Rough and Ready

Nancy-Ann,

I have been shaving my testicles and shaft since I was 18. I am 29 now. I have been married for 2 years and my shave job hurts my wife when we have sex. It is hampering our sex life. I must shave every day to keep it smooth for her and even then it will irritate her if we go for any length of time. I have started electrolysis but it is very expensive and time consuming. Any thoughts or ideas for us to try? Something to maybe strengthen her skin down there or eliminate my hair? We are desperate and willing to try anything.

- Ready and Rough

R&R,

First off, there is nothing available to “strengthen her skin down there.” Have you ever asked if she wants you completely shaved every day? Or is this strictly what YOU want?

Note to all gentlemen concerned about genital “manscaping”: Please read my entire post for the pros and cons of various hair removal options. But first, hear me out:

You are men. Men have hair ... on their face and neck, chest, stomach, inside their nostrils, on their ass, balls and shaft. All women who love men accept this and have no problem with it. My simple advice: Why not just keep ALL your body hair (not just pubic) neatly trimmed (and clean!) for your main squeeze. Trust me, we’re fine with a youthful-looking genital grooming.

That said, the rest of what follows is for the stubborn who are constantly looking for ways to rid themselves of hair on and around their “area.”

Truth is, if you insist on using a razor on your pubic hair, it is, without a doubt, going to get itchy within 24 hours. And since it's a blade, well, you can do the math when something that sharp comes that close to your most prized possession.

What follows is a list of alternatives to shaving. You don't need to razor away your pubic hair on a daily basis. The following are some other methods to lose that unruly bush.

Waxing
I'm certain you've heard the horror stories associated with ripping the hair out of your body from the root. I'm here to tell you that it really is as painful as "they" say. Of course, there are good and bad things about this particular method of hair removal:

Pros:

• The pubic hair won't grow back for four to six weeks (even longer if you use a hair inhibitor afterwards).
• Hair grows back softer.
• It's relatively cheap.

Cons:

• The male genital area is so sensitive that chances are you'll crying like a bitch.
• It may result in ingrown hairs.
• You can't wax your testicles (you really can’t, but feel free to try plucking!).
• You have to wait for the hair to grow back at least ½ an inch before you can remove it again.

Laser
Laser hair removal by far surpasses all other methods of hair removal. What it involves is the use of a laser that zaps hair away.

Pros:

• Causes minor discomfort and only for a short while (a few hours) after procedure.
• Leads to permanent hair removal.
• It's quick.

Cons:

• It works best on dark-haired, light-skinned individuals.
• It's expensive.
• It requires additional treatment for dormant hair.
• You can't expose the area to sun for weeks (for you nudists out there).

Keep in Mind
No matter what method of hair removal you opt for, make sure, first and foremost, that if you're going to remove the pubic hair, it goes in accordance with the rest of your body. If you're a hairy beast from the face down and suddenly your penis and his buddies are completely bare, you'll look somewhat odd when you're naked... to say the least.

As well, if you're going to have someone else handle your private area, make sure they have the adequate credentials to do so. After all, the family jewels must remain intact at all times.

Depilatories
If you've ever seen the (long-ago) "we wear short shorts" commercial, then you know what a depilatory cream is. It's a lotion that you place over the hair for a few minutes, and then, when you wash it off -- POOF! -- the hair is gone.

Pros:

• It's incredibly cheap.
• It doesn't take much time.
• You can do it at home.
• It exfoliates the skin simultaneously.

Cons:

• It's not recommended for sensitive areas RE: Your twig and berries!
• It sometimes has an unpleasant scent.
• It may cause acne or rashes in the area (always test on a small area of your body before use).

Electrolysis
Like the name sounds, this method of hair removal involves little shocks of electricity that eventually annihilate hair for good. What it does is cause the hair to grow back thinner and weaker each time until it eventually dies.

Pros:

• Considering the pubic hair area is incredibly sensitive, some electrologists provide Lidocaine to numb the area first so you won't feel a thing.
• It's relatively safe.
• It's permanent

Cons:

• If you've already tried other methods, your hair might be more stubborn and harder to annihilate.
• It's expensive.
• It's time consuming (each hair is treated individually).
• It causes post-procedure discomfort.

Trimming
Trimming involves the purchase of a sideburn trimmer (available at all department and drugstores). It never really annihilates the hair, but rather trims it down so that it looks neat and your woman can enjoy your “below-the-belt” buffet without having to venture through the jungle.

Pros:

• It doesn't make you itchy like shaving.
• You can do it from the comfort of your home at your leisure.

Cons:

• It doesn't remove hair.
• You will have to trim every couple of weeks.

Reader response:

My man does too but due to him cutting my insides all to rat shit, I have asked him to leave a small patch directly above his shaft. So far so good. I don't feel like i have been screwing razor blades. - CT