to stroking, others to compression or stretch, and still others to stronger pressure. Hairy skin contains a specific class of touch neuron that hairless skin does not, one involved in processing what researchers call “affective touch,” the kind of gentle contact that feels pleasant or emotionally meaningful. Together, the hair follicle and its surrounding nerves form a sensory unit that makes the skin more responsive to touch than it would be if it were bare.
Why It Looks Different From Head Hair
Pubic hair is typically coarser, curlier, and darker than the hair on your scalp. This isn’t random. The tight curl pattern causes the hairs to create a denser mat close to the skin, which is more effective at trapping air for temperature regulation and forming a cushion against friction. The coarser texture also makes each strand sturdier as a physical barrier. Pubic hair grows to a set length and then stops, which is why it doesn’t keep growing longer the way scalp hair does. Each strand has a shorter growth cycle, typically a few weeks of active growth before the follicle rests and eventually sheds the hair.
The color, thickness, and amount of pubic hair vary widely from person to person, influenced by genetics, ethnicity, and hormone levels. Some people grow dense, dark hair; others have finer, lighter coverage. All of this falls within the range of normal.
Grooming Is a Personal Choice
There is no medical reason you need to remove pubic hair. It’s not dirty or unhygienic on its own, though like all body hair, it can trap sweat and natural oils, which may produce a stronger scent if you’re not bathing regularly. Trimming or removing pubic hair is entirely a personal and cultural preference.
If you do choose to remove it, the most common risks are ingrown hairs, razor burn, skin irritation, and small cuts that can become infected. Waxing and shaving both create microtrauma to the skin. These are usually minor issues, but they’re worth knowing about. Keeping the area clean, using sharp tools, and moisturizing afterward can reduce the chances of irritation. The protective functions of pubic hair, friction reduction, microbial defense, temperature regulation, work best when the hair is present, but plenty of people remove some or all of it without serious health consequences.