As Miley Cyrus—who bared her unshaven bikini line in the latest edition of Wonderland—has proven, pubic hair is officially cool again. But as the bush continues to grow in popularity, it’s left some with an unexpected problem in their pants.
Women who’ve abandoned the Hollywood or Brazilian in favour of a more grown-out look are reporting pain when their pubes get longer; an issue social media users have dubbed whisker fatigue.
This term was coined after TikTok creator, Jules, took to the app to ask: ‘Does anyone else’s bush hurt when it gets too long? It feels like when you take down a ponytail after having it in all day but with spikes.’ The video now has 6.9 million views, with commenters calling the name ‘diabolical but unfortunately accurate’.
Why can pubes be painful?
‘Very long pubic hair can become uncomfortable because the hairs are coarse and curly,’ Dr Nikki Ramskill, founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, said. ‘They can then bend back on themselves, tug at the skin, or get caught in clothing and underwear. This constant pulling can feel like a sharp, irritating pain, a bit like when the hair on your head gets tugged.’
Dr Ramskill added: ‘When hairs are pulled or bent, the tiny nerves around each follicle get stimulated, which is what causes pain or sensitivity.’
With 32% of Brits preferring a low maintenance approach when it comes to pubes, discomfort is common.
Why else might you get pubic hair pain?
According to the doctor, alongside shaving, not shaving for months on end increases the chance of ingrown hairs. ‘These can become sore, inflamed and possibly infected,’ Dr Ramskill said. ‘It happens when long hairs curl back into the skin, causing red, painful bumps.’
When pubic hair is especially long, it can also cause chafing and irritation as hairs rub against skin or fabric, especially during exercise. ‘You may even experience tugging or pulling of the hairs during sex, which can be painful if the pubic strands get caught,’ Dr Ramskill explained.
Additionally, an overgrown bush ‘can trap sweat, bacteria, and discharge, making the area feel less fresh,’ she noted.
What can you do to prevent whisker fatigue?
The simple answer is to keep pubic hair trimmed to a length where discomfort is avoided. However, ‘pubic hair itself isn’t unhealthy, it actually plays a protective role, reducing friction and providing a barrier against bacteria,’ the doctor said.
A trimmed style is preferred by 46% of women and is the most-liked pubic hairstyle for women by both men and women, with only 23% of women preferring to be completely shaved.
Dr Ramskill added: ‘Whether someone chooses to trim, remove or leave their pubic hair is a personal choice, but if it starts to feel uncomfortable, trimming can help relieve the problem.’
How to deal with ingrown hairs
Coarse and curly hair, like in the pubic area, can lead to ingrown hairs, as can waxing, plucking and threading.
Don’t:
- Shave too close – leaving some stubble can stop bacteria getting in
- Use a blunt razor
- Shave every day, if possible
- Scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs
Do:
- Wet your skin with warm water and use shaving gel
- Shave in the direction the hairs are growing
- Use as few strokes of the razor as possible
- Rinse the razor after every stroke
- Hold a cool, wet cloth to your skin after shaving to reduce irritation
- Use an exfoliating scrub to help release any trapped hairs
- Try a different hair removal method, such as hair removal cream
- Try a long-term way of removing hair, such as laser treatment
See a GP if an ingrown hair or the area around it is very painful, hot or swollen, or you have an ingrown hair and have a high temperature, or you feel hot, shivery or very unwell. (Source: NHS)
