Pubic hair is hair in the frontal genital area, the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs; these areas form the pubic region. Although fine vellus hair is present in the area in childhood, the term pubic hair is generally restricted to the heavier, longer hair that develops with puberty as an effect of rising levels of androgens on the skin of the genital area.
Development of pubic hair
Before puberty, the genital area of both boys and girls has very fine vellus hair, referred to as Tanner stage 1 hair. In response to rising levels of androgens as puberty begins, the skin of the genital area begins to produce thicker, often curlier, hair with a faster growth rate. The onset of pubic hair development is termed pubarche. The change for each hair follicle is relatively abrupt, but the extent of skin which grows androgenic hair gradually increases over several years.
In most girls, pubic hair first appears along the edges of the labia majora (stage 2), and spreads forward to the mons (stage 3) over the next 2 years. By 3 years into puberty (roughly the time of menarche for most girls), the pubic triangle is densely filled. Within another 2 years pubic hair also grows from the near thighs in most young women, and sometimes a small amount up the line of the abdomen toward the umbilicus.
In boys, the first pubic hair appears as a few sparse hairs on the scrotum or at the upper base of the penis (stage 2). Within a year, hairs around the base of the penis are too numerous to count (stage 3), and within 3 to 4 years, hair fills the pubic area (stage 4), and by 5 years extends to the near thighs and upwards on the abdomen toward the umbilicus (stage 5).
Other areas of the skin are similarly, though slightly less, sensitive to androgens and androgenic hair typically appears somewhat later. In rough sequence of sensitivity to androgens and appearance of androgenic hair, are the armpits (axillae), perianal area, upper lip, preauricular areas (sideburns), periareolar areas (nipples), middle of the chest, neck under the chin, remainder of chest and beard area, limbs and shoulders, back, and buttocks.
Although generally considered part of the process of puberty, pubarche is distinct and independent of the process of maturation of the gonads that leads to sexual maturation and fertility. Pubic hair can develop from adrenal androgens alone, and can develop even when the ovaries or testes are defective and nonfunctional. See puberty for details.
There is little if any difference in the capacity of male and female bodies to grow hair in response to androgens. The obvious sex-dimorphic difference in hair distribution in men and women is primarily a result of differences in the levels of androgen reached as maturity occurs.
Variations
Patterns of pubic hair vary among people. On some people, pubic hair is thick and/or coarse, while on others it may be sparse and/or fine.
Pubic hair and axillary (armpit) hair can vary in color considerably from the hair of the scalp. In most people it is darker, although it can also be lighter. On many men, pubic hair color is closest to the color of their beards (before their beards start turning white with age), which again can vary from the color of the hair on top of the head. On most women, the pubic patch is triangular and lies over the mons veneris, or mound of Venus. On many men, the pubic patch tapers upwards to a line of hair pointing towards the navel. As with axillary (armpit) hair, pubic hair is associated with a concentration of sebaceous glands in the area.
Like other hair, pubic hair may be infested by lice, specifically pubic lice.
Purpose of pubic hair
It is believed that the functions of pubic hair include the dissemination of pheromones and protection from the friction of sexual intercourse; natural selection may also have sustained it insofar as it can symbolize sexual maturity to a potential sexual partner. Pubic hair and the growth between the tops of the legs and the buttocks, like under arm hair, helps to lubricate the areas, making movement smoother and more comfortable.
Possible reasons
There is no definitive theory on the reason for the existence of pubic hair. The prevailing theory relates to pheromones — scents that the body produces that can be sexually stimulating to others. In this theory, the tufts of hair that grow around the genitals, as well as under the arms, capture these erotic scents. Pheromones get trapped in the pubic hair when apocrine glands release an odorless secretion on the surface of the skin that combines with bacteria decomposed by the secretions of the sebaceous glands. Humans have the same number of hair follicles as apes, but body hair is generally very fine or barely visible in comparison. So, while pubic hair and underarm hair might be considered the primary scent traps, they are not the only ones. For some people, scents from these areas are noticeable and consciously increase sexual arousal. Pheromones might not be obvious but may be detected subconsciously.
