8 Things to Know Before Removing Your Pubic Hair

1. Don't share a razor. Lightly running a razor across your skin to remove hair unsurprisingly puts you at risk of cutting yourself or getting micro-abrasions on your skin. Gynecologist Alyssa Dweck tells Cosmopolitan.com, "Sharing a razor with somebody who might have herpes or another type of infection can absolutely increase your chance of getting an infection."

2. Use a fresh razor frequently. Since your genitals are sensitive, you want to switch out your razor more often than you would if you're just shaving your pits or your legs. When you use a dull razor, you are more likely to cut yourself.

3. Always use shaving cream or soap. Using shaving cream or soap serves as "a friction barrier in between the razor and your skin," Dr. Dweck says.

4. Shave in the direction your pubic hair grows. When we shave our legs we go up the leg, against the direction the hair grows in. Don't do this when shaving your bikini area! "In the genital area, you're going to have a little less chance of that skin nicking and those little micro-abrasions if you shave in the direction of the hair," says Dr. Dweck.

5. Treat your razor burn with hydrocortisone cream. Dr. Dweck also recommends warm soap or bacitracin ointment.

6. If you can help it, avoid getting waxed when you have your period or you're PMS-ing. It's not dangerous get waxed at that time of the month, but you are more sensitive, so it might hurt a little more.

7. Know your risks with laser hair removal, especially if you have light hair. Dr. Dweck warns, "Those with lighter hair may get some dark pigment changes at the hair follicles" during laser hair removal.

8. When you're trimming with scissors, make sure the lighting is good. Dr. Dweck, unsurprisingly, has seen a lot of injuries in her line of work. "People have cut themselves really bad when trying to clip their own hair," Dr. Dweck explains. "Even just with a scissor, if they're not looking in the mirror or able to see well through the lighting." Since the genital area has a rich blood supply, a small nick can lead to a pretty nasty cut and lots of bleeding.

Stay safe, ladies!