Pubic Hair Removal (“Grooming”) Is Increasingly Popular | Psychology Today South Africa
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Pubic Hair Removal (“Grooming”) Is Increasingly Popular
In less than a generation, grooming has become normal.
Posted August 1, 2025
Reviewed by Tyler Woods
A decade ago (2015), I blogged about the first few studies of pubic hair removal, grooming. Since then, several more reports have appeared. They provide new insights into a practice that’s not discussed very much, but has quietly become the way most young adults present their genitals.
The first study of grooming among women (2010) showed that around 25 percent of adults removed no pubic hair (“full bush”), with older women most likely to present this way. Among the 75 percent who groomed, 41 percent trimmed pubic hair with scissors; 24 percent shaved or waxed some of their hair, or had electrolysis; and 10 percent removed everything (“bald”)—with young adult women leading the way.
Fast forward 15 years, and grooming has increased, especially the removal of most or all pubic hair. Most recently, in a 2023 report, Australian researchers used an online survey to ask 1,560 young adult men and women, aged 18 to 25, if they groomed. Saying yes was almost three-quarters of the women (72 percent), and two-thirds of the men (65 percent).
The most recent U.S. report agrees. University of California (UCSF), San Francisco, investigators surveyed a nationally representative 7,580 adults (3,316 women, 4,198 men) aged 18 to 65. Almost three-quarters groomed (74 percent)—84 percent of the women and 65 percent of the men.
The Demographics of Grooming
Grooming is strongly age-related, most prevalent among young adults, but it becomes less popular as candles crowd the cake. Among those over 50, grooming is still a minority practice. However, as young groomers grow older, they appear likely to continue removing some or all of their pubic hair. This suggests that within a generation, grooming should become the norm in all age groups.
Likelihood of grooming increases with education. Those with college degrees groom more than those with less education.
Whites groom more than African-Americans, Asians, and Hispanics.
Income and geography make no difference to pubic grooming.
The most popular way to remove hair is razor shaving—except in parts of Europe where waxing is as prevalent.
Why Groom?
Groomers report many reasons for the practice:
– Cleanliness/hygiene.
Self-esteem.- Personal
attractiveness, especially shaving areas exposed when wearing bathing suits. – Sex appeal.
– Partners’ desire for grooming.
– To increase attractiveness when undressing for lovers.
– To increase the likelihood of receiving oral sex.
Many people groom for cleanliness/hygiene. This is mistaken. No matter if people sport full bushes or shave bald, regular bathing with soap and water leaves any pubic hair and the external genitals equally clean. Grooming does not increase cleanliness.
When partners are in synch on grooming, both report greater sexual and relationship satisfaction. Men’s satisfaction increases when their lovers groom the way the men liked. Women’s satisfaction increases when their grooming practices matched their partners’ desires and expectations.
In the earlier studies, grooming was associated with sexual frequency—the more sex, the greater the likelihood of grooming. But now that the large majority of young adults groom, associations with frequency are fading.
Other Australian researchers discovered that during the COVID pandemic, grooming declined a bit. Why? People were more isolated and having less partnered sex, so they felt less need to groom for sexual attractiveness. No post-COVID follow-up research has been reported, but given grooming’s increasing popularity, it’s a safe bet that the dip in grooming has ended.
Any Downsides?
The two main problems with grooming are itching in shaved areas and the risk of shaving cuts. Both risks rise with the frequency and extent of grooming.
A decade ago, researchers wondered if grooming might affect the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Pilot studies suggested an increased risk among groomers. Critics retorted that this was an artifact of demographics. Young people groomed the most, and are also the age group at greatest risk of STIs. More recent research shows no association:
– Ohio State University scientists surveyed grooming among 214 women students tested for gonorrhea and/or chlamydia at the university health center. Almost all (98 percent) reported some grooming, and 54 percent had shaved completely during the previous year. “Our findings do not support pubic hair grooming as a risk factor for STIs.”
– UCLA researchers surveyed 314 people, median age 31, screened for STIs at a San Francisco clinic. “We found no association between recent grooming and genital STIs.”
A Surprisingly Rapid Change
Most elements of sexuality are slow to change, but grooming is an exception. Less than a generation ago, it was uncommon. Today, it’s the rule among young adults, and appears to be on its way to becoming the norm in all age groups.
References
Bouchier, L et al. “Changes to pubic hair removal practices during COVID-19 restrictions and impact on sexual intimacy,” Culture, Health, and Sexuality (2023) 25:505. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2022.2056246.
Butler, S.M. et al. “Pubic Hair Preferences, Reasons for Removal, and Associated Genital Symptoms: Comparisons Between Men and Women,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2015) 12:48.
Deans, R et al. “Attitudes and Practices Associated with Pubic Hair Grooming Behaviours: A Cross-Sectional Study” Australia New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2023) 63:109. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13633.
DeMaria, A.L. et al. “You Have to Be Clean: A Qualitative Study of Pubic Hair Grooming Behaviours Among Women Living in Italy,” Culture, Health, and Sexuality (2020) 18:1.
Enzlin, P. et al. “To Shave or Not to Shave: Public Hair Removal and Its Association with Relational and Sexual Satisfaction in Women Men,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2019) 16:954.
Gaither, T.W. et al. “Prevalence and Motivation: Pubic Hair Grooming Among Men in the United States,” American Journal of Men’s Health (2017) 11:620.
Luster, J. et al. “Association Between Pubic Hair Grooming and Prevalent Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Female University Students,” PLoS One (2019) 14(9):e0221303
Rowen, T.S. et al. “Pubic Hair Grooming Prevalence and Motivation Among Women in the United States,” JAMA Dermatology (2016) 152:1106.
Truesdale, M.D. et al. “Prevalence of Pubic Hair Grooming-Related Injuries and Identification of High-Risk Individual in the United States,” JAMA Dermatology (2017) 153:1114.
