When King Camp Gillette invented the safety razor in 1901, he changed how men shave. Over the following decades, the army adopted the technology. Working men went through millions of blades. Executives got a cleaner cut. A simple technology, a steel band separating skin from blade, changed millions of men’s routines and looks by delivering on the promise of safety. Now, Gillette is introducing the Gillette Intimate collection, which promises to protect and serve the nether regions.
It’s a big moment in grooming history.
According to Gillette’s research, 87% of men groom above their penis; 71% groom their balls; 63% groom their penis itself and 52% groom their “happy trail.” But even in the year 2023 – as mankind reaches toward the stars and plumbs the depths of consciousness – many men struggle to groom down there without doing harm. Many men have a story that involves a thin trail of blood circling the shower drain. Too many have asked too much of their beard trimmers.
“One in two guys who groom their pubic region have injured themselves while grooming,” says Ben Wilson, the Scientific Communications Director for Gillette Intimate. “Pubic hair and skin is different than what you have on your face — you’re dealing with complex topography, intricate areas, difficult-to-reach and see areas, skin folds and looser skin.”
For those lucky enough to have never had a pube-trimming accident, there’s also the matter of hygiene. In a Gillette survey of 1,500 men, 80% of respondents voiced an understandable reluctance to using the same tools on both pairs of cheeks (and between them).
“At the very least, you want to have separate and dedicated tools for face grooming and pubic area grooming,” says Wilson. “Our recommendation however, is to go a step further and make sure your groin grooming tools are made with that job in mind, and not just your old beard trimmer, for the reasons already mentioned.”
Gillette’s new tools include a specialized pubic hair trimmer for men, a double-protective razor and various cosmetic accoutrements including shave cream, cleanser and an anti-chafe stick.
Gillette INTIMATE Pubic Hair Trimmer for Men
Why It Stands Out: From far away, it looks like a traditional trimmer. Upon further inspection comes the finer details. Closely spaced blades on this trimmer protect vulnerable areas by reducing skin bulging while the sharpness of the blades allows for smooth trimming with every pass.
Hot Take: Guys, rejoice! There’s finally a trimmer in which to feel confident thanks to the dermatologist-tested Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Trimmer for Men. If the spacing of the blades doesn’t fully quell previous grooming trauma, perhaps the SkinFirst protective comb will help. Wilson said the comb “acts like a cage which prevents skin from coming into contact with the blade while hair is fed into the cutting system, for extra sensitive areas.”
What’s most convenient about this pubic hair trimmer is that it’s waterproof and cordless, perfect for no-mess grooming in the shower for up to 100 minutes (hopefully it won’t take that long).
Gillette INTIMATE Shaving Kit
Why It Stands Out: The Gillette Intimate Shaving Kit includes the brand’s new intimate pubic hair trimmer and the Gillette Intimate Razor, which was specifically engineered to shave gently over the most prized (and sensitive) areas. This tool’s SimplePass tech uses five sharp, anti-friction blades to give guys a comfortable shave down there with just a few passes.
Hot Take: For the more than 50% of guys who prefer to take their pubes down to the skin, using a razor is a must. Knowing this, Gillette included their new intimate razor in this kit that won’t traumatize guys like the cheap stuff did back in the college dorm. Equipped with a grippy, rubberized handle for the best control, this dermatologist-tested razor glides with ease thanks to pre and post-blade lubricated strips.
Gillette has also added their signature FlexBall for handling the many contours of a man’s intimate area, bringing a whole new meaning to the term “FlexBall.”
Gilette INTIMATE Essentials Kit
Why It Stands Out: In this kit, the addition of Gillette Intimate Pubic Shave Cream + Cleanser and the Gillette Intimate Pubic Anti-chafing Stick make pubic hair grooming even less worrisome and allow that sticky, post-shave chafing to become a thing of the past.
Hot Take: A solid shaving cream is the key to a smooth shave, especially in such a sensitive region. With the Gillette Intimate Pubic Shave Cream + Cleanser lathered on the pubic area, a protective base layer is added to the skin and works in tandem with the two lubricated strips on the razor, giving three layers of protection from nics, cuts and other shaving mishaps
After any dude deforestation, the first few days, ironically, invite a chafing sensation that sometimes feels like it could start a brush fire. That’s why Gillette has also added their Anti-chafing Stick into the mix. With a few passes of the non-greasy, mess-free Anti-chafing Stick, that raw-skin friction decreases and walking becomes bearable once again.
Gillette Intimate FAQ
What’s The Best Way To Prep for a Shave Down There?
Don’t dry shave a scrotum — ever. Instead, take Wilson’s expert approach on how to shave your pubic hair strategically in order to minimize the scary stuff.
He recommended “starting with the Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Trimmer to trim the bulk of your pubic hair down.” And of course, using the trimmer in the shower will help minimize cleanup.
Next, Wilson said it’s best when trying to “get a closer shave in any areas after trimming, make sure you’ve spent a few minutes in the shower to soften your hair, then apply the Gillette Intimate Pubic Shave Cream + Cleanser which will cleanse, hydrate and protect sensitive skin.” Softening the skin prior to a shave can help prevent folliculitis and reduces the likelihood of ingrown hairs.
Once the area has been prepped, shaving becomes so easy. “From there, you can use the Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Razor, which has a rubberized grip handle to help prevent any slippage in the shower,” Wilson said.
And then once everything is complete, the Anti-chafe Stick
For a visual guide, check out the video Gillette Intimate put together.
Does the Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Trimer Double as a Beard Trimmer?
While guys could use the Pubic Hair Trimmer for their beards, please don’t. Wilson emphasized the importance of separation between the upstairs tools and the downstairs tools, especially if trimming into the butt crack. It’s not proper hygiene.
Gillette does, however, offer many amazing options for trimming beards, including the King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer which comes with an interchangeable comb for a variety of beard styles. It’s suitable for beard lengths ranging from stubble to longer beards and has 50 minutes of trimming on each charge.
Is It Better to Trim Pubic Hair in Front of the Mirror or in the Shower?
While different guys have their own regimen, it’s easier to soften the various and hard-to-reach contours of the intimate region in a steamy shower. Since the Gillette Intimate Pubic Hair Trimmer for Men is both cordless and waterproof and the Gillette Intimate Razor has a rubberized handle, trimming up in the shower becomes instantly easier.