Another theory is that the pubic hair keeps the genitals warm. The purpose of women's pubic hair could be similar to that of the cilia in the nose, in that it prevents small foreign particles from entering the vagina. Of course this doesn't explain male pubic hair.
Cultural
Attitudes
Attitudes toward pubic hair are similar to those regarding axillary armpit hair in that cultural and personal norms can be reflected in reactions ranging from pleasure to revulsion, both for the presence and absence of such hair. As with any sexually charged matter there are persons of both sexes who have strong points of view toward the culturally related issues associated with presence or lack of body hair.
Francisco Goya,
The Nude Maja
In Japanese drawings pubic hair is often omitted for legal reasons, such as the practices in hentai, as for a long time the display of pubic hair was not legal. The interpretation of the law has since changed.
In Islamic societies, removing the pubic hair is a religiously endorsed hygiene practice, ranked along with circumcision, clipping the fingernails, brushing the teeth or other such practices deemed routine. In Western societies since the 1960s it has become increasingly common to trim or completely remove pubic hair, although this hadn't really become mainstream until the late 1990s.
Before the twentieth century, fine-art paintings and sculpture in the Western tradition usually depicted women without either pubic hair or a visible vulva. John Ruskin, the famous author, artist, and art critic, was apparently accustomed to these depictions and unaware of the actual appearance of nude women. On his wedding night, he was allegedly so shocked by his discovery of his wife Effie's pubic hair that he rejected her, and the marriage was legally annulled. Francisco Goya's The Nude Maja was probably the first European painting to show woman's pubic hair, though others had hinted at it.
Some common slang includes bush, muff, curlies, pubes.
Modification of pubic hair
A woman with shaved pubic hair, showing pseudofolliculitis barbae
Trimming or completely removing pubic hair has become a custom in many cultures. A preference for hairless genitals is known as acomoclitism. The methodology of removing hair is called depilation (when removing only the hair above the skin) or epilation (when removing the entire hair). The trimming or removal of body hair by men is sometimes referred to as manscaping.
Reasoning
Some arguments for modification of pubic hair have included:
Removal methods
Pubic hair is removed or reduced usually by shaving, but often for more long-term removal, waxing or use of a mechanical device is used to pull the hair out at the root.
Methods to remove pubic hair include:
- Shaving - uses a razor (straight razor, safety razor, or electric razor) to cut the hair at the level of the skin (or very close to it)
- Epilators - these electric devices use rotating coils to pull the hairs out by the roots
- Laser epilation and Intense pulsed light (IPL)
- Waxing and Sugaring - Some hair salons in France offer what is called "epilé complet" which is the removal of all pubic hair using hot wax; this process is more commonly called a Brazilian wax.
- Hair removal creams and lotions
- Burning - this is the most efficient and quick method of removing hair completely and also preventing quick regrowth. However, it requires considerable skill to avoid overburning and scorching the skin.
- Electrology - involves using a current of electricity down the length of the hair to kill the hair root
- Hair Growth Inhibitors - these lotions claim to slow the hair growth and even prevent its growth but they have had limited success
- Tweezers - this is a manual method usually done to remove any remaining hairs after use of the other treatments.
Note that:
- Electrical razors are a little safer and do not shave off skin along with the hair.
- Shaving can cause skin irritation (pseudofolliculitis barbae, or "razor bumps") and hair getting locked under the skin area.
- Hair re-growth can sometimes be uncomfortable and itchy, although continued removal reduces this effect.
- Using hair removal creams or lotions in the pubic and chest areas is not advisable, as it may result in serious skin irritations.
(See the Smooth Naturist webpage for more advice on pubic shaving)
Style
The modification of pubic hair can also be considered a statement about one's style or personal lifestyle as can leaving it unmodified. The fashion designer Mary Quant was famously proud that her husband trimmed hers into a heart shape. In the 1930s the Baron Martin Stillman von Brabus shaved the pubic hair of his lover Margaret, Duchess of Argyll into a representation of the Mercedes-Benz 3-pointed star.
Some common styles include:
