Dakota Johnson’s preparation for Fifty Shades of Grey included a personal grooming decision many moviegoers probably never considered.
The actress revealed that she chose not to wax while filming the 2015 erotic drama, in which she appeared fully nude as Anastasia Steele.
“I grew my pubic hair. For Fifty Shades, the first one, I was full frontal, and she was supposed to have never had a wax,” Johnson explained on an episode of First We Feast.
The revelation offers an opportunity to look beyond Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes preparations and address a question that often comes up in conversations about body hair: Is there any real health reason to remove it in the first place?
The short answer is that pubic hair removal is a personal choice, not a medical requirement. And for people who regularly shave or wax, changing their routine may affect their skin in several ways.
Pubic hair removal is optional, not a hygiene requirement
For years, hair removal has been treated as a routine part of personal grooming. But having pubic hair is a normal bodily feature, and removing it isn’t necessary to keep the external genital area clean.
Hair can act as a physical barrier and may reduce friction against the skin. Although it doesn’t prevent sexually transmitted infections, there is no general medical requirement to remove it for cleanliness.
What happens to your skin when you stop shaving?
One of the most noticeable differences may be less shaving-related irritation.
A razor cuts hair close to the skin, but the process can also cause friction and minor injuries, especially when the blade is dull, the skin isn’t adequately lubricated, or you shave the same area repeatedly.
The result can be redness, razor burn and uncomfortable bumps. The sensitive skin around the bikini line may be especially prone to irritation.
Hair removal can also contribute to ingrown hairs. These develop when a hair grows back into the skin or sideways rather than emerging normally from its follicle. The resulting bumps may itch, become inflamed, or feel painful.
Allowing pubic hair to grow can reduce exposure to these particular shaving-related triggers. However, it isn’t a guaranteed solution for every skin problem, and ingrown hairs can have other contributing factors.
Could going natural affect skin discoloration?
Repeated irritation can sometimes leave its mark beyond temporary redness.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs when inflammation or injury makes an area of skin darker. For people who are susceptible to this condition, repeated irritation from shaving may contribute to discoloration around the bikini line.
Reducing that irritation could help limit one potential trigger. It does not mean, however, that stopping hair removal will necessarily lighten existing dark patches.
It’s also worth remembering that skin color naturally varies across the genital area. Differences in pigmentation are common and don’t automatically indicate a health problem.
The comfort factor
For some people, the biggest advantage of changing their grooming routine is simply avoiding the cycle of shaving and regrowth.
Short hairs can feel prickly as they emerge, sometimes causing itching when they rub against underwear or clothing. Skipping shaving avoids that stage of regrowth.
Does pubic hair affect body odor?
Another common misconception is that keeping pubic hair automatically makes someone less hygienic.
Pubic hair itself isn’t inherently dirty. Body odor can develop when sweat interacts with bacteria on the skin, regardless of whether you remove hair.
Regular washing remains important, but hair removal is not a substitute for hygiene. Nor is it required to maintain it.
A sudden or unusual change in genital odor, especially when accompanied by itching, pain, or unusual discharge, deserves attention rather than being automatically blamed on pubic hair.
There’s no single right way to groom
Johnson’s decision was made for a specific acting role, but her experience highlights how personal grooming can be shaped by the demands of a character.
Outside a film set, there is no need to follow a particular grooming style. Some people prefer smooth skin, others choose to trim, and many are comfortable leaving their pubic hair untouched.
The important distinction is that neither shaving nor keeping pubic hair is inherently more hygienic.
Read more:
