It’s funny how things circle back. For a couple of decades, the "standard" was basically total hair removal—the kind of look that required a high-maintenance relationship with a waxer or a death-grip on a razor every single morning. But honestly? Things are shifting. People are tired of the ingrown hairs, the constant itching, and the weird societal pressure to look like a prepubescent mannequin. Now, the combination of a full bush and a thong is becoming a legit aesthetic statement. It’s not just about being lazy or skipping a grooming appointment. It’s a specific vibe. It’s about body autonomy and, quite frankly, a level of comfort that the "Brazilian or bust" era never allowed.
People are realizing that you don't actually have to choose between feeling "groomed" and being natural. You can have both.
The unexpected shift toward the natural look
The 90s and early 2000s were brutal for body hair. We saw the rise of the "Pornstar Aesthetic," which basically mandated total hairlessness from the chin down. If you wore a thong back then, the expectation was a clean slate underneath. But fashion is reactionary. Just like high-waisted "mom jeans" replaced the ultra-low-rise flares that barely covered your hip bones, we’re seeing a return to the 70s and 80s approach to beauty. Back then, hair was just... hair.
Social media played a weirdly dual role in this. On one hand, Instagram filters make everything look airbrushed. On the other, platforms like TikTok and Reddit have created spaces for "body neutrality." You've likely seen creators talking about how they’re over the pain of waxing. They’re posting photos (within community guidelines, obviously) that show peeking hair around the edges of high-cut swimwear or lingerie. It’s a rebellion against the "plastic" look.
And let’s be real: maintenance is a job. A full-time, unpaid, annoying job. When you pair a full bush and a thong, you’re kind of signaling that you’ve got better things to do with your Tuesday than sit in a salon getting hot wax ripped off your skin. It’s a power move.
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What the pros say about skin health
If you talk to dermatologists like Dr. Mona Gohara or other skin experts, they’ll tell you that pubic hair actually serves a purpose. It’s a friction barrier. When you wear a thong—which, by design, is a piece of fabric that sits very close to some sensitive areas—that hair acts as a protective layer. It prevents the fabric from chafing directly against the skin.
- Ingrown hair reduction: No shaving means no "strawberry skin" or painful red bumps.
- Micro-tear prevention: Waxing and shaving can cause tiny tears in the skin, which technically makes you more susceptible to infections.
- Moisture wicking: It sounds counterintuitive, but hair helps manage sweat and airflow.
Choosing the right thong for a full bush
Not all underwear is created equal when you’re rocking a natural look. If you’ve got a lot of volume, a tiny string thong might feel a bit... lost. Or it might cause "peek-a-boo" hair that goes beyond the gusset, which some people love and others find annoying.
The "V-cut" or high-leg thong is basically the holy grail for this. Think of that 80s aerobics instructor silhouette. Because the sides sit high on the hips, they frame the natural hair rather than trying to squash it down or hide it. It looks intentional. Cotton is usually the move here, too. Synthetic fabrics like polyester don't breathe well, and when you combine that with natural hair, things can get a bit swampy. Stick to 95% cotton with a little spandex for stretch.
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The "Visible" Trend
There’s this specific look happening in high fashion and "indie-sleaze" revivals where the hair is meant to be seen. You see it on runways and in edgy editorial shoots. It’s no longer a "wardrobe malfunction" if a bit of hair shows at the top of the waistband. It’s an accessory. It’s the ultimate "I woke up like this" energy, but with a side of intentional styling.
Dealing with the "Is it hygienic?" myth
Let’s kill this myth right now. Having a full bush and a thong is not "dirty." That’s a marketing lie sold to us by the people who sell razors and wax kits. As long as you wash your body like a normal human being, hair doesn't make you any less clean than a bald scalp makes someone more clean.
The irony? Over-grooming often causes more hygiene issues. When you shave, you’re creating an environment for folliculitis. When you wax, you’re stripping the top layer of skin. Keeping your natural hair actually maintains the natural microbiome of your skin. It’s literally what your body is designed to do.
How to groom without "removing"
Sometimes you want the hair, but you don't want it to be a wild thicket that gets caught in zippers. Trimming is the middle ground. You can keep the "full" look while just tidying the length so it sits flat under your clothes.
- Electric trimmers over razors. Get a dedicated waterproof body trimmer. Use a guard—usually the 3mm or 6mm—to keep things uniform.
- Conditioning. Yeah, you can condition pubic hair. It makes it softer and less "prickly," which is a lifesaver when wearing a thong.
- Edge work. Some people choose to trim just the "bikini line" while keeping the front full. It gives that clean line of the thong but keeps the texture and look of the bush.
The psychological shift: Why now?
We are living in an era of "unfiltered" everything. From the "clean girl" aesthetic moving toward "messy girl" vibes, the perfectionism of the 2010s is dying. People are embracing the "feral" or "wild" side of beauty. There is something deeply liberating about putting on a piece of lingerie that is traditionally seen as "sexy" or "dainty" and pairing it with something as raw and natural as untamed hair.
It’s a middle finger to the male gaze, honestly. Or at least, a version of the male gaze that demands women be hairless from the eyebrows down. Interestingly, many people find that their partners don't actually care as much as the media led us to believe. Real skin has texture. Real bodies have hair.
Breaking the "Body Hair is Masculine" Trope
For a long time, we were told hair is masculine and smoothness is feminine. That’s just biology being ignored. Women have hair. A lot of it. By wearing a full bush and a thong, you’re reclaiming that femininity as something that includes your natural state. It’s not "masculine" to have pubic hair; it’s just being a mammal.
Finding the confidence to go natural
The first time you head to the beach or a gym locker room with a full bush peeking out of a thong or high-cut bottom, you might feel a bit exposed. It’s a lingering ghost of the 2000s "shame" culture. But the more you do it, the more you realize that nobody is actually looking that closely. And if they are? That’s their weird issue, not yours.
Confidence comes from comfort. If you aren't constantly adjusting because of razor burn or itching, you're going to carry yourself better. You'll move more freely. You won't be worried about whether your skin looks irritated because it won't be irritated.
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Actionable steps for the "Bush and Thong" lifestyle
If you're ready to ditch the razor but still want to feel put-together, here's the game plan.
- Invest in high-quality cotton thongs. Brands like Hanro or even the basic Calvin Klein cotton lines are perfect for this. They have wider gussets that accommodate hair much better than "fashion" thongs made of lace.
- Buy a good pair of beard scissors. Sometimes you just need to snip a few stray long hairs to keep the shape you want.
- Exfoliate the skin underneath. Even if you aren't shaving, the skin under the hair needs to breathe. Use a gentle chemical exfoliant (like a low-percentage salicylic acid wash) once a week to keep the pores clear.
- Own the look. Style your outfits with high-waisted pants that might occasionally show a glimpse of the thong strap. It’s a cohesive aesthetic.
The return to the full bush and a thong isn't a trend that's going away anytime soon. It’s part of a larger movement toward accepting the human body as it is—hairy, bumpy, and perfectly imperfect. Whether you’re doing it for the health benefits, the comfort, or just because you like the way it looks, there’s no "wrong" way to manage your body hair. The only rule is that you should feel like yourself. If that means letting it grow and wearing your favorite thong anyway, go for it. You’re in good company.