Intimate shaving for women: a 6-step guide

For intimate shaving without razor bumps, trim long hair first and exfoliate once or twice a week. Shave at the end of a warm shower with shaving gel and a sharp blade, with the grain. Rinse with warm, then cool water and apply an alcohol-free care oil straight away. Only shave where hair grows, never the mucous membrane.

Fully smooth, trimmed or just along the bikini line: how you wear your pubic hair is up to you. Your skin stays calm afterwards when you get the preparation, technique and aftercare right.

What do you need for intimate shaving?

• A small pair of scissors or a trimmer to shorten long hair
• A gentle scrub to prepare your skin, for example the Intimate Pre-Shave Peeling
• A shaving gel for the intimate area, for example the 2in1 Intimate Wash & Shave Gel
• A sharp razor with several blades and a lubricating strip, which you will find in our Shaving category
• An alcohol-free care oil for afterwards, for example the Glow Below Oil
• A hand mirror for areas you cannot see well

You can get the scrub, gel and oil together as a routine in the Glow Below Trio.

How to shave your pubic area in 6 steps

Step 1: Trim the hair

Long hair clogs the blade and pulls at the skin. Trim it to a few millimetres first with a small pair of scissors or a trimmer.

Step 2: Exfoliate

A scrub loosens dead skin flakes. This exposes the hair, and the blade glides more easily. Apply the Intimate Pre-Shave Peeling with warm water to the bikini zone up to the outer labia and gently massage it in with circular movements. Then rinse it off with warm water. Use the scrub once or twice a week before shaving.

Step 3: Soften skin and hair

Take a warm shower for a few minutes. Warmth softens the hair and makes shaving easier. So leave the shave until the end of your shower.

Step 4: Apply shaving gel

Massage the 2in1 Intimate Wash & Shave Gel with a little warm water into the external intimate area, where hair grows. It forms a creamy texture for the blade to glide over. At the same time, the gel cleanses mildly with a pH value adapted to the intimate area. Regular shower gel and shaving foam for your legs are not adapted to the pH value of the intimate area.

Step 5: Shave

Shave in the direction of hair growth, with light pressure and short strokes. Pull the skin taut with your free hand, especially on the outer labia and in the groin. Rinse the blade after every stroke. Try to go over each area only once.

Step 6: Rinse and moisturise

Rinse off the gel with warm water, finish with a short cool rinse and pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Then apply 2 to 3 drops of Glow Below Oil. The oil moisturises freshly shaved skin and softens regrowing hairs. 75% of test participants confirm the reduction of razor bumps and razor burn.¹

Should you shave with or against the grain?

In the intimate area, it is best to shave with the grain, in other words in the direction of hair growth. Shaving against the grain leaves your skin smoother, but it cuts the hairs below skin level. They are then more likely to become ingrown, and you get more razor bumps. If you want a smoother result, shave a second time across the direction of growth. Pubic hair does not all grow in the same direction. Feel how it lies before you start.

Which areas can you shave?

Only shave skin where hair grows: the bikini line, the mons pubis, the outer labia and, if you like, the area towards your bottom. Leave the inner labia and the mucous membrane untouched. Scrub and shaving gel only go on the skin up to the outer labia, where hair grows.

How often should you shave your intimate area?

That depends on your hair growth and your skin. Sensitive skin needs a break of one to two days between shaves. If you shave every day, the risk of redness and razor bumps goes up. Change the blade as soon as it pulls. That is usually after five to ten shaves.

Shaving, waxing or hair removal cream?

• Shaving: smooth for 1 to 3 days. Painless and you can do it at home. Razor bumps and stubble are possible.
• Waxing: smooth for 3 to 5 weeks. Painful, and the hair needs to be a few millimetres long.
• Hair removal cream: smooth for about 1 week. It irritates the skin easily. Only use it if the packaging says it is suitable for the intimate area. Never apply it to the mucous membrane, and test it on a small patch first.
• Trimming: the hair stays short. No irritation, although the skin is not smooth.
• Laser or IPL: reduces hair growth permanently. You need several sessions. It is expensive and not suitable for every hair and skin colour.

Intimate shaving during pregnancy: what is different?

You can shave as usual during pregnancy. As your bump grows, though, it gets harder to see your intimate area. A hand mirror helps, or you can ask someone you trust for help. Your skin is often more sensitive during this time, so mild products and a sharp blade are especially important. You do not need to shave before giving birth.

Read more about care during this time in our guide to intimate care during pregnancy and in our pregnancy skin care range.

What helps with redness and pimples after intimate shaving?

Small red bumps after shaving are usually razor bumps or razor burn. Give your skin a few days off, cool the area and care for it gently. Do not squeeze anything. You will find more in our guides to razor bumps in the intimate area and skin care after shaving.

If your skin itches as the hair grows back, regular care with an oil that softens the hairs helps. See your gynaecologist if lumps become large and painful, pus collects or you develop a fever.

You will find all products for intimate shaving in the Glow Below routine.

¹ Clinical-dermatological application study under gynaecological supervision with 20 participants, applying the intimate area oil once daily over a period of 4 weeks.