Why do women shave legs and underarms?

[bee*]

Personally I do it for me. I really dislike the look of underarm hair and leg hair. I try and keep all bodily hair to a complete minimum.

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 6/1/2010 5:10:14 PM
Author: Lady_Disdain

Date: 6/1/2010 5:05:23 PM

Author: dragonfly411

Lady Disdain - she pointed out that it was because she wasn''t used to it, vs. disliking the choice.


I am pretty shocked when I see people with 60% body coverage of tattoos as well... nothing against them... but it''s not something you see normally you know?

Perhaps it is just a linguistic difference, but ''freaking out'', to me, implies a much strong and more noticible reaction than merely ''strangeness'', which is why I commented on it.

Understood

 

[february2003bride]

I just prefer smooth legs and stubble free underarms! I also wax my eyebrows and bikini area!

My MIL/FIL does not shave or cut her hair for religious reasons. My MIL never bares her legs so you wouldn''t know otherwise. However, (and no disrespect to my MIL) her BO is horrible and DH and I have often commented that if she shaved her underarms, that may help. She does use deodorant so we don''t know what else it could be.

 

[Circe]

Date: 6/1/2010 6:14:25 PM
Author: february2003bride
I just prefer smooth legs and stubble free underarms! I also wax my eyebrows and bikini area!


My MIL/FIL does not shave or cut her hair for religious reasons. My MIL never bares her legs so you wouldn''t know otherwise. However, (and no disrespect to my MIL) her BO is horrible and DH and I have often commented that if she shaved her underarms, that may help. She does use deodorant so we don''t know what else it could be.

Okay, I don''t want to turn into the Body Hair Advocate (TM), but ... does your FIL have terrible BO?

If not, do you assume it''s because he depilatates assiduously? Even if I do rid myself of hair myself, I feel like women who don''t catch a lot more flack for it than the hirsute males of our acquaintance ....

P.S. - Not aimed at you, FB03 - I just feel like all the comments about being dirty, sexualized, etc. need to be applied to the menfolk, too! Bottom line is, do you think your husband/FI/BF is gross for being hairy? If so, why judge yourself so harshly? Yikes!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I ALWAYS epilate my underarms. Not for a sociatal reason, just that if I don''t I really stink, which is really not good when you name rhyms with smell.

My legs are more iffy. I keep the legs relatively hairless because I like the feel better, but it is uncomfortable and takes forever to do, so I get a little furry for the most part. When I used to shave my legs, if I missed a day it was BAD. I worked at a summer camp and the kids told me I could be a bear for Halloween after skipping one day

I don''t do the knees or higher with any regularity. To much work, especially since my skin is so rarely allowed to see the sun. Th only exception is when I go swimming.

 

[steph72276]

I just prefer to be soft and smooth...if I were hairy, I would feel quite manly and I like to feel and look feminine.

 

[Puppmom]

I would just like to add that I''m 30 weeks pregnant and body hair is my BIGGEST concern for labor. I know it''s pathetic but I can''t *reach* and DH hasn''t seen me not clean shaven before...and that HUGE BRIGHT light that will be shining on me! I get stressed out just thinking about it!!! How is a pregnant women supposed to stay well groomed for the 4 weeks of pelvic exams and labor when she can''t even see her crotch?!?!?!

Sorry Kenny...you asked.

 

[joflier]

Date: 6/1/2010 6:40:44 PM
Author: brazen_irish_hussy
I ALWAYS epilate my underarms. Not for a sociatal reason, just that if I don''t I really stink, which is really not good when you name rhyms with smell.

My legs are more iffy. I keep the legs relatively hairless because I like the feel better, but it is uncomfortable and takes forever to do, so I get a little furry for the most part. When I used to shave my legs, if I missed a day it was BAD. I worked at a summer camp and the kids told me I could be a bear for Halloween after skipping one day

I don''t do the knees or higher with any regularity. To much work, especially since my skin is so rarely allowed to see the sun. Th only exception is when I go swimming.

This just made me lol. Reminded me of a friend in highschool..........Smelly Shelly. But she didn''t really smell. Just a lovely highschool nickname!

Anywho, I personally am anti-hair. If someone left me alone with a pair of tweezers long enough.......well, it wouldn''t be good! I even get bothered by the light little blond fuzz on my cheeks. I wish it didn''t bother me, cuz I doubt anyone else ever notices.

