Nipple hair. It’s the nemesis of many a woman, and another entry on the long list of body hair woes.
Human beings are mammals, and you don’t qualify as a mammal without a certain necessary amount of body hair. It’s just how we’re built.
That said, there are some kinds of body hair that just make us feel icky. Why couldn’t we just have hair on our heads, and skip unwanted chin hair entirely?
We all have some unwanted body hair, though you may have more than others depending on a few situations. Genetics play a major role in how much body hair you grow, while certain hormone imbalances could also mean you grow a little bit more hair than average.
Still, at the end of the day, it’s all normal.
Nipple hair, like all other body hair, is just part of the messy, beautiful spectrum of being a human. That said, there’s no reason you can’t pluck the heck out of it if you really want to.
Scroll through below to learn more about the hows and whys of nipple hair.
What Is Nipple Hair?
Human beings are mammals, which means we’re covered in hair.
Some areas have more hair than others, but even “bare” skin has a light coat of peach fuzz. That includes you breasts and, yes, your nipples.
Technically, hair grows from the areola, the ring around your actual nipple. Most of it is light and downy, but some hairs will grow darker, longer, and coarser.
When we talk about nipple hair, we’re usually referring to these more distinctive hairs.
Is Nipple Hair Normal?
Yes, nipple hair is totally normal. Humans are hairy creatures!
Most women don’t have a ton of body hair compared with our male counterparts, but it still crops in a few major locations: our underarms, groins, and legs are all sources of body hair.
Nipple hairs are also very, very common. According to Cosmopolitan and Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, 30 percent of all women report that they have nipple hair, though the numbers could be even higher.
When Is Nipple Hair Not Normal?
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There are some situations where nipple hair may not be normal. If it crops up suddenly, it might be a symptom or side effect worth paying attention to.
If your nipple hair suddenly changes (maybe it grows much longer, or there’s more of it) or if nipple hair appears when you’ve never had it before, it usually indicates a hormonal shift.
Excess nipple hair might be a warning sign that you are having a hormonal reaction to medication, or that you have a hormonal imbalance due to polycystic ovary syndrome, or another similar condition.
No More Nipple Hair #1: Tweeze It
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For most women, tweezing is the go-to route for getting rid of small amounts of unwanted hair.
When our eyebrows get unruly, or a whisker develops on the chin, we reach right for the tweezers.
They’re an equally effective remedy for small amounts of nipple hair. Plucking can banish a hair for a solid month or two, though be careful to clean the site to prevent infections and in-grown hair.
No More Nipple Hair #2: Shave It
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There’s a common myth that shaving your body hair makes it grow back thicker and darker.
In fact, shaving just makes new hair appear thicker because the shorter strands are less flexible and tapered than long strands.
In other words, shaving off your nipple hair won’t give you more nipple hair down the road.
That said, it might leave you at risk for itchy stubble in a sensitive area.
It’s also worth noting that using a razor on such delicate skin might be a little bit perilous.
No More Nipple Hair #3: Trim It
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If your nipple hair is growing wild and free, there’s no reason you can’t get in there with a pair of nail scissors to trim it down.
Trimming your nipple hair is a great way to make it a bit less noticeable, especially if you have a few long, fine hairs growing.
It might not get as close a trim as shaving or plucking, but trimming also means you’re less likely to develop in-growns.
No More Nipple Hair #4: Wax It
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Every woman has a love-hate relationship with waxing. It hurts like a son of a gun, but it’s very effective.
If you’re used to getting your lips, brows, and even your downstairs region waxed, there’s no reason you can’t add your nips to the list.
However, be warned: If you aren’t a frequent waxer, you might find it very painful to have the sensitive skin around your nipples waxed.
No More Nipple Hair #5: Laser It
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If you really can’t stand your nipple hair, laser hair removal might be the route for you.
Laser hair removal can be very painful for some people, and it’s often pretty expensive.
The big benefit of laser hair removal is that it zaps your unwanted hair for months at a time, and it helps get rid of it for good.
This is the ideal option for anyone who wants to remove their nipple hair long term and then forget they ever had it.
No More Nipple Hair #6: Leave It!
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Just leave it there! Your body is beautiful, right down to the three silky hairs sprouting from your nips.
If you want to remove your hair, that’s totally fine. But it’s just as wonderful to simply embrace the growth as a natural (and womanly!) part of being you!
Having nipple hair is no different than being left-handed or having a widow’s peak — it’s just another physical feature that makes you you!
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