Dear Alice,
My girlfriend and I were wondering about dying her pubic hair. Is it okay to use regular hair dye or are there special products to use for it?
Colored hairs
Dear Colored hairs,
Changing the shade of your girlfriend's pubic hair may seem like a
colorful idea, but it's not recommended. The reason is that the major
companies that manufacture hair color regular, natural/herbal, and
henna only test their products on head hair. Therefore, they can
only ensure that their products are safe when used as directed. Due to
potential complications, they do not recommend dying any other body hair,
including pubic hairs, eyelashes, and eyebrows. After a thorough check,
there don't appear to be any special products available for the exclusive
purpose of tinting pubic hairs; women and men who choose to color below
the belt do so at their own risk. So, if you and your girlfriend want to
play beauty parlor with her pubes instead of using hair dye
find colored mousse, gel, or hair mascara that washes out with one
shampoo. Trimming and shaping can be another fun alternative to
coloring. Perhaps she might like to get in on the action and trim and
shape your pubes as well.
Regardless of the potential risk, some women and men who want to
become a "true" blond, red, or any color of the rainbow use
hair dye available in drug stores and salons. Some attempt the coloring
process at home. Others go to spas and salons that may not advertise,
but offer this unique service. Whoever does the deed needs to take
measures of caution to protect the genital area. Women and men who dare
should attempt nothing more than coloring the hair that covers the pubic
bone. For women, this means only the Mons Pubis (the soft area of fatty
tissue over the pubic bone). Be sure to avoid applying to the hair on
the labia (lips of the vulva) since the dye can cause severe irritation
in this area. It's also important to avoid getting the product in or
near the vaginal lining or mucous membrane. For men, do not get dye on
the shaft of the penis and scrotum as this skin is highly sensitive.
Several types of hair dye used to color hair on the head are available. Some hair colorants are temporary and wash out after several weeks. These dyes that enhance natural hair tone are less abrasive. Others that are used to lighten hair shade are permanent and typically contain peroxide and ammonia, which can be very harsh on the genital area. Because some people experience irritation or allergic reactions, including burning, redness, itching, blisters, or hair loss, it's important to test for sensitivity first. Whether coloring at home or at a salon, always do a skin patch test 48 hours before attempting to tint hair. Most hair coloring products include patch test instructions. Regardless of whether or not you have altered your hair hue in the past, this procedure needs to be done each and every time before coloring. To do this, cleanse a small area of skin with soap and water about the size of a quarter at the inside of the elbow. Follow the skin patch instructions included with the product. It should tell you the proper mixture of dye to use on your arm. Using a cotton swab, apply this solution to the designated region. Let it dry be sure not to wash the area until the test is finished. Check it at 24 hours and again at 48 hours. If an allergic reaction or irritation occurs, do not use the product. If no reaction occurs, you're less likely to experience irritation.
The following tips have been helpful to some folks, in case you decide to tint your pubic 'do:
- Thoroughly read hair dye instructions before beginning.
- It may be more difficult to color pubic hair since it tends to be darker, thicker, and coarser than the hair on the head. Gels and crθmes, including products used for men's beards and moustaches, may work better for thicker hair. They are less likely to drip and may provide better control in the genital area.
- Lighter hair is generally easier to dye. In addition, black tends to work better than other colors.
- Depending on natural hair color and desired outcome, the hair pigment may need to be removed and go through two or three steps to reach the preferred color. Snipping a few pubic hairs and performing a strand test can help you gauge the amount of time it will take to achieve the right shade. Directions are often found in the product's packaging. Never exceed the amount of time mentioned in the instructions - it's also better to stop the lightening process after some, but not all, of the color has been lifted.
- Covering the penis, scrotum, and vulva with petroleum jelly may offer some added protection if the coloring drips before the dye can be washed off with water.
- Products containing bleach, ammonia, and/or peroxide need to be used with extreme caution as they can cause severe irritation. To minimize potential harsh effects, protect the sensitive genital area with a washcloth. Folks with soft pubic hair may not want to use bleach because the texture of the hair will change.
- Rinse only with water so as not to increase the chance of irritation.
- For those planning a new pubic hairstyle to boot, shave and/or trim a couple of days after, rather than before, coloring.
If you and your girlfriend have any more questions about using a specific hair color product, try contacting the manufacturer. Many companies provide a toll free customer service number on their packaging.
- Alice
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Coloring pubic hair?
