

There's a trend that has declared the bush is back. But for some of us, it never left.
Growing hair down there is really more of a personal preference than a fashion statement. And if we're honest, women have been doing it since the beginning of time. While I have yet to embrace this movement that still has dozens of ladies tossing their razor and ghosting the woman who does her Brazilian (I personally like a clean cut down there), if you're Team Bush, there are a few things you should consider making sure it's good to go… or, I guess grow.
Keep It Soft
Just like going natural, deciding to grow out your pubic hair is a lot easier said than done. While we like to think it's as simple as not shaving, there's a lot more to think about, sis. For starters, do you really want it to be rockin rough and tough? Just because you have a bush doesn't mean it can't be soft. Thankfully, there are actually products out there like Fur Oil that keep it silky and smooth. You can also take on regular routines like using hair conditioner (that doesn't have any flavor, alcohol, or fragrance), and of course staying hydrated.
Get That Shape Up
Okay, so it's not as critical as getting a shape up as if you were rocking a fade, but if you do want to keep your bush looking nice and neat, it might be a good idea to at least trim it every once in a while. No, it won't ever be stuntin' Rapunzel status, and it's definitely all about your preference. If you decide to shape it, you can go to a pro or save your coins and take care of it right in your bathroom. Feel free to use a trimmer, a pubic hair clipper, or even shears for your hair. Whatever you decide, we can all agree that down there is your sanctuary, so be sure to sanitize and clean everything before and after your grooming session.
Easy On The Products, Boo
Let's not throw off that pH balance. While it might be fun to test out new products and see how your hair down there responds, keep in mind it's not the hair on your head. It's much more fragile and attached to an even more fragile part of your body. I think it's a great idea to determine what works best for you and your body. And sometimes that can only be done through trial and error. But once you find a handful of your go-tos, use them wisely and try not to go all willy nilly. Be smart in your discovery of what works best for you and what you do and don't like, eliminating any products as needed.
Give It Some Room, Y’all
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Another tip in keeping your pubic hair maintained is being sure to give it breathing room often. And it goes beyond that liberating moment when you take off your pants as soon as you get home from work. (But don't that feel good, though?) I know you got it and you want to flaunt it but wearing looser clothes every once in a while is actually a great way to let your pubic hair get some much needed breathing space. As much as we love sexy underwear, thongs (are we still blaming Sisqo?), and whatnot, the healthiest underwear for your pubic hair are the cotton ones as they don't sport synthetic fabrics.
Prevent That Itch
Since you have more hair down there, your vagina could be prone to more itching. But of course there's a fix for that too. Using anti-fungal creams like Gold Bond, specialty vaginal creams such as Vagisil, and anti-itch and burn products like Cortizone (I think most of us can attest to spotting at least one of these tubes in our home at all times) regularly can help prevent any excessive and uncomfortable itching and even chafing, which none of us are fans of. If these basics don't do the trick, you don't have to take on the big chop and shave it all off. There are more intense options out there for you like CeraVe's Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch cream.
Exfoliation Is The Key
We've all not only experienced ingrown hairs but have given in to the temptation to pick them. If you say you've never done that, you're lying (just kidding). But on a serious note, while we've always heard that it's vital to exfoliate our face, it's also vital to keep our area down there exfoliated as well. This can help prevent or at least reduce ingrown hairs that might try to fight their way through. Instead of using tweezers to show them who's the boss, try a sugar scrub, toner, or even an exfoliating pad. This will get rid of all that dead skin that's trying to stop your vagina from being great. It also strips out any unhealthy bacteria from your hair follicles, which is clearly a major win.
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I Had Chronic BV Until I Said Goodbye To Antibiotics and Hello to Holistic Health – Read More
Featured image by Getty Images
- Care For Pubic Hair Down There - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Guide To Pubic Hair Mainenance & Grooming - xoNecole: Lifestyle, Culture, Love, Wellness ›
- How Do You Shape Your Bush? - YouTube ›
- The Full Bush Is the New Brazilian! How to Transition Like a Pro ›
- 12 Reasons To Rock A Full Bush ›
- How To Grow Out Pubic Hair ›
- How To Landscape Pubic Hair Without Upsetting Your Vagina ›
- The Best Ways to Keep Your Pubic Hair in Check ›
- The Smart Girl's Guide to Grooming Your Pubic Hair ›
- How To Take Care of Your Pubic Hair | Teen Vogue ›
- How to Trim Your Pubic Hair (with Pictures) - wikiHow ›
- How To Care For Your Pubic Hair | Vaginal Health | THINX Blog ›
Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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'Leave Quicker': Keri Hilson Opens Up About Learning When To Walk Away In Love
What you might call Black love goals, Keri Hilson is kindly saying, “Nah.”
In a recent appearance on Cam Newton’s Funky Friday podcast, the We Need to Talk: Love singer opened up about a past relationship that once had the public rooting for her and former NBA star Serge Ibaka. According to Cam, the pair looked “immaculate” together. Keri agreed, admitting, “We looked good.” But her demeanor made it clear that everything that looks good isn't always a good look for you.
That was all but confirmed when Cam asked what the relationship taught her. Keri sighed deeply before replying, “Whew. Leave quicker.”
It was the kind of answer that doesn’t need to be packaged to be received, just raw truth from someone who’s done the work. “Ten months in, I should have [left],” she continued. “But I was believing. I was wanting to not believe [the signs].”
Keri revealed to Cam that despite their efforts to repair the relationship at the time, including couples counseling, individual therapy, and even sitting with Serge’s pastor, it just wasn’t meant to be. A large part of that, she said, was the seven-year age gap. “He was [in his] mid-twenties,” she said, attributing a lot of their misalignment to his youth and the temptations that came with fame, money, and status.
“There were happenings,” she shared, choosing her words carefully. “He deserved to live that… I want what you want. I don’t want anything different. So if I would’ve told him how to love me better, it would’ve denied him the experience of being ‘the man’ in the world.”
But she also made it clear that just because you understand someone’s path doesn’t mean you have to ride it out with them. Instead, you can practice compassionate detachment like our girl Keri. “You can have what you want, but you may not have me and that.”
When Cam jokingly questioned what if there was a reality where a man wanted to have both “you and a dab of that,” Keri didn’t hesitate with her stance: “No,” adding, “I can remove myself and [then you] have it. Enjoy it.” Sis said what she said.
Still, she shared that they dated for a couple of years and remain cool to this day. For Keri, being on good terms with an ex isn’t a sign of weakness; it's a reflection of where she is in her healing. In a time when blocking an ex is often seen as the ultimate sign of growth, Keri offers an alternate route: one where healing looks like resolution, not resentment. “I think because I have such a disgust for ugliness in my life. Like, I don't do well without peace between me and everyone in my life. Like, I really try to resolve issues,” she explained to Cam.
Adding, “I think that's what makes things difficult when you're like sweeping things under the rug or harboring ill feelings towards someone. When you're healed, when you've done your work, you can speak to anybody when you've healed from things. I think maybe that's the bottom line.”
Watch Keri's appearance on Funky Friday in full here.
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Featured image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images