Women all over the world are oiling their pubic hair. But should you?

Blame it on your mommy or your mommy’s mommy, we’ve practically grown up worshipping hair oiling as the ultimate hair care regime. However, you’ve got social media and well yourself to blame if you’ve believed in pushing that thought further and have fallen for the pubic hair oiling trend!

It all started when Harry Potter actress Emma Watson raved about a certain blend of grape seed, jojoba, tea tree, and clary sage seed oil to a beauty website. And claimed to use it “anywhere”, from the ends of her hair and her eyebrows to well, the pubic hair!

Needless to say, countless women bought the oil, which was quick to sell out. Soon, the Internet was flooded with women going gaga about how this oil made their pubic hair softer and tamed in-grown hairs.

“Some women prefer to be natural and not shave off their pubic hair completely. And so a herbal product known as ‘fur oil’, is being used as a conditioner to smoothen and groom pubic hair by women around the world,” acknowledges Dr Kinjal Shah, obstetrician and gynaecologist, Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai.

But is it really safe?
“For women, who do not go for Brazilian waxing, laser therapy or shaving, this type of oil can be used to prevent the skin from becoming rough,” says Dr Shah.

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“Such oils can even help prevent infection, soften the pubic hair, and give you a better feeling without making your intimate area wet or greasy,” she adds.

In fact, since such oils or creams do not have any fragrances and are non-greasy, just one to two drops of it after bathing can seal the deal minus any discomfort down there.

“Women who do remove their pubic hair can use such oils to keep the skin from becoming scaly or rough and also prevent infections like folliculitis,” she further explains.

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So, whether or not you want to nourish your pubes with such oils is completely your call.

However, conditions apply
Intimate hygiene is a matter of great concern and just because this trend has taken over the world doesn’t mean that you can use any sort of oil to tame your pubic hair.

“Many women rely on regular hair conditioners and hair oils to tame their pubic hair,” Dr Shah points out.

However, the resulting greasiness and moisture from using them can turn your intimate area into a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. So, if you don’t have access to a non-greasy pubic hair oil, that is also approved by your gynaecologist, do not opt for products that you use to tame the hair on your head.

Dr Shah recommends drinking plenty of water and keeping your intimate area clean at all times for healthier, softer pubes.

You can even opt for trimming instead of completely shaving or waxing your pubes, so that infection protection provided by your pubic hair remains intact and the hair does not become coarse over time.

Also, you’ve got to make sure to be super-careful while using these oils, so as to prevent them from getting inside the vagina and causing any irritation.

In fact, do a patch test before applying the oil directly on to your pubes. And if it causes any itching or discomfort, wash it off immediately and rush to a gynaecologist if the problem persists.