As the bush once again grows in popularity, it’s left some with an unexpected problem in their pants.
Women who’ve abandoned the Hollywood or Brazilian in favour of grown-out pubic hair are reporting pain when their pubic hair gets long.
And TikTok has given this pube pain a name: whisker fatigue.
It was coined after one TikToker Jules took to the app to ask: ‘Does anyone else’s bush hurt when it gets too long? It feels like why you take down a ponytail after having it in all day but with spikes.’
One video on the topic hit 6.3 million views, with many in the comments dubbing the term ‘diabolical but unfortunately accurate’.
Others shared that so-called whisker fatigure makes them ‘feels bruised’ down there.
Why can pubes be painful?
‘Very long pubic hair can become uncomfortable because the hairs are coarse and curly,’ Dr Nikki Ramskill, founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, tells Metro.
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‘They can then bend back on themselves, tug at the skin, or get caught in clothing and underwear. This constant pulling can feel like a sharp, irritating pain, a bit like when the hair on your head gets tugged.’
Dr Ramskill adds: ‘When hairs are pulled or bent, the tiny nerves around each follicle get stimulated, which is what causes pain or sensitivity.’
With 32% of Brits preferring and au naturel approach when it comes to pubes, you’re likely not alone if you feel this discomfort.
Why else might you get pubic hair pain?
When we grow our pubes long, the doctor explains this also increases the chance of ingrown hairs.
‘These can become sore, inflamed and possibly infected,’ Dr Ramskill, for Doctify, says.
‘It happens when long hairs curl back into the skin, causing red, painful bumps.’
If your hair is long it can also cause chafing and irritation if your hairs are rubbing against skin or fabric – especially when you exercise.
‘You may even experience tugging or pulling of the hairs during sex which can be painful it the pubic strands get caught,’ she adds.
The last problem that could arise with long hairs is more superficial. ‘They can trap sweat, bacteria, and discharge, making the area feel less fresh,’ Dr Ramskill explains.
How to deal with ingrown hairs
Coarse and curly hair, like in your pubic area, can lead to ingrown hairs, as can waxing, plucking and threading.
What shouldn’t you do to avoid ingrown hairs:
- do not shave too close – leaving some stubble can stop bacteria getting in
- do not use a blunt razor
- do not shave every day, if possible
- do not scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs as this can damage your skin and lead to infection
What should you do to avoid ingrown hairs:
- wet your skin with warm water and use shaving gel
- shave in the direction the hairs are growing
- use as few strokes of the razor as possible
- rinse the razor after every stroke
- hold a cool, wet cloth to your skin after shaving to reduce irritation
- use an exfoliating scrub to help release any trapped hairs
- try a different hair removal method, such as hair removal cream
- try a long-term way of removing hair, such as laser treatment
You should see a GP if an ingrown hair or area around it is very painful, hot or swollen, or you have an ingrown hair and have a high temperature, or you feel hot, shivery or very unwell.
Source: NHS
What can you do to prevent this?
The simple answer is to keep your pubic hair trimmed to a length where you don’t feel discomfort.
‘That said, pubic hair itself isn’t unhealthy, it actually plays a protective role, reducing friction and providing a barrier against bacteria,’ the doctor says.
A trimmed style is actually preferred by 46% of women and it’s the most-liked pubic hairstyle for women by both men and women, with just 23% of women preferring to be completely shaved.
‘Whether someone chooses to trim, remove or leave their pubic hair is a personal choice, but if it starts to feel uncomfortable, trimming can help relieve the problem,’ Dr Ramskill adds.
Just know, whisker fatigue is perfectly normal, so style your pubes as you wish.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
