If you've landed here after seeing dermaplaning all over your social feed, you're not alone. The technique looks simple, the results on faces look incredible, and it's natural to wonder: can I use the same approach on my bikini line or pubic area?
The honest answer — and the one every board-certified dermatologist agrees on — is no. But understanding why not will actually help you get the smooth, calm skin you're after, using a method that genuinely works.
What Dermaplaning Actually Is (And Why Location Matters)
Dermaplaning is a professional or at-home technique that uses a small, angled blade to skim across the face at a precise angle. Its purpose is twofold: to remove the soft, nearly invisible layer of fine vellus hair (the downy fuzz on cheeks and forehead) and to exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface.
Vellus hair is thin, unpigmented, and grows at a shallow angle. The blades used in dermaplaning tools are designed around these specific properties — they are light, precise instruments built for a smooth, relatively flat surface.
The pubic and bikini area is anatomically and biologically different in almost every relevant way.
Why Dermaplaning Doesn't Work on Pubic Hair
Pubic hair is terminal hair — the same category as eyebrows, underarm hair, and leg hair. Terminal hair is:
- Thicker and coarser than vellus hair by a significant margin
- More deeply rooted in the follicle
- Darker and more pigmented, which means any irritation or micro-trauma shows up more visibly as hyperpigmentation
- More prone to curling back into the skin, which is the direct cause of ingrown hairs
A dermaplaning blade is simply not engineered to cut through coarse terminal hair cleanly. Attempting it can result in the blade snagging, dragging across skin, causing micro-tears in already sensitive tissue, and dramatically increasing the likelihood of ingrown hairs, folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicle), or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The skin of the pubic mound and inner bikini area is also thinner and more reactive than facial skin, with a higher density of sweat glands and friction from clothing. What causes minor redness on a cheek can cause a significant reaction here.
In short: dermaplaning is the right tool in the wrong place. It is a facial technique, full stop.
What Dermatologists Actually Recommend for the Pubic Area
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises that for anyone choosing to remove pubic hair, a clean, sharp blade and careful technique are the foundations of a safe outcome. Here is the approach that board-certified dermatologists consistently recommend.
Step 1 — Trim first if hair is long
If hair is longer than a centimetre or two, trim it down before you reach for a razor. Shaving very long hair puts unnecessary drag on the blade and increases irritation risk.
Step 2 — Soften skin and hair in the shower
Spend at least five minutes in warm (not hot) water before shaving. Heat opens pores, softens the hair shaft, and makes the follicle more pliable. Shave towards the end of your shower for maximum benefit. Hot water, however, strips the skin's lipid barrier — keep the temperature comfortable, not scalding.
Step 3 — Apply a gentle, fragrance-free shave gel or cream
This step is non-negotiable in the pubic area. A good shave medium reduces friction, helps the blade glide across contours rather than catch on them, and creates a visible guide so you can see where you've already shaved. Fragrance-free formulas matter here because synthetic fragrance is one of the leading causes of contact dermatitis in sensitive areas.
Step 4 — Use a sharp, quality safety razor
The single most impactful variable in pubic shaving outcomes is blade sharpness. A dull blade requires more passes to cut hair, and each extra pass adds friction, removes more of the protective surface layer, and compounds irritation. A fresh, sharp blade cuts cleanly on the first pass.
A weighted safety razor — like the Freya Starter Kit — gives you precise control over blade angle without the excess pressure that cartridge razors encourage. The heft does the work; you guide, you don't press.
Step 5 — Shave with the grain
Shave in the direction hair grows, not against it. Against-the-grain shaving produces a closer result but dramatically increases the risk of ingrown hairs in coarse pubic hair because the blade cuts hair below the skin line, allowing it to curl inward as it regrows. With-the-grain shaving is the AAD's standing guidance for this area.
Keep the skin taut with your free hand — the pubic mound and inner bikini crease are contoured surfaces, and a taut surface gives the blade a consistent angle to work with.
Step 6 — Rinse with cool water and moisturise
After shaving, rinse with cool water to close pores, then pat (never rub) dry. Apply a fragrance-free, alcohol-free moisturiser or soothing serum while skin is still slightly damp. Ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and niacinamide help calm the skin barrier and reduce post-shave redness. Avoid anything with heavy fragrance, AHAs, or retinol immediately after shaving in this area.
Step 7 — Wear breathable, non-binding underwear
Friction from tight synthetic fabrics in the hours after shaving is one of the most common — and most overlooked — causes of bikini-line irritation. Loose cotton underwear allows the skin to recover without abrasion.
Exfoliation: The Ingrown Hair Prevention Step Most People Skip
The AAD notes that light exfoliation before shaving (24 to 48 hours prior, not immediately before) helps clear dead skin cells that can trap regrowth and cause ingrown hairs. A gentle chemical exfoliant with low-concentration salicylic acid or lactic acid is well-tolerated by most skin types in the bikini area. Skip physical scrubs on the day of shaving — they can create micro-abrasions that irritate freshly shaved skin.
For a complete body-area technique reference, see our shaving by body area guide.
A Note on Terminology
The viral phrase "dermaplaning vagina" is widely searched, but it's worth being precise: the external pubic and bikini area — the mons pubis and the bikini line — is the relevant anatomy here. The vagina is an internal structure; shaving or any blade-based grooming applies only to external skin. This distinction matters for hygiene, safety, and being accurate about what you are and aren't doing.
The Bottom Line
Dermaplaning is a genuinely excellent technique — for fine facial hair and surface exfoliation. For the pubic and bikini area, the biology of the skin and hair makes it the wrong choice entirely. A sharp safety razor, used with the right prep and technique, is what dermatologists recommend, and it is what actually delivers the smooth result you're after without the risk.
Sharp blade, with the grain, fragrance-free medium, cool rinse. That is the formula.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a dermaplaning tool on the bikini line or pubic area?
No. Dermaplaning tools are designed for fine vellus hair on the face. Pubic hair is coarse terminal hair with a different texture, root depth, and growth angle. Using a dermaplaning blade on this area risks snagging, micro-tears, ingrown hairs, and folliculitis. Dermatologists do not recommend it.
What is the safest way to remove pubic hair at home?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends shaving with a clean, sharp razor in the direction of hair growth, using a fragrance-free shave gel and following up with a gentle moisturiser. Trimming before shaving if hair is long reduces blade drag and irritation.
Why do I get ingrown hairs after shaving the bikini area?
Ingrown hairs in the pubic area are most commonly caused by shaving against the grain (which cuts hair below the skin surface), using a dull blade (which requires multiple passes), or skipping exfoliation (which leaves dead skin cells that trap regrowth). A sharp blade, with-the-grain shaving, and pre-shave exfoliation 24 to 48 hours earlier address all three causes.
Does dermaplaning make hair grow back thicker?
No. Cutting hair — whether by shaving or dermaplaning — does not change follicle structure or alter how hair grows back. The perception of thicker regrowth comes from the blunt cut end of the hair shaft feeling coarser to the touch. This is true for both dermaplaning and standard shaving.
How often should I change my razor blade when shaving the bikini area?
The AAD advises replacing blades every six to eight uses, or sooner if you feel any tugging or dragging. A blade that no longer glides cleanly is a blade that multiplies friction and increases the risk of irritation, razor burn, and ingrown hairs in sensitive areas.
Last updated: 2026-06-17