It's getting chilly outside and more and more people are dying to cuddle. It's official, cuffing season has begun.
With the wintery weather, flirtationships quickly turn into relationships as you yearn a snuggle buddy to order in Chinese food with and curl up against as you heat your feet by the fire. And as the leaves fall, bikini and short shorts are put away. Hence, you are no longer concerned about your garden and bush that's constantly growing—otherwise known as your pubic hair.
All body hair is different, it can be fine, dark, thick, light, orange, curly, long, stubby, the hairy descriptions go on and on, yet everyone has hair. Yet, grooming routines diverge and no one practice is better or worse. Some have a shaving schedule, some just let it grow out (I wonder how long is the longest pubic hair), and some choose to cut here and there.
Body hair is typical and all-embracing, but what you choose to do with it, is your choice!
It's your own private parts! Any and all ways of upkeep are perfect (as long as it's hygienic). Don't let anyone judge you if you choose to flaunt your armpit hair or leg hair. There's a long list of influencers who would back you up, from Julia Roberts to Madonna to Miley Cyrus to Bella Thorne to Penelope Cruz and many others. Remember when Amber Rose's bush shocked the Internet? #bringbackthebush
To see what college-aged students are doing with their happy trails and bird's nests, I collected responses from both guys and gals of different sexual orientations and relationship stages between the ages of 18-24.
Here are some of their responses:
Smooth as a baby
"Bare as a babies butt"–Female, 19-years-old, it's complicated
I hope that it smells as good as a newborn, as well.
Ew
"None of my habits change in the winter, but it has nothing to do with my boyfriend. Too much hair gets on my nerves, my legs included, so I shave on a regular basis throughout the year."–Female, 21-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
It's a party up in there!
"I do not shave at all! I only shave if I'm going out and wearing a tank top so that when I dance or raise my arms people don't see my armpit hair. My boyfriend and I do long distance so I only really shave if I know I'm going to see him, but other than that I don't see a reason to! Let it all hang out."–Female, 19-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
Dance as if no one is watching, hunny!
Not on a grooming timeline
"I get to it when I get to it. My partner doesn't care and it only bothers me after a long time." – Male, 19-years-old, in a new relationship
No more bikini line troubles (for the time being)
"Occasional shaving but not actively worried about traumatizing anyone (like at the beach)." – Female, NA, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
Society needs to stop freaking out about body hair–we all have it!
Keeping the heat in
"Not really any change. I just keep it natural. If anything, I trim hair less often now that it's less hot out." – Male, 20-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
Sounds logical, hair keeps everything nice and toasty.
The lazy lady
"If I'm not seeing him then I don't shave my legs or my vagina, not because it's winter or anything but just because I'm lazy and always in jeans. However, if I have something coming up then I shave it all off (as does he) the idea of hair during sex is just not for me." – Female, 19-years-old, friends with benefits
Procrastination at its finest.
Shaving takes time
"I shave whenever I want not based on when my boyfriend wants. In the winter, I go longer without shaving because I'm not wearing a bathing suit. I don't really have like a specific amount of days or anything just whenever I think it's time or when I have time when I'm in the shower." – Female, 20-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
You definitely need to find the extra few minutes for primping.
It itches!
"Nope, I shave for me because it's uncomfortable when I get too hairy. Although, I usually only do it once every 2-4 weeks" – Female, 20-years-old, single like a Pringle
Make sure you don't have crabs, also known as pubic lice!
It's a balance
"Still kept neat and tidy. Not bald but very trimmed." – Male, 23-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
This guy knows how he likes his genitals primed.
Key statement: all for me
"It depends every so often I will shave and trim but normally it's for myself. If I was in a relationship or trying to hook up with people I would probably do it more often, but when single I still groom and trim but won't shave as often." – Female, 19-years-old, on the lookout
The vital steps are the simple groom and trim.
Strong opinions
"STILL GROOM THEM." – Female, 20-years-old, single like a Pringle
Clean-up
"I still get my Brazilian waxes because you have to keep that up. Plus, it's annoying to have to deal with growing out the hair to get it waxed from the start all over again. My boyfriend and I both like it when it stays cleaned up!" – Female, 21-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
Can we talk about the look we give when the waxing woman is just about to rip?
