Your Pain-Free Guide to Pubic Hair Removal (Without Shaving)

Pubic hair. Pubes. The bush. Whatever you call it, there’s no shame in having it… and there’s no shame in wishing you didn’t, either.

But anyone who’s ever nicked themselves down there or had to empty a clogged razor every few seconds knows that shaving pubic hair is rough.

Good news, though: you CAN achieve pain-free, long-lasting pubic hair removal – without shaving.

TL;DR: Pubic Hair Removal Methods

#1: IPL Pubic Hair Removal

#2: Epilating

#3: Waxing

#4: Hair Removal Cream

If you’re looking for quick, effective, hassle-free methods for pubic hair removal that won’t keep you in the shower until the water has run cold, we got you, girl.

We’ll go over how a few popular hair removal solutions you probably know about (bikini waxes, anyone?) stack up compared to shaving, PLUS shed some light on IPL, our fave permanent pubic hair removal method. Get ready to learn how to remove pubic hair at home without shaving.

How to Remove Pubic Hair Without Shaving, Ranked By Effectiveness

#1: IPL Pubic Hair Removal

Getting rid of pubic hair is one thing… permanently getting rid of it is quite another. If you’re tired of the constant cleanup, what you need is a permanent IPL hair removal device.

IPL stands for “intense pulsed light.” It works similar to laser hair removal. It targets unwanted hairs at the root and destroys them with light pulses, without burning or damaging your skin. Over time, it stops hair from growing back for long-term hair reduction.

IPL permanent hair removal devices like Lumi are FDA-cleared for safe home use. And once you get the hang of how to use an IPL device, treatment is fast, easy, and virtually painless – with no razor burn, ingrown hairs, or bikini bumps in sight. 

Full transparency, IPL does require some shaving at first. You’ll want to shave any pubic hair to prep the skin for IPL treatment. But after 6-12 weeks, you’ll be able to toss your razors for good and enjoy permanent pubic hair removal without shaving.

Here’s how to perform IPL pubic hair removal:

1. Before treatment, shave any visible pubic hair and ensure the skin is completely clean and dry.
2. Plug your Lumi in and hold the power button to turn it on. (The intensity level will be set to 1 – keep it that way for your first session and work your way up with time.)
3. Place the light window completely flat against your skin.
4. Click the pulse button quickly to treat, then lift the device slightly and move it to the next spot. Repeat until the entire intended area has been treated once.
5. Press and hold the power button to turn off your handset.
6. After treatment, follow with an aloe-based body lotion to help your skin heal. Plan on repeating the whole treatment process 1-2 times per week for 12 weeks for the best results.

Over time, IPL treatment leaves skin super smooth down there (especially when you use an IPL and exfoliation bundle!) And, bonus: it works just about anywhere else you have unwanted body hair, too!

IPL pubic hair removal may be the best fit for you if you’re interested in getting rid of pubic hair for good, your pain tolerance is low, and you’re willing to be a little patient for the payoff of permanent smoothness.

IPL Pubic Hair Removal Pros:

• It’s easy.
• It’s fast.
• It leaves skin very smooth.
• The device can last 30+ years.
• One-time cost, with no refills.
• It’s virtually painless.
• You can customize your treatment.
• It provides permanent pubic hair removal.

IPL Pubic Hair Removal Cons:

• It involves some shaving at first.
• It takes 6-12 weeks to see full results.
• It’s not suitable for some skin types – see the IPL Skin Tone Chart

#2: Epilating

Like IPL, epilating can be done at home with a handheld device. But aside from that, epilating is more similar to waxing or tweezing. An epilator is a mechanical device that pulls a lot of hair out at once with each pass, using a group of up to 100 tweezers or spring coils. If that sounds painful, well, yes, pulling your hair out can have that effect. Especially when it comes to coarse pubic hairs.

