How to Shave Your Butt Safely: Trim, Shave, Wax or Laser

To shave your butt safely, trim first, shave on warm, wet skin with a fresh blade, and go with the grain using light strokes. Use a trimmer, not a razor, right around the center. Then rinse, pat dry and moisturize.

Removing butt hair is completely optional. Here's how to do it smoothly if you want to.

Do You Need to Remove Butt Hair at All?

No. Hair there is normal, and leaving it, tidying it or going fully smooth are all fine.

Technique is what matters. In a US survey of 7,570 adults, about 1 in 4 people who groomed their pubic area had hurt themselves doing it, mostly small cuts. People who removed everything often had about double the odds of injury compared with those who just tidied up.

So a careful trim is the easiest, lowest-risk option, and going fully smooth is very doable with the right technique.

Trim, Shave, Wax or Laser: Which Is Best?

• Waxing: skip it if you use tretinoin or isotretinoin, which thin the skin, and pick a salon that never double dips the wax stick.
• Laser: most people need 6 to 8 sessions, 6 to 8 weeks apart. It works best on thick, dark hair, not blonde, red or gray.
• Never share razors or trimmers. Shared tools can pass on skin infections and STIs.

How to Shave Your Butt Step by Step

1. Trim first so the razor isn't dragging through long hair.
2. Shave in or after a warm shower to soften skin and hair.
3. Set up to see: a mirror, good light and one foot up on a step.
4. Use a fresh blade (dermatologists suggest a new one every 5 to 7 shaves) and a gentle shave gel for sensitive skin.
5. Go with the grain, short light strokes, no pressure. Rinse the blade often.
6. Stop short of the center and switch to the trimmer there.
7. Rinse, pat dry and moisturize with something fragrance free. A cool, wet cloth calms any redness.

Why a Trimmer Is Safer Near the Center

The skin around the anus is thin, folded and hard to see, so it's the easiest place to nick, and a cut there stays tender for days. Researchers who studied grooming injuries in men recommend electric razors for this area.

A trimmer with a short guard gets the hair low without a bare blade touching skin. Plenty of people shave the cheeks and trim the center.

Never use hair removal cream on or around the anus, or anywhere inside. These creams can cause chemical burns on delicate skin. On the outer cheeks, use a sensitive formula and patch test first.

Razor Bumps, Ingrown Hairs and "Butt Acne"

Red bumps after grooming are usually razor burn, ingrown hairs or folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles), which is what most people call "butt acne."

• Prevent them: shave with the grain, exfoliate gently a few times a week, wear breathable underwear, and shower soon after workouts.
• Don't pick or squeeze. It can lead to infection.
• Use warm compresses, 15 to 20 minutes a few times a day.
• Take a break. If shaving keeps causing folliculitis, dermatologists suggest pausing for about 30 days and trimming instead.

When to Shave Before Sex

Shave the day before, not an hour before. Fresh shaves leave tiny nicks, and friction on them stings. A day lets them close.

Researchers have also linked grooming the genital and anal area with a higher risk of STIs, possibly through tiny breaks in the skin. Giving skin a day to settle helps, and condoms or PrEP stay part of the plan.

Short on time? A quick trim is the safer choice. For the full routine, see our guide to preparing for bottoming.

Aftercare for a Smooth Butt

• Moisturize daily with a plain, fragrance-free lotion.
• Skip scented wipes and sprays on fresh skin.
• Wear loose cotton underwear for the first day.
• Itchy regrowth is normal for a few days. Moisturizer helps; scratching doesn't.
• After laser, keep the area out of the sun until it heals.

Feeling fresh is an inside job too. Two Peachy Clean gummies a day add prebiotic fiber and a probiotic to your routine. Individual results may vary; see how the formula works.

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology. How to shave. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-shave
2. American Academy of Dermatology. 6 ways to remove unwanted hair. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/remove-unwanted-hair
3. American Academy of Dermatology. 7 ways to prevent injuries while trimming pubic hair. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/trimming-pubic-hair
4. American Academy of Dermatology. Folliculitis: Overview. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/folliculitis
5. Truesdale MD, Osterberg EC, Gaither TW, et al. Prevalence of Pubic Hair Grooming-Related Injuries and Identification of High-Risk Individuals in the United States. JAMA Dermatology, 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28813560/
6. Gaither TW, Truesdale M, Harris CR, et al. The influence of sexual orientation and sexual role on male grooming-related injuries and infections. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25442701/
7. NHS. Ingrown hairs. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ingrown-hairs/
8. Cleveland Clinic. Depilatory Cream: Benefits, Risks and How To Use. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/depilatory-cream-hair-removal
9. Cleveland Clinic. Laser Hair Removal. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21757-laser-hair-removal