Agree that it just feels more comfortable to shave. I feel much more feminine that way.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 6/1/2010 3:59:35 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 6/1/2010 3:33:34 PM

Author: Hudson_Hawk


As for the nether regions, I think it''s actually pretty suggestive to wear a bathing suit and have hair sticking out every which way. I''d rather not advertise like that. I also prefer the look of being neatly trimmed and TBH, while it''s rare that i''m smooth as a baby''s butt, when I am it feels great (though the week after is hell).

Just to play devil''s advocate ... isn''t this more a problem with the way swimsuits are cut? I can''t recall the last time I saw a dude, even a dude in a Speedo, wearing a suit that necessitated the application of wax where the sun don''t shine ....

True, however most men''s hair in that area merges seamlessly (though thinner in some instances) into their leg hair so it''s hard to tell. Not to mention I really try to avoid starting at men''s crotches at the beach! Especially when they''re in banana hammocks!!!

 

[ksinger]

Considering that human beings have about 6000 years of recorded history, I''d say that there is nothing "natural" left. I honestly think that it''s as natural for us as not. There is nothing that hasn''t been tried, discarded, and tried again, endlessly. It''s not advertising. It''s cultural, it''s fashion, pure and simple. And for the record, to dispell the "advertising" bash, the ancient Roman patricians depiliated. Men and women. Men were ALWAYS clean-shaven, and women were as bare as they could get.

I''m with Circe. In a world of battle picking, this one is a real yawner. I don''t give a rat''s patootie about determining what''s "natural", like it means "better". Picking your nose is "natural" I ''spect, but I don''t do it in public. And I don''t have hairy legs or pits either. I do it because that is the norm for North America in the 21st century. I''m conservative and like the status quo.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 6/1/2010 6:30:50 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 6/1/2010 6:14:25 PM

Author: february2003bride

I just prefer smooth legs and stubble free underarms! I also wax my eyebrows and bikini area!



My MIL/FIL does not shave or cut her hair for religious reasons. My MIL never bares her legs so you wouldn''t know otherwise. However, (and no disrespect to my MIL) her BO is horrible and DH and I have often commented that if she shaved her underarms, that may help. She does use deodorant so we don''t know what else it could be.

Okay, I don''t want to turn into the Body Hair Advocate (TM), but ... does your FIL have terrible BO?


If not, do you assume it''s because he depilatates assiduously? Even if I do rid myself of hair myself, I feel like women who don''t catch a lot more flack for it than the hirsute males of our acquaintance ....


P.S. - Not aimed at you, FB03 - I just feel like all the comments about being dirty, sexualized, etc. need to be applied to the menfolk, too! Bottom line is, do you think your husband/FI/BF is gross for being hairy? If so, why judge yourself so harshly? Yikes!

I actually think DH can border on gross when things get out of control. He''s got a good amount of body hair, enough that you can see his chest hair when his shirt is unbuttoned past the top button. I do mention to him (kindly of course) when things are getting out of hand in the nose/chest/pit/and other areas and he''s happy to trim up. Now I don''t demand this or make him feel self conscious about it, he''s just a guy and doesn''t notice and he wants to make me happy. And yes, when DH is sweaty he does get a little stinky.

 

[kenny]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:08:58 PM
Author: puppmom
I would just like to add that I''m 30 weeks pregnant and body hair is my BIGGEST concern for labor. I know it''s pathetic but I can''t *reach* and DH hasn''t seen me not clean shaven before...and that HUGE BRIGHT light that will be shining on me! I get stressed out just thinking about it!!! How is a pregnant women supposed to stay well groomed for the 4 weeks of pelvic exams and labor when she can''t even see her crotch?!?!?!


Sorry Kenny...you asked.

Doctors and nurses have seen it all.
Don''t worry.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:08:58 PM
Author: puppmom
I would just like to add that I''m 30 weeks pregnant and body hair is my BIGGEST concern for labor. I know it''s pathetic but I can''t *reach* and DH hasn''t seen me not clean shaven before...and that HUGE BRIGHT light that will be shining on me! I get stressed out just thinking about it!!! How is a pregnant women supposed to stay well groomed for the 4 weeks of pelvic exams and labor when she can''t even see her crotch?!?!?!


Sorry Kenny...you asked.

Maybe we should move this to the PG thread? LOL. DH offered to help me out with this (I have the same fear!), which is great. But the idea of DH wielding a razor in that general area while distracted is a scary scary thing!

