25 Fashion Journal readers share what their pubic hair looks like right now

“I’ve been told by lots of different men (and the media) that I should shave.”

Like the hair on our head, pubic hair has followed its own unique trend cycle over the years. While the ’60s and ’70s gave rise to the full bush, the 2000s were all about Brazilian waxes and manscaping. These days (thank goodness), we’re seeing a myriad of pubic hairstyles in media, from neat landing strips to the full-but-still-trimmed look.

We like nosy people. Don’t be shy, head to our Beauty section for more. 

For strictly research purposes (obviously), we wanted to know – what do your pubes look like right now? To find out, we compiled answers from 25 Fashion Journal readers.

Penny*, 22, she/her

It’s been just over a week since I shaved, so slightly grown-out but neat. I’ve always felt pressure to shave it all off for sex. I don’t think about it much other than when it comes to sex, and then I feel ‘unclean’ or like my partner won’t want me as much if I haven’t shaved it.

Astrid*, 26, she/her

My hair is barely there after many years of laser. When I was younger, I wanted to fit in with my friendship group, and I knew boys would talk about it. Now I just prefer it – it feels nicer during sex and looks better (in my opinion) when I do sports like swimming or pole. In saying this, I also prefer that my partner does the same.

Lin*, 26, she/her

Completely hairless, I get laser. I do it as it’s my preference.

Helena*, 23, she/her

My hair is shaved! I prefer no body hair but I do feel I’ve been subconsciously pressured by society’s distaste of body hair on women. I feel yucky in myself if my leg hair gets too long.

Anouk*, 33, she/her

Full bush (it gets the extremely occasional trim). I’m also in the last trimester of pregnancy, which makes it a bit harder to reach around anyway. It’s been about four years since I last had a bikini wax, but there were certainly times in my early twenties when I would have died at the thought of my pubes appearing ‘unkempt’.

Once an ex-bf picked me up from work for a date and I created an excuse that I needed to collect something from home beforehand, just so I could go to the bathroom and do a quick tidy-up shave of the edges (while he waited in the lounge, chatting with my parents). I would never go to those lengths now.

Bridget*, 32, she/her

My hair’s been totally untamed since last summer. I’m autistic and the current state of my pubic hair actually bothers me – but I moved cities and am too anxious to find a new waxer! I only feel pressure to remove hair from my own sensory perspective.

Sarah*, 31, she/her

Untrimmed, but don’t have heaps of hair anyway. They are koala ears right now! I’m from a beach town and have always felt like hair outside bikinis is not okay. I love tiny tiny swimmers, so wax for that. I’ve felt pressure to be totally hairless but don’t like it, so haven’t done it since one annoying (itchy) shave in high school.

Farrah*, 25, she/her

Business in the front and party in the back! I remove my hair every few months. I like to trim away the hair covering the path to my clit (a favour to both me and my bf), however, I can rarely be bothered getting to the long (and sometimes tangled) gooch and butt hair.

Maeve*, 32, she/her

I have a trimmed, self-epilated bikini line (ouch). I’ve always felt pressure to present my pubic hair in one way or another. From a young teen, I was told to ‘shave as a treat for my boyfriend’ – I’m remembering the shaving rashes now! Now, I act as though I’m comfortable with my natural pubes but still wax my bikini line if anyone is likely to see it.

Alina*, 29, she/her

I got laser ages ago, so nothing grows on my bikini line – but I have a tufty landing strip I’m trying to grow out! My boyfriend and I are into the ’90s fuller vibe, so a bit sad the laser worked so well TBH!

In high school, you had to grow up so quickly. I went from a year seven who never even thought about body/public hair to a year eight who got called ‘furburger’ (lol but also how awful) when I hesitated to tell a boy if I shaved or not! It’s so messed up. In my later years, I’ve never anyone who’s cared, which has helped. I’m super comfortable doing what I want now – I just wish I could tell all the babies in high school to tell immature idiots to go to hell…

Maria*, 23, she/her

Grown out! I’ve definitely felt pressure to remove hair for dating, engaging in sex with cis men and for wearing swimsuits.

Quinn*, 21, she/her

I’m halfway through getting a Brazilian wax right now! I’ve always liked to keep my pubic hair short and neat when in relationships, but now that I’m single, I’m finding I enjoy being completely bare. My current sexual partner prefers me with pubic hair, so I go through cycles of letting it grow out and then waxing. I have and still do feel pressure to have it the way my partners like.

