Experts recommend that you begin shaving in stages to "prep" the area first. About a week before you start shaving, use a curved nail scissors to trim the hairs as close to your skin as possible. This will help acclimate your skin to the feeling of bareness, and provide a much closer shave later with less hair in the way. After you trim the hair, apply an unscented lubricating lotion (such as baby oil) and gently massage the area.

When shaving, use an adjustable head razor and gentle, light strokes. Itching is almost inevitable when the shaved hair grows back. To alleviate the discomfort, rub the area with an ice cube or some unscented baby oil. As long as you continue shaving regularly, the hairs should not become coarse or "stubbly." These are responsible for most of the itching.

A few precautions: Don't overdo it or be too meticulous about getting your skin completely smooth for the first month of shaving. It can take four weeks for your skin to become desensitized to the razor. A smooth shave can be accomplished more easily after several sessions. Be sure to use a fresh razor and an unscented shaving cream every time. Until your skin calms down, go slowly, with perhaps a once-weekly shaving ritual. If skin irritation is severe or persistent, discontinue shaving. Not everyone can tolerate regular defoliation. Just trim the hairs as closely as possible instead. One more caveat: Anyone who exercises frequently may want to forgo shaving, as the chafing of snug clothing against skin can profoundly irritate a shaven pubic area. If these precautions don't make the process any easier, you should do as many of the Playmates do and visit a beauty salon for a professional wax. It's more painful to remove wax from your own skin than to leave it in the hands of a pro.