Hairless is beautiful, especially for the bikini and genital areas. With fast changing standards for beauty and perfection, it's no wonder that people would go to any lengths to make sure that they're hairless where it matters. But did you know that there are some risks associated with removing the hairs growing directly from the genital area?

Some notes on shaving

Every part of the body can be shaved with razors (except maybe the insides of the ears); however, this does not mean that the general level of safety is the same throughout the body. Skin on the arms, legs and chest are much safer to shave than hair on the scrotum or near the vulva. For this reason, you must do everything in you power to avoid cutting yourself.

Cuts in the genital area can be painful and since this region is often warm and moist, secondary infections can occur. Prolonged itching can also occur if you don't take care of the small cuts that result after a very close shave.

Safety for the women

The female genitalia is more prone to secondary bacterial infections because of the structure of the outer part of the genitalia. Both hot waxing and shaving can cause problems for the female genitalia. If you want to wax the excess hairs off, make sure that you go to a very competent and well-known clinic. Before the procedure begins, make sure that you ascertain how knowledgeable the cosmetologist is and if he or she is aware of what could happen if the waxing is not done correctly.

Ideally, a good genital waxing would remove all the hairs on both sides of the genitalia; the area would be reddish but hair-free and definitely much smoother. Irritation from the hot waxing can occur. This can include itching, pain, redness and swelling in some people. Such irritation can be remedied by rest and by applying a soothing gel such as those with an aloe vera base.

General guidelines

If you're using an electric razor or a disposable razor, always trim the genital hairs first before using the razor. Trimming the longest and thickest of hairs would prevent clogging of the razor and would make the shaving strokes easier. Avoid using a straight razor when doing your genital area; only an expert with many years of experience can wield a blade more than 5 inches in length and shave the most sensitive part of the human body without harming it.

If you have hypoallergenic shaving creams, (there are some creams that can be applied to the genitals, always read the product usage instructions first!) apply a very liberal amount on the area. But not too much that you can't see where the hairs are.

The point of liberally applying the creams is to lubricate the skin and make the hairs softer and easier to cut. What you don't need during the shaving is excessive friction that can lead to razor burn and nasty cuts. If you have a spouse or similar partner that can help you, it would be better if someone monitored the shaving process.