 

[Puppmom]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:22:37 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 6/1/2010 7:08:58 PM

Author: puppmom

I would just like to add that I''m 30 weeks pregnant and body hair is my BIGGEST concern for labor. I know it''s pathetic but I can''t *reach* and DH hasn''t seen me not clean shaven before...and that HUGE BRIGHT light that will be shining on me! I get stressed out just thinking about it!!! How is a pregnant women supposed to stay well groomed for the 4 weeks of pelvic exams and labor when she can''t even see her crotch?!?!?!



Sorry Kenny...you asked.

Doctors and nurses have seen it all.

Don''t worry.

Yes - but my husband hasn''t or at least I like to think so!

HH, are you saying I''m not the only one worried about this? Letting DH help is out of the question for me. It seems to defeat the purpose and ruins the illusion that his wife is naturally hair free.

Oh, and, you''re right - letting him near me with a razor is SCARY!

 

[iheartscience]

It''s just cultural conditioning. Kind of scary/sad how strongly people feel about it, too, considering that men have hairy armpits and legs but aren''t seen as having poor hygiene or more body odor.

I stopped shaving my legs and underarms for several years when I was younger. Actually, when I met my now-husband I had hairy armpits *and* legs

and believe it or not, he still tried super hard to get into my pants! I started shaving after a few years, although I''m certainly not a stickler for it.

I also have a guy friend who hates body hair on men and women and shaves his own underarms, arms and legs. He''s the only man I know who could fairly complain about leg and underarm hair on a woman he was dating!

 

[House Cat]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:27:19 PM
Author: puppmom

Date: 6/1/2010 7:22:37 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 6/1/2010 7:08:58 PM

Author: puppmom

I would just like to add that I''m 30 weeks pregnant and body hair is my BIGGEST concern for labor. I know it''s pathetic but I can''t *reach* and DH hasn''t seen me not clean shaven before...and that HUGE BRIGHT light that will be shining on me! I get stressed out just thinking about it!!! How is a pregnant women supposed to stay well groomed for the 4 weeks of pelvic exams and labor when she can''t even see her crotch?!?!?!



Sorry Kenny...you asked.

Doctors and nurses have seen it all.

Don''t worry.

Yes - but my husband hasn''t or at least I like to think so!

HH, are you saying I''m not the only one worried about this? Letting DH help is out of the question for me. It seems to defeat the purpose and ruins the illusion that his wife is naturally hair free.

Oh, and, you''re right - letting him near me with a razor is SCARY!

Is having a bikini wax out of the question?

 

[gemgirl]

I do it everyday because I love that clean and smooth feeling. There''s nothing like a silky smooth leg.

I''ve waxed my hands and arms since before our wedding twelve years ago because my gown had short sleeves and also because I didn''t want to see a single hair on any of my fingers in the "rings" photo.

 

[HollyS]

"I''m conservative and like the status quo." (ksinger)

No. Say it ain''t so. You''ve just described - - me!

 

[isaku5]

I admit this was a long time ago, but DH was asked to leave the labour room while a nurse ''prepped me'' for giving birth. That involved shaving down there completely to avoid germs. Husbands were not allowed in the labour or delivery rooms once ''hard labour'' started.

Fourteen months later, back to the same hospital for baby #2. No ''prepping'' at all, but the rule about DH''s being present was still in place.

If I had known that he''d be right there from start to finish, I''d have gone to an aesthetician fairly close to my due date and I''d have given her free rein (so to speak) as they''ve seen it all too.

 

[phoenixgirl]

I followed this line of reasoning once in high school (didn't shave legs) and once in college (didn't shave at all). I'm an INTJ -- I'm all about what makes sense. But then it didn't make sense to draw attention to myself and become an anti-shaving spokeswoman just by virtue of the fact that it was "out there" and people were curious or scandalized or put on the defensive. And it didn't make sense to be "that hippy girl" when I was student teaching and looking for a job. It didn't make sense to try to only wear long shirts, skirts and pants to hide the hair in situations where I was not comfortable making a political statement. So I gave in and shaved. But really the idea of it creeps me out . . . am I trying to look like some prepubescent child? When I didn't shave, I really felt like a woman. Maybe it's because the woman in The Joy of Sex book from the 70s that my parents inexplicably left lying around the basement had a hairy arm-pitted woman, who knows.

Now the irony is that I am married to a man who shaves his legs. He's a cyclist, and in the cycling world, it's cool to shave. Sometimes I'm like, hey, somebody used all my shaving cream. . . . At least the man has his own razor/s, but I'm still the one who has to clean them.

Apparently men (at least, the man I'm married to) have not been trained in the art of removing large quantities of leg hair from a razor . . .

