Pubic School

by: Margo Scott
Northwestern University
The Daily Northwestern

With the onset of low-rise pants, short skirts, thong underwear, celebrities going commando and other crotch-related fashion trends, so-called "avant-garde" pubic hair can't be too far behind.

Ever the fashionista, I asked my esthetician, “Bridget”, about it, and I was astounded. She told me she could do various personalized shapes, letters, and that she may be able to do color. Is this what's expected now? Am I behind the pubic curve? I always thought my monthly Brazilian wax was on the cutting edge, but I consider it more of a personal preference than a fashion statement.

Personal hygiene is something we've been told is a good thing since we were five (when our mothers reminded us to wash behind our ears and between our toes). Since then, most of us have, hopefully, taken that lesson to heart.

But what's the litmus test for measuring pubic hygiene? My guy friends have told me that, as long as a girl has a clean, well-groomed, shall we say, “downtown”, they're happy. Dissatisfied with this vague response, I delved deeper - as in, I got my boys wasted and forced details out of them - and discovered that men are actually much more opinionated on the matter than the previous statement might suggest.

Most guys - at least, the ones I talked to - want a cropped, mostly-bare southern region. They want to be able to see what they're dealing with. Some wanted totally bare, some craved a little covering, but, for the most part, all my buds agreed that less is more.

This is bad news for straight girls who care about that sort of thing and don't have a “Bridget” in their life. (The lesbians I spoke with didn't care about hairstyle per se, as long as the girl seemed like she took care of herself and was clean.)

Now, on to you guys. "But guys don't have to worry about pubic hair - they're guys," you say. I beg to differ. My girlfriends and I have talked about this before - rather extensively, in fact - and we think if we're supposed to groom, so should men. Personally, I think at least a little trimming is in order, especially in the testicular region; nothing is grosser than long ball hair. I don't advocate a full-on metrosexual manscape - believe me, hair grows there for a reason - but trimming is always a turn-on. It can also enhance sensation and, perhaps, encourage your partner to stay down there longer.

In conclusion, dear readers, personal hygiene and cleanliness are always a plus, and pubic hair can reflect that. Now that you know what potential partners may think of your south-of-the-border style, you can make an educated decision about your hair down there. But, regardless of what's trendy, I think pubic hair styles should be a personal choice - even if you opt for the full on furry.