We've given you tips on shaving your butthole, and we've given you advice when it comes to shaving your pubes, so it's only fair that we now talk about trimming leg and vulva hairs.
In the video, she says, "So, I'm not going to show you my lack of razor burn; you're just going to have to be convinced that I don't have any. What I am going to show you is my ball trimmer. This is the best thing that I've ever invested in when it comes to any sort of hair removal... I have waxed, I have shaved, I have done everything that is seemingly the norm for removing hair, and everything single time I've gotten an ingrown [hair]," she said, adding that she's never gotten one with the ball trimmer.
BuzzFeed spoke to Maeve, who said that she was fed up with getting bad razor burn and ingrown hairs, so she decided to try the ball trimmer last summer.
She kept seeing ads for The Trimmer by Meridian and became intrigued. "I initially scrolled past them because the target audience was SO obviously for dudes. It honestly made me laugh seeing how hyper-masculine this product was being advertised as. But the selling point of this thing was that it could easily get into the hard-to-reach areas without nicks or burns. So trying it out seemed like a no-brainer to me!"
And if you're wondering just how close a trim the ball trimmer gets, Maeve said it is very comparable to a razor! "Trimmers and shavers will obviously produce different results, but they are damn close. I personally enjoy how a close shave with a trimmer looks and feels, so 9 times out of 10, I’m taking my Meridian into the shower instead of a razor."
Maeve's video also opened a discussion about pink tax* — and how some women feel that men's products work better than the ones targeted toward women.
"People with vulvas shouldn’t limit themselves to shaving products advertised towards women simply because that was (and is) the social norm. Transparency around sexual wellness — especially as it relates to personal health and hygiene — is really important to me, and it’s something I wish I had access to growing up," Maeve said.
To get more insight on all of the above, BuzzFeed also spoke to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tanda Lane, who has been in private practice now for 15 years.
When it comes to pubic hair, Dr. Lane said that thick, curly, or coarse hair has a greater tendency to develop into ingrown hairs, which is the main reason pubic hair can often become ingrown. "This is why trimming rather than shaving with a razor is often recommended for that region."
But when it comes to leg hair, Dr. Lane said that it's usually sparser and finer, so the same precautions aren't necessary. "The closest and smoothest shave will tend to be with a razor. For the most effective shave, I recommend exfoliating prior to shaving. Sugar can be mixed with olive oil for a do-it-yourself exfoliant, or you can use a chemical exfoliant like lactic, glycolic, or salicylic acid. An emollient-based shave gel or cream will soften the hair, making it more 'shaveable' and less prone to inflammation post-cut," she explained.
Lastly, when it comes to men's vs. women's shaving products, Dr. Lane believes there are subtle differences in the angle of the blade and ergonomics of the handle, but the primary difference is the price. So, store that knowledge for later.