I have to stay sane somehow
"I let it grow because there's no one in my life right now to groom it for, but I do the occasional trim to keep my humanity intact." – Female, 20-years-old, single like a Pringle
Self-grooming is for the self, not anyone else! It's all you.
If it's starting to get as long as your head-hair, you've definitely got an issue
"I haven't shaved since the summer but the other day I trimmed a little because it was getting too long" – Female, 19-years-old, single like a Pringle
Does anyone actually disagree?
Just trying to stay hygienicÂ
"Usually trim once a month because that's enough to maintain hygiene. Not worried about grooming down there to impress all that much seeing as I haven't gotten laid in two years. I do it for me because let's be real, who the fuck am I trying to impress?" – Male, 20-years-old, single like a Pringle
I hope you can hit a home run soon.
Persistant waxer taxer
"I wax every 4 weeks, no change with the seasons!" – Female, 20-years-old, it's complicated
Pro tip: use aloe vera after each session to cool down the area and alleviate redness.
Washing is what really matters
"I shave once every few days but always wash thoroughly. I used to shave every day over the summer, but there obviously is a smaller chance that I'll wear a bathing suit now and my sex friend does not care TBH." – Female, 23-years-old, friends with benefits
Here we go again, the bloody buddy is back
"I usually change and clean every day and take two showers when I'm on my period." – Female, 19-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
The monkey has a nosebleed.
Getting crazy now and then
"Well, I am in a long distance relationship. I am in college and he is in the military. So really, I am super lazy in the winter with grooming. Personally, I like to be clean and smooth down there but I do let myself go a lot of the times during the winter. Which is nice, but eventually I get annoyed and get it smooth again. When I know I am visiting him soon, I like to pick up the habit of grooming down there so that come to visit time I am already in habit of doing it diligently. He doesn't care what it's like down there. He says it's my body and I can do what I want, so I never feel pressured to do anything I don't want to which is great, so it's really a personal decision on what I do with my grooming." – Female, 19-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
Do what you need to do to feel confident and ready to carpe diem!
It's a bother
"If I'm 'involved' with someone I always trim or shave, but honestly I hate doing it. In the summer I'll typically trim just to make sure it doesn't get gross down there when it's too hot, but in the winter when I'm not sexually active? Pssh, who cares? I'll keep it clean and do the minimum." – Female, 21-years-old, on the lookout
No one needs the extra work, headache, and annoyance.
Legs for days
"Honestly don't shave my legs unless I'm wearing a dress." – Female, 19-years-old, single like a Pringle
No reason to shave if you're wearing pants!
It's a personal preference
"I continue to shave despite the fact that it's winter because I personally don't like body/pubic hair on me and prefer the feel of smooth skin. Sometimes though, when I feel lazy, not in the mood to shave, or it's that time of the month, I'd just let the hair "down there" grow out for a while, but not too much that it gets bushy, because the longer it is then the harder it is to shave it off." – Female, 18-years-old, single like a Pringle
Shaving isn't not for everyone
"I don't really shave down there. I did once but I don't [anymore] since I get ingrown hairs sometimes." – Female, 18-years-old, in a new relationship
Damn those pesky hairs!
What day is it today?
"Being the organized freak that I am, I try to schedule out when I'm hooking up with someone so I know when to shave and give it three days to grow out a little to be at max comfort. I'll make sure the lady parts are shaved around the edges, but I leave a little on top. It's how I like it, not how HE likes it, duh. But I totally understand that if a lady has a full-on bush, going down on her is probably really gross, so I will be a gentlewoman for my mans." – Female, 23-years-old, friends with benefits
This young woman deserves a round of applause and some chocolate. If she's this on top of her vag, imagine how managed the rest of her life is!
Mood-booster
"I just got out of a relationship where I would usually stay pretty clean shaven unless it was a super busy time (she didn't mind), but now that I'm basically single and only hooking up on the rare occasion, I usually shave maybe once a month. It's for me, it makes me feel more put together and in control of my body, but since I'm not with someone, I don't stay up on it as routinely, just when I have time and need a pick me up." – Female, 20-years-old, it's complicated
One of the best feelings is right when you shave and come out of the shower. You feel so... clean.
