Many people who groom their pubic hair trim it, either as the whole routine or as the step before shaving or waxing. It's the gentlest option, because the blade stays above the skin, but grooming of any kind causes more nicks than people expect. If you're deciding between methods, our article on waxing versus shaving compares the two; this one is only about trimming, and doing it without cuts.
It covers the tools, how to set up, a step-by-step method, aftercare, and the signs that a cut or bump needs a clinician.
In this article
- Why trimming is the gentle option
- How common grooming injuries are
- Scissors or an electric trimmer
- Before you start
- How to trim, step by step
- After trimming
- If you want to go shorter
- When a cut or bump needs a check
- Frequently asked questions
Why trimming is the gentle option
Grooming is common. In a national survey of more than 3,300 women in the United States, 83.8% said they groomed their pubic hair. Trimming is one of the ways people do it, on its own or before another method.
Trimming shortens hair without cutting at the skin's surface, which matters for two reasons. The first is ingrown hairs. The NHS advises that leaving at least 1mm of stubble can help reduce ingrown hairs, and a trim leaves far more than that.
The second is injuries. A large US survey found that people who removed all their pubic hair often, 11 times or more, had higher odds of grooming injuries than those who didn't take it all off. Keeping some length is the simplest way to lower that risk.
How common grooming injuries are
More common than most people think. In that national survey of more than 7,500 adults, about three in four had groomed, and a quarter of groomers reported an injury. Women reported slightly more injuries than men.
Cuts were by far the most common injury, followed by burns and rashes. For women, injuries were most often on the pubic mound, the inner thighs, the genitals and the area toward the anus. For men, they were most often on the scrotum. Most were minor: about 1.4% of groomers needed medical care.
A study of US emergency rooms found grooming injuries rose about fivefold between 2002 and 2010, and razors were involved in 83% of them. The American Academy of Dermatology adds that you're more likely to need medical care for a cut if you were lying down while grooming or if someone else was doing it.
Slowing down and keeping the blade off the skin are the two habits the rest of this article builds on.
Scissors or an electric trimmer
Either works. Many people find a trimmer easier on short or curly hair, and scissors fine for taking length off.
| Tool | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Electric trimmer with a guard | Even length, quick, works close without touching skin | Use a guard; without one, the blade can catch folds |
| Small scissors with rounded tips | Taking off length, small areas | Pointed tips nick easily; never cut close to the skin |
| A beard or body trimmer | Larger areas, adjustable length | Keep it for this use only, and clean it after each time |
| A razor | Not a trimming tool | Behind most grooming injuries in emergency room data |
Whatever you use, keep it for yourself. The AAD warns that hair removal causes tiny tears in the skin, and sharing razors or other grooming tools can pass on infections.
Before you start
A few minutes of setup makes nicks less likely.
- Stand up. The AAD says that when a trimming injury needs medical care, the person was often lying down. Standing gives you a better view of what you're doing.
- Use good light and a mirror. A hand mirror on a stool or the edge of the bath helps you see areas you can't look at directly.
- Do it yourself. The AAD notes that more injuries happen when a partner does the trimming, likely because they can't feel what you feel.
- Start with clean, dry hair, unless your trimmer's instructions say it can be used wet.
- Check your tool. Clean blades, a charged trimmer, a guard in place, and scissors that are sharp enough to cut cleanly rather than tug.
- Give yourself time. Rushing is how nicks happen.
How to trim, step by step
- Start long. If you're using a trimmer, put on the longest guard first. You can always go shorter on a second pass.
- Hold the skin flat. Use your free hand to gently stretch the skin you're working on, so the tool glides over a smooth surface instead of catching a fold.
- Go with the direction of growth first. The NHS advises shaving in the direction the hair grows, and the same idea makes trimming more comfortable. Once the length is down, a second pass against the growth with a guard on gives a more even result.
- With scissors, lift and cut. Lift a small section of hair between two fingers or with a fine comb and cut above your fingers, never down at the skin.
- Take extra care on loose skin. The labia, the scrotum and the skin toward the anus fold easily and are where cuts are most likely. Use a guard, go slowly, or simply leave the hair longer there.
- Stop and check. Look in the mirror every few passes, and stop if the skin looks red or feels sore.
If you plan to shave or wax afterwards, trim to about a quarter inch first. Our guide to preparing for a Brazilian wax covers the length a wax needs.
After trimming
Rinse the area with lukewarm water to wash away clipped hair, and pat dry. Clipped hair left against the skin can itch.