While shaving cuts the hair at the skin’s surface, epilating removes the hair completely from the root. This can be painful, but it also offers longer-lasting hair removal results – most people epilate once every 1-4 weeks to fully remove pubic hair. Epilating also requires less hair regrowth than waxing does. Still, epilating is not a permanent hair removal solution – though some find hair to grow back thinner as they epilate consistently over time, it still requires regular upkeep.

Epilating could be a good fit for you if you’re not interested in getting rid of pubic hair for good, you’re looking for hair removal that requires less frequent upkeep than shaving, and your pain tolerance is high.

Epilating Pros:

• It leaves skin very smooth.
• Results last longer than shaving.
• The device can last 5+ years.
• You can do it yourself, at home.

Epilating Cons:

• It’s painful.
• It can cause irritation.
• It takes some getting used to.
• It’s not a permanent hair removal solution.
• You’ll need to allow for hair regrowth between sessions.

#3: Waxing

Ahh, bikini waxes. Your vulva might tingle at the very thought of them (but in the ouchy way, not in the good way.) 

Bikini waxes do a great job of removing coarse pubic hair. While shaving often leaves stubble and bumps, waxing removes hairs at the root, leaving skin smooth and hairless for weeks at a time.

BUT – and this cannot be ignored – waxing hurts like hell.

And, granted, waxing doesn’t require multiple-days-weekly upkeep like shaving can, but you have to go to a salon to get it done. (The rest of the internet might tell that you can do a bikini wax on your own, but… there’s something about pulling a strip of hot wax off your own V that turns courageous women weak and leaves them a sticky, still-hairy mess. Wish we could say we weren’t speaking from experience on that one.) Those salon visits can be pricey, inconvenient, and just downright uncomfy.

Waxing offers better long-term results than shaving does, but that hairlessness isn’t permanent – you still gotta wax every few weeks, and deal with the hair regrowth in the meantime.

Waxing could be a good fit for you if you’re not interested in getting rid of pubic hair for good, you’d rather have someone else do the actual hair removing, and your pain tolerance is high.

Waxing Pros:

• It leaves skin very smooth.
• Results last longer than shaving.
• You don’t have to do it yourself.

Waxing Cons:

• It’s painful.
• Going to a salon can be inconvenient.
• It’s… awkward.
• You’ll need to allow for hair regrowth between sessions.
• It’s expensive.
• It’s not a permanent hair removal solution.

#4: Hair Removal Cream

Skip the shaving, keep the cream. Hair removal cream is a classic low-maintenance hair removal method. It’s simple, it’s quick. And there’s nothing quite like the stink of eau de hair removal. (Actually, there is. It’s somewhere between rotten eggs and burnt hair, sometimes masked by vague florals.)

Using hair removal cream is very straightforward – you slather it on, wait 5-15 minutes, then wipe the cream and the hair off. Like shaving, hair removal cream removes hair at the surface level of skin – and, also like shaving, results often last anywhere from 2-7 days.

Though depilatory creams are relatively affordable, they’re not so cost-effective. Hair removal creams are one-time use, and it can take a lot to treat your nether regions (especially if you’re going for a full Brazilian look.)

If you use hair removal cream on pubic hair, be sure to choose one that’s formulated specifically for that purpose – some harsher creams can cause serious irritation or even chemical burns on sensitive areas. Definitely do a patch test first.

Like shaving, hair removal cream requires frequent upkeep and doesn’t offer permanent hair removal.

Hair removal cream could be a good fit for you if you’re not interested in getting rid of pubic hair for good, you don’t mind hair removal remaining part of your weekly routine, you want to keep things simple, and your skin isn’t that sensitive.

Hair Removal Cream Pros:

• It’s easy.
• It’s inexpensive.
• It’s often less irritating than shaving.

Hair Removal Cream Cons:

• It can burn a bit.
• It’s smelly.
• It can irritate sensitive areas.
• Hair grows back quickly.
• It’s not a permanent hair removal solution.