The pros and cons
"I always shave down there. I don't like the feeling of having a hairy bush. I especially groom down below if someone else will be taking a peek inside of my 'temple.' However, I do get red bumps sometimes after shaving, and it becomes more irritating than having the bush." – Female, 22-years-old, on the lookout
Self-heater
"Girl, I am not shaving. He better get used to me being hairy because it keeps me warm. My skinny ass barely makes its own heat." –Male, 19-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
These dudes really know what they are talking about.
Always
"I always try to stay 'groomed.' But since my boyfriend doesn't live here I don't shave until like the day before he gets in town and it gives me a break and I don't have as many razor bumps or itch. But definitely always always always slick and shaved and clean!" – Female, 21-years-old, in a new relationship
Too much is too muchÂ
"They haven't changed, I still do not groom down there unless it gets out of hand." – Male, 20-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
There reaches a point when something must be done.
The best of 'Kim Possible' was Rufus, duh
"I was lasered a while ago so I'm just like a naked mole rat." – Female, 19-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
 My no-no zone
"Not at all, I don't really shave down there and I still don't." – Female, 19-years-old, single like a Pringle
Now that's what some may call a furburger.
It's a nude Christmas
"I literally only shave if I plan on seeing my boyfriend and getting some D. We live an hour away so I keep it bare for Christmas break, but January to February I'll only shave like once or twice when he comes to visit me." – Female, 20-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
A porn star in a sauna
"I just trim them because I come from Asia where grooming your pubic hair is considered weird unless you're a porn star. When I came to the US, I realized most people either shave or trim their pubic hair, but I didn't want to completely shave them just in case I ended up going to a public sauna with my family members (my culture has public saunas where you get butt naked with people of the same-sex) because they will think something is up. Other than that, I don't do anything. I know some dudes put lotion down there in the winter and shit, but my only grooming is trimming them. Oh, I don't touch the butt hole hair, just down to the balls area." – Male, 22-years-old, friends with benefits
So that's what makes a porn star.
Keeping your beaver hydrated
"I don't shave as much down there, but [I use] moisturizer more!" – Female, 18-years-old, friends with benefits
There's this stench
"Overall, since I'm not in a relationship I do not usually shave until it gets too much. I've noticed that once my hair gets too long, I start to smell, but also when I shave I also start to smell in the first two days or so. On the other hand, when I am with someone I continuously shave." – Female, 20-years-old, on the lookout
Everyone has an aroma, but it's helpful to make sure your odor is within range of normality.
Hoo-haw independence
"Nothing has entirely changed. I still groom for my own benefit and I don't care if I meet someone or don't. Sometimes, I might wait a few extra weeks before doing a grooming session, but even so, that doesn't stop me from fixing myself up every now and then." – Female, 19-years-old, "honestly not even sure"
It always feels good to pamper and prep.
There's a lot of moola that goes into grooming
"Still get regular waxes but it's okay if it's past 4 weeks! A little extra hair won't kill no one plus it's expensive to keep that upkeep." – Female, 24-years-old, friends with benefits
When deciding between saving money for food or a wax, always choose food.
Trimming season
"I haven't shaved since the summer, but the other day I trimmed a little because it was getting too long." – Female, 19-years-old, single like a Pringle
Finding comfort in relationships
"Honestly, in previous relationships, I would shave everywhere (and I mean everywhere) like every other day. With myself practically living with my now boyfriend, there will be times I forget. At first when I did this, I would apologize and get super self-conscious. My boyfriend told me he actually prefers a little stubble, he says it reminds him I'm actually a woman and not a child. That I'm human and he loves my imperfections. I'm finally comfortable in a relationship where I can go a couple days not shaving (too much length causes itching and I'm not about that personally)." – Female, 21-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
One's imperfections make him/her perfectly unique.
Going back to our roots
"Au naturel all year long." – Female, 20-years-old, single like a Pringle
No f***ks given
"I literally will not shave until it starts to bother me. This goes for every part of my body (armpits excluded because I literally cannot handle my armpits to not be shaved during all seasons LOL) but as for every other area, if I'm not wearing shorts or going swimming I won't shave unless it's irritating me or whatever. My boyfriend doesn't really care–we've been together for almost five years now and quite honestly, I don't care either! Obviously, I'll be fully groomed if it's like a date night or something but for 99% of the season I do not care one bit." – Female, 21-years-old, cuffed up and in a long-term relationship
Living life one hairy leg at a time.
These responses have been lightly edited for length or clarity.