 

[Octavia]

Date: 6/1/2010 6:40:44 PM
Author: brazen_irish_hussy
I ALWAYS epilate my underarms. Not for a sociatal reason, just that if I don''t I really stink, which is really not good when you name rhyms with smell.


My legs are more iffy. I keep the legs relatively hairless because I like the feel better, but it is uncomfortable and takes forever to do, so I get a little furry for the most part. When I used to shave my legs, if I missed a day it was BAD. I worked at a summer camp and the kids told me I could be a bear for Halloween after skipping one day

I don''t do the knees or higher with any regularity. To much work, especially since my skin is so rarely allowed to see the sun. Th only exception is when I go swimming.

I''m exactly the same way...with the exception of the rhyming name and the bear legs. Mine get pretty furry after awhile, but not quite that bad!

 

[february2003bride]

Date: 6/1/2010 6:30:50 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 6/1/2010 6:14:25 PM
Author: february2003bride
I just prefer smooth legs and stubble free underarms! I also wax my eyebrows and bikini area!


My MIL/FIL does not shave or cut her hair for religious reasons. My MIL never bares her legs so you wouldn''t know otherwise. However, (and no disrespect to my MIL) her BO is horrible and DH and I have often commented that if she shaved her underarms, that may help. She does use deodorant so we don''t know what else it could be.

Okay, I don''t want to turn into the Body Hair Advocate (TM), but ... does your FIL have terrible BO?

If not, do you assume it''s because he depilatates assiduously? Even if I do rid myself of hair myself, I feel like women who don''t catch a lot more flack for it than the hirsute males of our acquaintance ....

P.S. - Not aimed at you, FB03 - I just feel like all the comments about being dirty, sexualized, etc. need to be applied to the menfolk, too! Bottom line is, do you think your husband/FI/BF is gross for being hairy? If so, why judge yourself so harshly? Yikes!

Circe- DH has a whole lotta hair everywhere (he''s indian... so yeah

) and I definitely don''t think he''s gross for being hairy, but DH showers every single day so no BO (except for after the gym). I cant see MIL''s legs or underarms so I can''t even SEE the hair and even if I could it''s not an issue for me. Her hair, her body! It''s just the BO. I don''t know her showering routine, so I can''t comment on that. Just DH and I have said, it may help if she shaved, she wouldn''t be so sweaty. I guess to me, and maybe wrongly so, I asume hairier means sweatier? As for FIL, yes the BO can get a little strong (not as bad as MIL''s) and he doesn''t shave or cut his hair either!

 

[february2003bride]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:21:18 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk

Date: 6/1/2010 6:30:50 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 6/1/2010 6:14:25 PM

Author: february2003bride

I just prefer smooth legs and stubble free underarms! I also wax my eyebrows and bikini area!



My MIL/FIL does not shave or cut her hair for religious reasons. My MIL never bares her legs so you wouldn''t know otherwise. However, (and no disrespect to my MIL) her BO is horrible and DH and I have often commented that if she shaved her underarms, that may help. She does use deodorant so we don''t know what else it could be.

Okay, I don''t want to turn into the Body Hair Advocate (TM), but ... does your FIL have terrible BO?


If not, do you assume it''s because he depilatates assiduously? Even if I do rid myself of hair myself, I feel like women who don''t catch a lot more flack for it than the hirsute males of our acquaintance ....


P.S. - Not aimed at you, FB03 - I just feel like all the comments about being dirty, sexualized, etc. need to be applied to the menfolk, too! Bottom line is, do you think your husband/FI/BF is gross for being hairy? If so, why judge yourself so harshly? Yikes!

I actually think DH can border on gross when things get out of control. He''s got a good amount of body hair, enough that you can see his chest hair when his shirt is unbuttoned past the top button. I do mention to him (kindly of course) when things are getting out of hand in the nose/chest/pit/and other areas and he''s happy to trim up. Now I don''t demand this or make him feel self conscious about it, he''s just a guy and doesn''t notice and he wants to make me happy. And yes, when DH is sweaty he does get a little stinky.

DH is pretty hairy but it only bugs me when he needs to trim up his nose hairs!

It''s funny, DH''s chest hair doesn''t bother me. I was teasing him the other day that his chest hair is turning grey!

