Pubic Hair Shaving
Web log entries dealing with pubic hair removal, techniques and cultural trends.
Salon's Joan Walsh discusses her decision to begin bikini waxing, after rarely bothering even to shave her legs throughout her teens and 20s. Walsh recounts the waxing salon appointments, ponders the "fine line between pleasure and pain," relates the grooming's effects on her relationships and her own feelings of sexiness, and passes along her beauticians' stories about designing "landing strips" and waxing preadolescent girls brought in by their mothers.
Salon (Jun 1998)
Christina Valhouli profiles the J. Sisters International Salon in Manhattan, run by Brazilian sisters Jocely, Jonice, Joyce, Janea, Jussara, Juracy and Judseia Padilha, which introduced the "Brazilian bikini waxing" style of pubic hair removal to the US. "What it is: a very thorough waxing where every bit of hair -- and I mean every last bit -- is removed except for a thin landing strip. Think porn star. Think pain. But also think fanatic devotion." Stars like Kirstie Alley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Grey and Paula Yates are among the salon's celebrity clients. Valhouli describes her appointment in all its intimate, embarrassing, painful detail.
Salon (Mar 1999)
Michael Castleman explores the contemporary trend among women toward
shaved vulvas, most visibly among porn stars but also among young women in general. Castleman looks at the reasons behind trend, the history of pubic hair grooming, and the various techniques for pubic hair removal. Through it all, he can't help but wonder how the porn stars manage to get their shaved areas so smooth. "Silky smooth. Baby smooth. And if you've ever tried to duplicate that 'porn smooth' look, impossibly smooth. What's the porn stars' secret?" Four former and current porn stars share the wisdom gained from experience.
Salon (Sep 2000)
Tristan Taormino asks the fashion question of the moment: Who does your pubic hair? She reviews the pros and cons of different methods (shaving, waxing, electrolysis), the aesthetics of different styles (triangle or landing strip, fluffy or trimmed close or completely bare) and the pleasures of keeping her own pussy silky smooth.
Village Voice (Nov 2000)
Rachel Kessler gives a detailed account of her Brazilian bikini wax appointment, along with well-researched background on the history of hair-removal techniques.
The Stranger (Feb 2001)
Jessica Baumgardner interviews professional bikini waxer Mariola Barczewska about changing pubic hair style trends, different types of wax and what goes on during sessions. "Q: No one's ever hit on you? A: Trust me. When they see me with all of my instruments, tweezers and stuff, it's not very sexy."
Nerve (Mar 2001)
Laura Barton explores the Brazilian waxing craze, with gossipy tidbits about which celebrities go to which salon for which style.
Daily Mail and Guardian (Sep 2001)
At Chickclick, Jen Loy and Heather Corrina answer some questions about pubic hair removal. How many women shave? What sorts of health concerns enter into the decision whether to shave? Why do we have all that hair down there anyway?
Chickclick (Oct 2001)
Cath Rapley reviews the latest pubic hair styles, which take off from the "Brazilian wax" craze.
The new look is a variation on the South American theme, with tufty hair being shaped and dyed. Covent Garden's Pout beauty store is even selling a home-styling kit (Just Kittying) complete with stencils so you can style yours at home or on the run (it comes in a travel tin). Crystals are also in. Arezoo does a nice line in sparkly stickers designed especially for her by the doyenne of body art, J Maskrey — Swarovski crystal spelling words like 'Flirt', 'Pussy' and the more subtle 'Fuck Me'. They're stuck on naked flesh post-wax and stay on for about six days, even in the shower.
The Big Apple's Completelybare salon also has a 'crystal method' known as Completelybare With a Flair - in other words, a 'Playboy' (all off) and a sticker. More importantly, the Completelybare crew are responsible for the hottest look right now - a blue square called a 'Tiffany' in a homage to the jewellery store's gift boxes.
The Observer (Apr 2002)
History of shaving timeline
Good Tucson Weekly article about Brazilian waxing. (Oct 2002)
PUSSY SHAVING - PRO AND CON
Blogger Dawn Olsen discusses the issue of fuzzy nubs vs. hairless muffs here and later here. "So why is it, that vast numbers of women in porn and in adult magazines are all closely shaven to the point of looking like non-matured girls? . . . Why do we want to see women robbed of their signs of sexual maturity?" Entertaining comments follow both posts. (Aug 2002)
Rose at Sex-Geek defends the practice of pussy shaving against those who "deride pussy-shaving as merely a chore that women do to please their immature men."
I love a shaven pussy, for two reasons. One, you can see it! When I go to the gym, say, and am walking around naked with a lot of other naked women, I am aware that if have shaved recently, my vagina lips can be seen by anyone walking towards me or even standing next to me. . . . Another reason I like to shave is that I can feel my pussy without interference. Running my hand over my smooth mound makes me happy. Whenever I shave it, I find myself visiting it constantly just to hang out. It's for my own sensual pleasure.
Great piece by one of my favorite online writers. (September 30 entry)
