Heather Helton is a certified nurse midwife who has worked in women's health for over 19 years.
BuzzFeed spoke to Heather, who said part of her job is providing annual exams to women — such as pap smears, pelvic exams, family planning, etc. "It’s not uncommon for women to come in with a new bump of some sort on their lady bits. This leads to questions like, 'What is this — is this herpes?' or 'How can I avoid getting razor burn?' It’s common in our culture to shave our pubic hair, but no one really talks about how to do it or how to troubleshoot doing it," she explained.
So, Heather decided to make a TikTok explaining what she believes is the safest way for people with vaginas to shave their pubic hair. She developed this method over the years, incorporating recommendations from other coworkers in the field:
(PSA: Whether or not you decide to shave your pubic hair is your personal choice — don't let anyone tell you otherwise!)
Her TikTok currently has over 5.3 million views and, judging by the comments, lots of people were never taught anything like this ~pube-shaving process~ before.
Heather gave us her step-by-step instructions below:
"If you’ve never shaved, trim the area prior to shaving. This can be done with scissors at home. Then, get in a warm shower — this helps soften the pubic hairs because they tend to be more course than other body hair. Wash the area with a plain, basic soap that doesn't have any perfumes or dyes. This helps remove any dirt or bacteria on the skin," explained Heather.
The next step is exfoliating. "This will help remove dead skin cells and help get a closer shave. A plain, basic exfoliant is best, but this just depends on what works best for each person," she added.
Now you're ready to apply shaving cream to the area. She said, "Begin to shave with short strokes in the direction of the hair growth, rinsing the razor off between each stroke because a hair-clogged razor won’t take as much hair off. A men’s razor works best, and be sure to use a sharp blade. Try to minimize the amount of times you go over the same area since this can cause irritation."
Then, you can dab the area with witch hazel to prevent razor bumps. "Witch hazel decreases inflammation. However, be cautious with this because witch hazel can have varying amounts of alcohol. Aim for an alcohol content of 14% or less," she said, adding, "If you experience razor bumps, apply a thin layer of 1% hydrocortisone cream to the area. Allow it to dry, then continue with your normal out-of-the-shower routine, moisturizing as usual."
Heather said one of the biggest myths about pubic hair is that people think it is dirty and unclean. "Many women choose to remove their pubic hair because they view it as hygienic. Honestly, there is no medical reason to support removing pubic hair as a health benefit. The reality is that pubic hair acts as a barrier for the vagina — basically as an area for bacteria to hang out, away from the vagina," she explained.
