So, you’re curious about the wide world of intimate grooming? Good for you! Caring for your skin and hair below the belt is an often overlooked—but important—part of self-care. Whether you’re new to intimate grooming or want to enhance your established down there care routine, join us as we explore some of the best intimate grooming tips. 

What Is Down There Care?

A healthy vulva is a happy vulva, and making sure it stays happy involves maintaining a solid intimate self-care routine. If the thought of incorporating yet another habit into your daily life has you cringing, don’t worry! The good news is that caring for your intimate skin and hair can fit nicely into your existing routines. But if it’s so easy, why are vulvas so often excluded from conversations about self-care?  

Societal narratives about vulvas often imply that ideal, healthy vulvas should be scentless, hairless, and otherwise undetectable. But this just isn’t realistic. These unattainable expectations can feel overwhelming and can discourage people from prioritizing their intimate skincare needs. If that sounds familiar to you, allow us to shed some light on the subject of intimate grooming. 

What does a stellar intimate grooming routine look like? Like with most aspects of self-care, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every vulva is different, but a holistic intimate grooming regimen considers the needs of your entire vulva. Pubic hair, skin hydration, hormonal changes, and irritation are all important elements to consider. So we hope you’ll use these tips as inspiration for your own intimate grooming journey. Let’s take a look at some key areas of down there care.    

Grooming Your Pubes

We can’t talk about intimate grooming without mentioning hair. Specifically, pubic hair! From trimming to shaving to going all-natural, there are tons of grooming options available for your pubes. Regardless of what method you decide on, it’s important to understand what makes pubic hair so different from the other hair on your body. 

Pubic hair tends to be thicker and more coarse than the rest of your hair. That’s because pubic hair acts as a protective barrier that helps keep your genitals healthy. Some of the specific functions of pubic hair include protecting the genitals from bacteria or infection and reducing friction during sex. Needless to say, your pubes are important. No matter the shape, length, or density of your bush, the most important step is to keep your pubes clean. To achieve this, simply rinse your pubic hair with clean water every time you shower or bathe. You could also use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t mess with your natural pH balance. 

If you’re looking for a gentle intimate cleanser, Lady Suite’s Intimate Refreshing Cleanser puts vulva health first with immune-boosting probiotics.

Beyond cleaning, you can explore the more cosmetic side of intimate grooming. If you choose to trim or partially alter your pubic hair, try out different shapes and styles. Do you prefer a narrow landing strip? Or do you want to try out a fuller shape? Do designs like hearts and triangles pique your interest? Vulva owners are seldom encouraged to have fun and express themselves through intimate grooming. But if shaping your pubes brings you joy and helps you feel sexy, we say go for it!  

What Intimate Skin Needs

Hormones & Hydration

Just like the skin on the rest of your body, vulva skin needs hydration. But as you age, your body changes and so does your intimate skin. Many factors can lead to dryer vulva skin including certain conditions and hormonal fluctuations. 

As vulva owners experience pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, their hormones naturally fluctuate. These hormonal changes can impact many of the qualities of vulva skin. For example, hormonal fluctuations can lead to dryness, reduced elasticity, and pH imbalance. Issues including excessive oil production, irritation, and itchiness can also stem from hormonal changes in the body. Skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis can also cause vulva skin to become dry, itchy, and irritated. 

So what can you do to help? Dehydrated skin is more vulnerable than hydrated skin, so being gentle with dry vulva skin is incredibly important. Avoid scratching, picking, or any other unnecessary forms of friction and irritation if your intimate skin is dry. When choosing a product to help hydrate your vulva, be sure to avoid ones with harsh chemicals, parabens, or other harmful ingredients. Luckily, there are many products out there that focus on revitalizing dehydrated intimate skin. Lady Suite’s Rejuvenating Botanical Oil with Omega Fatty Acids is gentle enough for sensitive intimate skin and seals in hydration to help prevent dryness. 

Soothing Comfort 

Hormones aren’t the only culprit behind itchiness, irritation, and discomfort. Sometimes, a person’s lifestyle predisposes them to intimate skin issues such as rashes, bumps, and ingrown hairs. The residue and bacteria that build up around the vulva from activities like sweating, sex, and swimming can leave your vulva feeling irritated if you go too long without cleansing. 

Certain grooming practices like shaving also come with the risk of bumps, razor burns, ingrown hairs, and irritation. But worry not! In addition to a solid cleansing routine, exfoliating your intimate skin can help protect you against future grooming woes. Vulva-friendly exfoliators like Lady Suite’s Exfoliating Ingrown Solution with Lactic Acid work by removing dead skin cells and clarifying your pores to help prevent new bumps from forming. 

Daily Care & Beyond

Now that we’ve talked about cleansing, grooming, hydrating, and soothing, it’s

time to talk about planning. Just like any other skincare routine, consistency is key. Spending an extra minute cleansing your pubic hair, or applying a nourishing hydrator to your intimate skin could make the difference between sweet relief and annoying irritation. No two people’s intimate grooming habits will look the same, and listening to your body will help you learn what your vulva may need. Kudos to you for helping to continue the conversation around intimate grooming and skincare. We hope these tips will help you along your own intimate skincare journey.  

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