Swati*, 26, she/her

There’s a bit there, all in the natural shape but it’s trimmed short and shaved around the vulva. It’s like a well-maintained modern bush. I’ve had comments, all from men – either surprised or passing subtle judgement. If you’re expecting me to have nothing… it’s not happening. I don’t feel sexy or womanly that way.

Bree*, 30, she/her

My hair is growing back from a recent removal. I hadn’t shaved for a really long time and decided to do it on a whim. I absolutely hated the week following – that awkward short/painful/itchy length – but now it’s getting back to how I like it, short and trimmed.

My male partner recently commented on my pubic hair and said he doesn’t that it exists at all. This really shook me and I went into an emotional spiral… I couldn’t even look at him, I was so upset. Pubic hair has always been such a mindfuck for me. I’ve been told by lots of different men (and the media) that I should shave, that hair is gross, that I should get laser/wax/shave etc.

I’m about to head off to QLD for a beach holiday, and all I can think about is that I need to get a wax. It is cooked how much time I spend thinking about body hair. I got to a point where I actually felt comfortable growing out my leg/armpit/pubic hair, but the recent comment from my partner has shocked me to the core. Now I’m back to being self-conscious and anxious about it, when I know damn well I shouldn’t feel this way! Why is it okay for men to be hairy as fuck, but women traditionally have to be silly dolphins?

Mabel*, 30, she/her

At the moment, my pubic hair is enjoying a post-holiday trimmed look. I had the luxury of leaving Melbourne for warmer times up north and shaved my bikini line/trimmed back my pubic hair with an electric razor. After many laser sessions in my early twenties, my growth is much more sparse than it used to be. I still have visible hair coverage, even when trimmed back (which I really only do a couple of times a year).

Ivy*, 27, she/her

I have a Brazilian wax. I feel more pressure from other women to do certain things with my pubic hair… I’ve had all the hairstyles down there you can imagine – I’ve grown it out, had a full bush, waxed it all off, had shapes, landing strips, etc. But I recently got it lasered and removed it all because truthfully, I can’t be bothered with all the maintenance.

It was also more expensive to wax than laser. I’m extremely impartial about it myself. I love the look of pubes though, and it’s great to see them in the media now!

Noor*, 35, she/her

I have a full bush. I’m two weeks postpartum and while I usually keep shaved (for no reason other than I find it more comfortable), it was impossible to shave towards the end of pregnancy (and my husband was too scared to help out). Now that I can reach myself, I’m too scared in case I shave off some of the stitches that are currently holding my vagina back together. Looking forward to being able to shave without fear again!

Xavier*, 29, he/him

It’s eight months shy of my 30th birthday, and I’ve found my first grey pubic hair! I currently have a short amount of hair all over, but grey revelations may force a trim. When I was younger, I felt pressure to completely shave or even use hair removal cream (like the guys in pornography).

Eli*, 32, she/they

Trimmed and kept tidy, clean bikini lines. Just how I like it!

Kayla*, 24, she/her

My hair is stubbled with a long, thin landing strip. I haven’t tended to the garden in over a week, so it’s in the itchy stage but preceding the rugged lumberjack stage. I’ve probably absorbed a lot of subliminal messages [about my pubic hair], however, I have periods of time when I’m not sexually active at all. I still take satisfaction in hair removal and keeping a landing strip or short stubble

Zoey*, 44, she/her

My hair is trimmed short with waxed sides and a waxed top. It’s a neat, short triangle Just to not have it peeking out of the sides of my bikini.

Amaya*, 34, she/her

It’s an under-control bush… I have light, fine hair so this is a very easy-to-maintain aesthetic for me. When I was in my late teens and twenties I definitely felt the need to be shaven (or close to it) because that’s what I assumed guys liked. Thank god I’ve grown out of that mindset as I’ve gotten older, and my current partner loves my pubes however I love them.

Claire*, 22, she/her

I have zero hair (laser). I was always told by male sexual partners (before my current partner) they preferred shaved and wouldn’t perform oral sex if I had public hair.

Micah*, 29, she/her

Full but trimmed. Usually, I’d have a full bush but a new lesbian relationship has meant a haircut and summer has meant a bikini trim. When I was 19 to 21, my vulva was completely bald because of my first few boyfriends.

Joel*, 31, he/him

My hair is in its natural hair growth shape but is kept at about one-third of a finger length. I prefer having a bit of pubic hair, as long as it is maintained.

*Names have been changed.

For more on pubic hair and expectations, head here.