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Graying hair is a part of aging that will affect everyone at some point in their lives. Any hair can turn gray, and that goes for pubic hair, too. Finding your first gray hair down there can be quite a shock, but you can return it to its natural color.

Personal upkeep and grooming is a bit of a taboo subject, but it's something everyone deals with. If you decide to color your pubic hair, know that it is not recommended by health care professionals. Skin irritation and infections can occur, so it's important to closely follow safety tips (see below) to prevent any problems from occurring. You may also want to try a specific pubic hair dye that is free of ammonia and paraben.

What You Need

Hair color product (preferably ammonia-free and paraben-free)

Hair color applicator brush, if not included with your hair color product

Petroleum jelly

Moisturizing shampoo

Washcloth or loofah

Astringent, such as Sea Breeze or witch hazel

Cotton balls

Before You Get Started

Find an at-home hair coloring kit that closely matches the natural color of your pubic hair. Box hair color can be found at hair and beauty supply stores and drugstores.

Your hair color kit will include instructions on how to perform a skin patch test. Even if you've already used hair color products without side effects, whether at home or in a professional salon, be sure to perform a skin patch test to check for any potential allergic reactions, just in case.﻿﻿ After successfully completing the patch test without any reactions, you're ready to get started.

How to Color Your Pubic Hair

This procedure can also be used to color any type of body hair on either men or women. Do not attempt to use this method to color eyebrows or eyelashes.﻿﻿ If you want to color your eyebrows or eyelashes, consult a licensed, experienced cosmetologist who is able to safely color these areas.

Use a small amount of petroleum jelly to cover sensitive areas such as the vulva, labia, penis, and scrotum to prevent potential skin irritation. Don't apply petroleum jelly to the gray pubic hair you want to color. Thoroughly read the package's instructions and put on the gloves included with the hair dye kit. Mix the hair color according to the directions and add an equal amount of moisturizing shampoo. This will help to dilute the dye and make it a little less irritating on the skin. Stir together until the hair dye and shampoo are completely blended. Gently and generously apply the hair dye to your pubic hair. Use the brush applicator that came with the kit. If the kit doesn't include a brush, use a paintbrush. Do not rub the hair dye into your skin and do not allow any excess hair dye to seep into the sensitive inner genital area where you applied petroleum jelly. Let the color sit for as long as the directions dictate. This could be anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. If you experience any painful burning or irritation, wash the dye off immediately. If you don't achieve the color you want the first time around, try again at least a week later. Before you make another attempt, you need to be sure you don't have any skin irritation or infection. The next time you try coloring your pubic hair, let the color sit for five to 10 minutes longer before washing it out. A quick and easy way to wash out the hair color is by taking a warm shower. Once the dye is rinsed away, use body wash and a washcloth or loofah to remove excess petroleum jelly. You will likely have excess hair color on your skin. Remove it with cotton balls and an astringent such as Sea Breeze or witch hazel.

Hair Color Safety Tips

The safest way to dye gray pubic hair is by visiting a hair salon that offers this type of service. Check with your salon or other salons near you to find a licensed and experienced professional who can safely color your pubic hair.

Limit your coloring to the hair on your pubic bone rather than hair that extends further down around your genitals. This will help keep the dye away from the most sensitive areas.

You should always perform a skin patch test prior to attempting to dye pubic hair, even if you've never had a negative reaction to products in the past.﻿﻿ The patch test is extremely important because you're dealing with the extra-sensitive genital area. It will be a lot less painful to experience skin irritation on your inner arm than in your genital area.