Full bush for the end of summer

Summer 2026 has been the “let your garden grow” summer. Pubic hair trends are, well, trending. And while some people like to be smooth, bare, or sculpted, your pubic hair should look exactly how you want it to. It’s hair. Body hair grows where it grows, and having it is just your body acting how bodies act.

And pubic hair has a function: it cushions the delicate skin around your genitals and reduces friction during sex and everyday movement. Hair removal can also come at a risk of ingrown hairs, razor burn, and cuts. And cuts in the labia or shaft? Not fun.

None of that means you have to keep a full bush. It means the choice should be about what feels good to you—not about hitting some invisible “aesthetic” bar someone else invented.

So, what are your options for pubic hair?

All of them, honestly. Options for pubic hair are honestly just as broad-ranging as the options for the hair on your head.

Bush au naturel. Let it do its thing, without trimming or shaping. Low maintenance, and zero irritation risk. Pubes are just as “clean” as any other type of body hair—which is to say, totally fine with regular washing.

Pros: Lots of cushion for sex, riding bikes, and long walks on hot days Cons: Annoying when a rogue hair sticks to a pad

Trimmed pubes. A little upkeep with scissors or an electric trimmer, no full removal. Popular because it’s a nice middle ground—less bulk, same protection.

Pros: Low-ish maintenance Cons: Your roommate does not appreciate pube trimmings on the bathroom floor

Shaped pubes. Landing strip, heart, whatever design your imagination and a steady hand can pull off. Purely aesthetic, very fun.

Pros: Surprising yourself in the mirror Cons: It can be tricky to shave at odd angles

Bare bush. Shaving, waxing, using hair removal creams, or laser if you’re in it for the long haul. Some people love the smoothness. Some people do it for comfort, a partner, a swimsuit, a vibe, or just because they like it that day. All valid reasons, as long as they’re your reasons. Just a heads up: laser takes multiple sessions and may need touch-ups over time—it’s more long-lasting than shaving, but not always permanent. And it doesn’t work great or at all for lots of people with lighter colored pubes.

Pros: Doing it because you want to Cons: Can get expensive

Lots of people get their cultural attitudes about what’s normal for pubic hair from porn. Other pubic hair traditions might be because people from different parts of the world have pubes that are curlier or straighter, or lighter or darker. And lots of people have fewer pubes as they get older. Pubes can go gray or white with age, too, just like any other hair.

Should you trim your pubic hair for a partner?

Here’s the part that actually matters: whatever you choose should be about you. Not a made-up aesthetic or rule about what bodies should look like. If you like the way it feels bare after a wax, great. If you like feeling like yourself with body hair intact, also great. Change your mind next month? Still great. Bodies shift and change over time, and so do your preferences. You get to change right along with them.

A few practical notes if you do remove hair: give your skin a break between sessions, always use a clean razor (a dull blade is basically an invitation for irritation), and skip shaving right before sex if you’re prone to razor burn—friction plus fresh stubble is not a great combo. If you wax, avoid tight underwear for a day afterward so your skin can breathe. Lots of people love to use electric razors for pubes because they can give a good trim without cuts or razor burn.

But the real takeaway isn’t a grooming tip. Your pubic hair, like the rest of your body, is yours to manage on your own terms. Nobody else gets a vote. Grow it out, shave it off, shape it into a lightning bolt or braid it into a mohawk—the only requirement is that you’re comfortable in your own skin (hairy or not).

That’s the whole point of body autonomy. It looks good on everyone ;)