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How to Shave Your Balls (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M.D. — Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst — Updated on March 22, 2022

Tools
Preparation
Shaving
Aftercare
Common problems
Takeaway

hand holding a brush and cleaning an electric razor

Pubic hair grooming is more popular than ever.

But whether you’re doing it for medical reasons — not that there are many — or simply because you prefer a silky smooth sack, it’s not the easiest terrain to tackle. You know, given all the softness and sagging.

Shaving your balls is totally doable but definitely requires some care and technique. That’s thin skin you’re dealing with, and the risk of injury is high.

In fact, a study found that most pubic hair shaving-related injuries in men involve the scrotum.

Let’s not beat around the bush any longer. Here’s what you’ll need and how to go about shaving your balls.

First, you need the right tools

The skin down there is delicate and in need of something special. An electric razor trims the hair super short without the risk of grabbing or breaking any skin.

Before lamenting that this just won’t make things as smooth as you long for, remember that scrotum hair is a lot sparser than the dense forest situation that tends to grow on the pubis.

To get a super smooth shave, a safety razor is a better choice — the keyword being “safety.” Invest in a good one, or even a kit that’s got all the tools you’ll need for a close shave.

Ready to buy? Here are a few popular tool options:

Manscaped: The Lawnmower 2.0 waterproof electric trimmer
Philips Norelco Bodygroom 7000 showerproof dual-sided body trimmer and shaver
Edwin Jagger double-edged safety razor

Prepping your balls for shaving

Don’t just take your razor and go to town. Preparation is key when it comes to shaving your pubes.

Trim the hair

Even if you’re going to shave, trimming back the hair first is an important part of prepping that can help you get a clean, close shave.

To do this:

Stand with one leg propped up on a sturdy surface, like a stool or the side of the tub.
Use one hand to gently pull the skin taut (very important to avoid getting cut) and the other to carefully trim the hair using an electric trimmer or scissors.
Trim the hairs as short as possible without touching the skin.

Soak your balls in warm water

A warm bath or shower can help soften the remaining stubble and clean your pores for easier hair removal. It also helps your balls relax and hang loose. This will make them easier to move around while you shave.

The water should be warm but not hot enough to irritate or burn your skin or so cold that your balls retreat and become uncooperative.

Apply a skin-friendly shave product

Using a gentle shaving cream or gel containing a naturally soothing ingredient like aloe vera will help the blade glide over the skin without friction.

Some products create a clear lather, which can make it easier to see what you’re doing.

Shave products for male nether regions are few, so you can use face shaving creams as long as the ingredients are gentle.

Those with natural ingredients or for sensitive skin are best. Steer clear of products containing “cooling” ingredients like menthol and eucalyptus. Ouch!

Ready to buy? Some options to consider:

Cremo shaving cream
Pacific Shaving Company shaving cream
Burt’s Bees shaving cream

Getting your shave on

Now that you’ve prepped and lathered your balls for the blade, it’s time to start shaving:

Stand near the tub or a stool, and prop one leg up as needed to reach every part of your scrotum.
Use one hand to gently pull the skin taut.
Use slow strokes and gentle pressure to shave in the direction the hair grows.
Rinse using warm water.
Gently pat-dry.

Aftercare

Hopefully, you’ve come out the other side without a nick or a gash. The next step is a little aftercare to help soothe your skin and prevent irritation and bumps.

If this were your face, you’d slap on some aftershave, wince, and call it a day. But your balls require a little extra coddling.

Apply a gentle balm or oil to the skin. Again, look for soothing ingredients like aloe, and stay away from any sting-inducing ingredients like alcohol or menthol.

Ready to buy? Some good options to soothe your sack include:

NaturSense aloe vera gel
Kerah Lane formula for razor bumps and ingrown hairs
Nivea Men post-shave balm

Common problems and how to handle them

The last thing you want is to have to do any troubleshooting on your balls, but stuff happens.

When you shave below the belt, especially when dealing with folds, wrinkles, and sagging skin, there are possible consequences to consider, like:

razor burn
redness
bumps
ingrown hairs
bleeding
itching
folliculitis, an infection commonly caused by shaving

Mild irritation

Razor burn, redness, and other mild irritation will usually clear up on its own within a week or so.

Here are some things you can do to soothe the irritation:

Soak in a warm bath.
Pat the skin dry instead of rubbing.
Apply aloe vera gel or another gentle lotion to your skin.
Avoid shaving again until your symptoms have cleared.

Itching

You may find the area itchy if it’s irritated or as your hair grows back. Wait it out a day or two.

If it doesn’t improve or the itching is intense, a healthcare professional or pharmacist can recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) topical remedy, like hydrocortisone cream.

Bumps or blisters

Pimples or blisters that appear red and are painful could be folliculitis, which is an infection at the hair root. Keeping the area clean and dry and applying OTC antibiotic ointment may be all you need.

If your symptoms don’t improve or you notice more redness, pus, or have a fever, make an appointment to see a healthcare professional.

Nicks and cuts

If you happen to nick yourself and draw blood while shaving, don’t panic! Chances are it looks a lot worse than it is. Pubic hair grooming injuries are pretty common, but they’re rarely serious.

Unless the cut is deep or bleeding severely, you can probably avoid a trip to your doctor or the ER by using some basic first aid.

Rinse the area and apply some clean gauze or tissue to absorb the blood. Minor cuts on the scrotum usually heal easily.

The bottom line

Shaving your balls might seem daunting, but with the right tools and a somewhat steady hand, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Genital injury - male. (2022).https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/genital-injury-male/
Glass AS, et al. (2012). Pubic hair grooming injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23040729
Removing pubic hair. (2021).https://youngmenshealthsite.org/guides/removing-pubic-hair/
Truesdale MD, et al. (2017). Prevalence of pubic hair grooming–related injuries and identification of high-risk individuals in the United States.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2648859

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Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M.D. — Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst — Updated on March 22, 2022

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