 

[Cehrabehra]

I am fortunately not a hairy person. I come from a family of hairless people. Don''t know if it is the nordic or native american, but there''s just not a lot of hair going on. On top of that I am blonde. Very light blonde. I shave my legs once a year or twice a year. There is not much hair on my legs and most of it is like peach fuzz that I can''t get with NADS because it is just too small to adhere. I just generally ignore that because even if you run your hand across it there''s nothing you can really feel. There isn''t a lot of it anyway and it''s so light you cannot see it, even up close. The exception is a patch across the front of my shin that is about 2" by 8" that has much longer, straight blonde hair. That I shave a couple times a year, and only during the summer if it is bugging me. It grows back slowly.

So in that I am lucky and I know it!!!

Armpit hair I shave more frequently - but not as frequently as most probably do. Once or twice a month. It''s blonde too and there isn''t a lot, but eventually it bugs me and I shave it.

I don''t feel a compulsion to regular shaving because it''s just not an issue for me.

My Ayi doesn''t shave her pits and it kinda oogs me out because they''re big black pits like a man lol And she''s like 4''8"

I saw wedding pictures recently of a woman wearing a strapless gown and natural pits and while I support it, it did look funny to me.

I''m not very judgmental about alternative lifestyles, but not all of them are lifestyles I would live so some of them do seem weird to me even if I think the person is normal to live that way.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 6/1/2010 2:25:19 PM
Author: Steal

Isn't it obvious?

It takes me 40mins minimum to wash, dry and style my hair (head). DH insists I get rid of the rest of my hair on my body just so that I do not spend anymore time in the bathroom styling hair.

bahaha

 

[ksinger]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:40:00 PM
Author: HollyS
''I''m conservative and like the status quo.'' (ksinger)

No. Say it ain''t so. You''ve just described - - me!

Go ahead and breathe that sigh of relief: It ain''t so. Really. I was only joshin''....

(but not about the depiliation)

 

[lucyandroger]

I think it''s kind of weird to be concerned about your SO seeing you in your natural state...and I think it''s really weird that people like to make themselves look like prepubescent girls down there.

I shave my legs and arm pits but if I''m wearing pants or not going sleeveless, then I''m a bit lax about it. My FI prefers shaved legs but there''s only so much time in a day and I''m not going to make myself crazy pretending I don''t have hair.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 6/1/2010 10:44:12 PM
Author: lucyandroger
I think it''s kind of weird to be concerned about your SO seeing you in your natural state...and I think it''s really weird that people like to make themselves look like prepubescent girls down there.


I shave my legs and arm pits but if I''m wearing pants or not going sleeveless, then I''m a bit lax about it. My FI prefers shaved legs but there''s only so much time in a day and I''m not going to make myself crazy pretending I don''t have hair.

That''s the thing that bugs me too - pretending. I used to be so hung up on that in high school - looking perfect. I thought it was weird that everyone wanted to be some version of Human 2.0 that didn''t have things like body hair or the need to burp or fart.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 6/1/2010 6:30:50 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 6/1/2010 6:14:25 PM

Author: february2003bride

I just prefer smooth legs and stubble free underarms! I also wax my eyebrows and bikini area!



My MIL/FIL does not shave or cut her hair for religious reasons. My MIL never bares her legs so you wouldn''t know otherwise. However, (and no disrespect to my MIL) her BO is horrible and DH and I have often commented that if she shaved her underarms, that may help. She does use deodorant so we don''t know what else it could be.

Okay, I don''t want to turn into the Body Hair Advocate (TM), but ... does your FIL have terrible BO?


If not, do you assume it''s because he depilatates assiduously? Even if I do rid myself of hair myself, I feel like women who don''t catch a lot more flack for it than the hirsute males of our acquaintance ....


P.S. - Not aimed at you, FB03 - I just feel like all the comments about being dirty, sexualized, etc. need to be applied to the menfolk, too! Bottom line is, do you think your husband/FI/BF is gross for being hairy? If so, why judge yourself so harshly? Yikes!

YES!!! I do think it is gross that my husband is so hairy. Before we married I jokingly told him that if he ever got back hair I would divorce him. I''d quit dating a guy once before because his back hair grossed me out. Now i live with sasquatch. I hate it. I wish he would wax but he refuses. And yet he thinks 1/4" of blonde pit hair is horrible. I tell him to stuff it.

 

[Indylady]

I only shave parts that have stink-potential, and I do it for the sake of cleanliness rather than aesthetics.

I don't get any flack from my SO; he doesn't really care one way or another. His two roommate's girlfriends don't shave anything either.

ETA: I recently overheard one of SO's roommate's recently talking about how nice and soft his girlfriend's underarm hair was, and how it was so much better than his which is really rough. It was totally cute.