If I’m leaving it more natural, how do I take care of pubic hair hygiene (like sweat/odor) without using harsh products that mess with my skin or pH?

Pubic hair + odor does not mean you’re dirty. Hair simply holds onto sweat and normal vaginal discharge a bit more. You don’t need special “feminine wash” or intense scrubbing; you need simple, consistent care.

The formula: rinse daily with warm water, use a small amount of gentle, fragrance-free soap on the outer vulva and pubic hair (never inside the vagina), dry well, and wear breathable underwear. Change underwear after workouts and on heavy-sweat days. During your period or luteal phase (when discharge and sweat often increase), you might rinse more often or use unscented wipes with water-based formulas.

The vagina cleans itself. Your job is just to support the outside without nuking your skin barrier or microbiome.

If you want to sanity-check what’s normal vs “uhh this smell feels off,” you can always walk through it judgment-free with Gush.

How to keep pubic hair clean and prevent odor naturally

Pubic hair, sweat, and odor: what’s actually happening

Pubic hair grows over an area packed with apocrine sweat glands — the type that mix with skin bacteria and create stronger smells (the same ones in your armpits). Add:

• Normal vaginal discharge
• Menstrual blood
• Tight clothing and trapped moisture

… and yeah, there’s going to be some scent. That’s biology, not a hygiene failure.

Your menstrual cycle affects this too:

• Follicular phase (after period, estrogen rising): Discharge is often lighter; smell is usually mild.
• Ovulation: Discharge increases and turns more clear/stretchy. You may notice a stronger, but still normal, musky or tangy scent.
• Luteal/PMS: Progesterone can ramp up sweat, your temp feels higher, and discharge often thickens — more moisture for hair to hold onto.
• Menstruation: Blood has its own iron-like smell; pads and hair can trap it longer.

None of this means “dirty.” It means “alive.”

Daily hygiene when you’re keeping pubic hair natural

You don’t need a 10-step vulva routine. You need consistency and respect for your pH.

A simple, solid routine:

1. Rinse once a day
   • Use warm (not hot) water over the vulva and pubic hair.
   • Let water run through; you don’t need to scrub aggressively.
2. Optional: gentle soap on the outside only
   • Choose a mild, fragrance-free cleanser for sensitive skin.
   • Use a pea-sized amount on the mons (hair-bearing area) and outer labia.
   • Never put soap inside the vagina or deep between inner labia — that’s how you wreck pH and invite BV or yeast.
3. Rinse thoroughly and dry well
   • Any leftover soap can irritate skin and trap odor.
   • Pat dry with a clean towel; avoid rubbing hairs into a frizzed, irritated mess.
4. Underwear that doesn’t suffocate you
   • Cotton or breathable moisture-wicking fabrics.
   • Change daily, more often if you’re sweating.

Your pubic hair doesn’t need to be stripped; it needs to be kept clean and dry-ish.

Your experience might not look like the textbook: maybe you sweat more, have heavier discharge, or live in a humid climate. If the usual advice doesn’t quite fit, you can talk through your actual day-to-day with Gush and tailor a routine to your reality.

Period days, gym days, and swamp-crotch season

Some days just smell stronger — usually because there’s more moisture:

• During your period:
  • Change pads/tampons/cups regularly (typically every 4–8 hours, more often if heavy).
  • If you’re using pads, hair + blood + friction can feel gross. Extra rinses or a quick shower once a day help.
  • Consider trimming (not shaving) to keep clean-up easier.
• Workout days:
  • Change out of sweaty leggings ASAP.
  • Rinse the vulva and pubic hair with water post-workout if you can.
  • If a shower isn’t accessible, a soft cloth with plain water or an unscented water-based wipe on the outer area only is fine.
• Hot weather / luteal phase:
  • Progesterone can increase body temperature and sweating.
  • Anti-chafe balm or a thin layer of barrier cream on inner thighs can reduce friction and odor from skin irritation.

Products that help vs products that lie

Helpful:

• Fragrance-free gentle cleanser (pH-balanced, ideally around 4–5)
• Soft washcloth (used gently, not as a scrub tool)
• Unscented water-based wipes for external use only when you can’t wash
• Light, non-fragranced moisturizer or oil on the mons if skin/hair feels dry or itchy
• Barrier creams or anti-chafe sticks on inner thighs to prevent sweat rash

Things that are marketed at you but don’t deserve you:

• Scented “feminine washes”
• Douches (these destroy your vaginal microbiome and raise infection risk)
• Scented pads/tampons/liners
• Talc-based powders (linked to serious health concerns in long-term use)

If a product’s main selling point is “smell like a cupcake,” that’s a red flag. Your vulva is not dessert.

When odor is a sign something’s off

Normal vulva/vaginal scent: musky, tangy, sometimes metallic (around your period), and stronger after sex, workouts, or a long day. You might notice it more in your luteal phase and during your period because there’s simply more fluid.

Red flags:

• Strong fishy smell, especially after sex (possible bacterial vaginosis)
• Thick, clumpy cottage cheese-like discharge with intense itching (possible yeast infection)
• Greenish, grey, or yellow discharge with bad odor and/or pain (possible STI or infection)
• Burning when you pee, pelvic pain, or spotting after sex

Those are “call a provider” vibes, not “scrub harder” vibes.

Your pubic hair isn’t the enemy. It’s just part of your body trying to protect sensitive skin. Your job is to give it a clean, breathable environment and ignore the billion-dollar industry trying to convince you you’re gross.