Yes, pubic grooming is necessary for men, And no, we don’t talk about it openly. But we should. And so we are, with Dr. Joshua Zeichner, an Associate Professor and the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, New York. Here’s what you need to kow about this too-often, hush-hush topic.
1. Why should men factor pubic grooming into their current grooming routine?
The skin and the hair in the pubic region is different than that on other parts of the body, so it’s important to choose products that were engineered to address this part of the body. “We know that many Canadian men are already grooming their pubic regions. In fact, 75% of Canadian men say they shave their pubic area at least sometimes,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Most Canadian men feel more confident after grooming their intimate area (62%), and have various reasons for pubic grooming, including comfort, and their personal preferences regarding style.
2. Why is pubic grooming beneficial? Please explain:
Grooming the private areas is a personal decision that every individual has to make for himself. “Whether it is for aesthetics, for comfort, or for mental health reasons, personal grooming is more popular now than ever,” says Dr. Zeichner. “According to Gillette’s consumer research, Canadian men feel more confident after grooming their intimate area (62%). In addition to confidence, comfort and personal style are factors with 52% of Canadian men shave because it feels better and 48% of Canada men shave because it looks better.”
3. What are the first things a man should know about pubic grooming before getting started and why?
You cannot treat the pubic area the same way that you treat shaving the face. “Everything from the pre-and post-care, shaving technique, and the tools themselves should be created specifically for the pubic area. “Educate yourself on safe & easy methods, tips and tricks for the task at hand. 71% Canadian men reported that they were not taught how to groom intimate areas, which can lead to shave irritation and injuries. Get to know what resources are out there, and what tools are available for a gentle & easy experience. Gillette offers video tutorials on their YouTube page, and the Gillette Intimate line of products are specifically designed with pubic grooming in mind, and have been dermatologist-tested.”
4. What are the first three steps a man should take re: pubic grooming and why?
Step 1: Get educated. “Seek out tutorials that will offer you tips and tricks on how to get the results you want easily and safely. You can find video tutorials on Gillette’s YouTube page,”says Zeichner.
Step 2: Choose the right products. “Distinct from body or face grooming, there are unique challenges for intimate grooming, including small surface area, complex topography, intricate areas, difficult to reach and see areas and skin folds,” says Zeichner. “Hair in this area is often coarser and curlier than the rest of the body, as well. In such a sensitive, delicate area, we think it’s best to use grooming tools built from the start for this unique purpose. The Gillette Intimate products are suitable for most skin types and have been dermatologist tested for use in the intimate region.”
Step 3: Take your time and keep calm! “Don’t rush the process, so that you can avoid injuries,” says Zeichner.
5. Why is it important to use separate grooming tools? Please describe each tool and what it does:
There are two major factors as to why using separate tools are important:
1. The job at hand: “From a grooming perspective, the real issue is about whether the tool was built with features thoughtfully designed for the job a guy is doing,” says Zeichner. “Distinct from body or face grooming, there are unique challenges for intimate grooming, including small surface area, complex topography, intricate areas, difficult to reach and see areas and skin folds. Hair in this area is often coarser and curlier than the rest of the body, as well. In such a sensitive, delicate area, we think it’s best to use grooming tools built from the start for this unique purpose.”
2. Safety: “Many men are afraid to shave their pubic hair out of fear of hurting themselves. More than half of Canadian men (54%)* are afraid of hurting themselves while shaving pubic hair,” says Zeichner.
Noteworthy information: The Gillette Intimate line was specifically designed with both those factors in mind, and line includes two tools: Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Trimmer and Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Razor; and two skincare products: Gillette Intimate Pubic Shave Cream + Cleanser and Gillette Intimate Pubic Anti-Chafe Stick.
– Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Trimmer: The Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Trimmer is built to help protect sensitive skin against snags, cuts and irritation. The trimmer head features a SkinFirst™ cutting system, designed to reduce skin bulging into the cutting zone.
– Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Razor: The Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Razor handle shape and anti-slip materials are built for ultimate control in the intimate area. The anti-slip Flexball™ Handle offers better maneuverability, flexibility and adaptation to contours. Features specific to the razor cartridge include SimplePass™ Technology with 5 anti-friction blades, for a close and comfortable shave and 2x lubrication for protection before and after the blades.
– Gillette Intimate Pubic Shave Cream + Cleanser: Designed for use prior to shaving, it is a 2-in-1 system that works to cleanse, hydrate hair and protect sensitive pubic skin during the shave. This dermatologist-tested shave cream has a lower water content and higher lubrication than typical shave gels and foams, which is ideal for the sensitive skin in intimate areas.
– Gillette Intimate Pubic Anti-Chafe Stick: The Stick is meant to be applied daily after showering to help reduce chafing in the intimate area. It features a smooth and non-greasy formula that creates a thin, protective layer on skin to reduce the risk of friction and chafing.
6. How often should the pubic area be groomed and why?
Frequency in grooming can be based on personal preferences and individual needs. “For men who are looking for comfort or style, this can be done as frequently as needed to maintain a certain level of comfort or a specific look,” says Dr. Zeichner. “For men who feel more confident after a shave, pubic grooming could be seen as self-care for occasions where that extra boost is helpful.”
7. Please share any dos and don’t to follow when grooming the pubic area:
Do:
– Get educated! “Sourcing methods, tips and tricks can give you the confidence to groom your pubic area safely and easily,” says Zeichner. “Gillette’s YouTube page offers video tutorials for pubic grooming.”
– Choose the right tools for a gentle and easy experience! “Gillette Intimate is a line of grooming tools and products that bring gentle and easy trim, shave and skincare to the pubic region,” says Zeichner. “The entire line is Dermatologist Tested and designed to help men look and feel their best.”
– Hydrate before shaving! “This tip can be used for face and body shaving,” says Zeichner. “Hydrating the hair and skin can help reduce shave irritation, and the Gillette Intimate Razor is designed so that it can be used in shower, featuring the anti-slip grip specifically designed for ultimate control in the intimate area, even when wet.”
Don’t:
– Don’t use the same products and tools for your face and pubic region. “From a grooming perspective, the real issue is about whether the tool was built with features thoughtfully designed for the job a guy is doing,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Distinct from body or face grooming, there are unique challenges for intimate grooming, including small surface area, complex topography, intricate areas, difficult to reach and see areas and skin folds. Hair in this area is often coarser and curlier than the rest of the body, as well. In such a sensitive, delicate area, we think it’s best to use grooming tools built from the start for this unique purpose.”
8. Please share a fact or some extra insight or otherwise re: pubic grooming:
– The majority of men groom their intimate area in some way, very few never do. “According to survey done by the brand, 75% of Canadian men shave their pubic area at least sometimes, about 24% say they rarely or never do it,” says Zeichner. “In fact, at least 71% of Canadian men do not know how to shave, they had to figure it out themselves*.
– Men desire a more open conversation about pubic hair – about 64% of Canadian men think male pubic hair grooming should not be taboo to talk about but only 29% of Canadian men talk about pubic hair grooming with friends and less than half of Canadian men discuss intimate shaving with their partner.
– Many men are even afraid to shave their pubic hair out of fear of hurting themselves, but it doesn’t stop them from trying – at least 62% of Canadian men have either hurt themselves shaving or know someone who has.
– In fact, instead of feeling grossed out or embarrassed, 62% of Canadian men feel more confident after grooming their intimate area.
