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Before You Pierce, Wax, or Shave

By Stephanie Watson
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

The thought of applying hot wax to your privates and then ripping it off, or piercing a hole through one of the most tender spots on your body might make you cringe. But a lot of women are waxing and piercing these days, and if you're going to do either one, you've got to do it safely so you don't end up with painful irritation, or a nasty infection. Shaving seems pretty easy, but there are tricks to doing it right.

Before you pierce, wax, or shave, read on to learn the best -- and safest -- techniques for protecting your private parts.

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Wax On, Wax Off

Eliminating unwanted pubic hair might seem like a new thing, but women have actually been ridding themselves of it for centuries. Back in ancient Egypt, women used to spread a sticky mixture of honey and oil on their nether regions, and then remove it -- and the hair it covered -- with a cloth.

In the early part of the 20^th century, modesty was the rule and there weren't a whole lot of reasons for women to do much grooming "down there." Then the bikini was born, and no one wanted to get caught poolside with a few stray hairs peeking out. As time passed, bikinis -- and underwear -- covered less and less, and pubic hair started to shrink accordingly. Then "Sex in the City" popularized "the landing strip," and made the Brazilian wax all the rage.

The word about waxing has gotten out among teens. "I think a lot of it comes down to societal peer pressure. It's very popular," says Jennifer Ashton, MD, an ob/gyn practicing in Englewood, N.J., CBS News Medical Correspondent, and author of The Body Scoop for Girls.

There's no medical reason why you should, or shouldn't remove your pubic hair. It's really your decision. How much hair you remove is also up to you, and your modesty level, because if you're getting a Brazilian or similar wax, you and your esthetician are going to get very personal, very quickly. She's going to be seeing almost as much of you as your gynecologist, says Ashton.

You're also exposing yourself to infection whenever you remove hair in the sensitive pubic area. That's why you absolutely have to check out the salon or spa before you go. Every state has different training and licensing standards, but you'll be in the best hands with an esthetician or cosmetologist who has been licensed in your state, and who has that license hanging on her wall. Also check to see if the salon is a member of The Salon Association (TSA).

Visit the spa or salon before your appointment. Give it at least as much of an inspection as you'd give a restaurant before you ate there. The bathroom is a great sign of overall cleanliness. If paper towels are strewn all over the floor and the sinks are streaked with dirt, get out of there -- quickly -- and find another salon.