The AAD suggests a moisturizer to ease the dryness that can follow hair removal, and recommends one that's fragrance-free and won't clog pores. Skip anything scented on this skin, along with alcohol-based products, which can sting.
Clean your tool too. Brush hair out of the trimmer, wipe or rinse the blade as its instructions say, let it dry, and store it somewhere clean. Scissors get a wipe and a dry before going back in the drawer.
How often you trim is up to you. There's no medical schedule, and leaving the hair as it is remains a perfectly good choice.
If you want to go shorter
Trimming leaves some stubble. If you want smooth skin, shaving or waxing is the next step, and both are harder on the skin than trimming. Shaving is behind most grooming injuries, and close shaving is a common cause of ingrown hairs, which the NHS describes as itchy bumps where a hair has grown back into the skin.
If you do shave, trimming first makes the razor's job easier and gentler. Our article on pre-shave oil for the bikini line covers what to put on before the razor, and our guide to what to put on after shaving covers the next step. If bumps are a regular problem, our article on razor bumps on the bikini line explains the technique changes that help most.
The AAD also mentions laser hair removal as a way to end trimming injuries. It notes that the treatment can cost hundreds of dollars, that most of the hair won't grow back, and that done improperly it can cause a disfiguring complication, so it recommends a board-certified physician who performs it often.
When a cut or bump needs a check
Most nicks are small and settle on their own. Rinse a small cut with clean water and press gently with a clean cloth until it stops bleeding.
Get help if:
- a cut is deep, gaping or keeps bleeding after several minutes of firm pressure
- a cut or bump becomes very painful, hot or swollen, which the NHS lists as signs to get advice
- you see pus, or you have a fever or feel shivery and unwell
- a rash or bumps keep coming back after every trim
- you notice a sore, blister or lump that wasn't caused by grooming
The NHS says ingrown hairs usually don't need treatment, but an infected one can be painful and may need a GP. If bumps appear that look different from ingrown hairs, have them looked at rather than trimming or shaving over them.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to trim or shave pubic hair?
Trimming is gentler on the skin. It shortens hair without cutting at the surface, so it's less likely to nick the skin or leave ingrown hairs, and the NHS advises leaving at least 1mm of stubble to reduce them. A US survey linked removing all pubic hair often with higher odds of injury. Shave only if you want smooth skin.
How short should I trim my pubic hair?
As short as you like, as long as the blade doesn't touch the skin. A trimmer with a guard sets an even length. If you trim before shaving or waxing, about a quarter inch makes the next step easier. Leaving some length is what keeps trimming gentle, so you don't have to go as short as possible.
Can I use regular scissors to trim pubic hair?
You can, but small scissors with rounded tips are safer, because pointed tips nick easily. Keep them only for this, clean them after use, and never cut down toward the skin. Lift the hair between your fingers and cut above them. For short or curly hair, an electric trimmer with a guard is usually easier.
Can I use a beard trimmer on pubic hair?
Yes, if it has a guard and you keep it for this use only. The AAD advises against sharing grooming tools, because hair removal causes tiny tears in the skin that let germs in. Clean the trimmer after each use, and take extra care on loose skin, where the blade can catch.
Is it normal to get bumps or itching after trimming?
Mild itch can happen as short hairs grow back, and clipped hair left on the skin can itch too. Rinse after trimming and use a fragrance-free moisturizer. Red bumps that are very painful, hot or swollen, or that have pus, can be infected and need a check, according to the NHS.
Should I trim lying down or standing up?
Standing up. The American Academy of Dermatology says that when a trimming injury needs medical care, the person was often lying down. Standing gives you a clearer view, and a hand mirror helps with areas you can't see. Trimming your own hair also lowers the risk, since a partner can't feel what you feel.
Sources
- Seven ways to prevent trimming injuries: American Academy of Dermatology, Trimming pubic hair
- How common grooming injuries are and who is at higher risk: Truesdale and others, JAMA Dermatology, 2017, PubMed 28813560
- Grooming injuries in US emergency rooms: Glass and others, Urology, 2012, PubMed 23040729
- How many US women groom: Rowen and others, JAMA Dermatology, 2016, PubMed 27367465
- Ingrown hairs, stubble length and signs of infection: NHS, Ingrown hairs
About this article
Written by the Peach & Cream team, based in Montréal. Published October 15, 2026. Last updated October 15, 2026. Facts come from the American Academy of Dermatology, the NHS and peer-reviewed surveys, linked above. This article is general information, not medical advice.