Hair removal has always been a topic of significant concern not only for myself but for the majority of women too. As a woman, I remember from a young age how self-conscious I had to be about my body hair, particularly my armpit hair.
Sadly, I fell into the pressure and developed a habit of removing every bit of hair on my body every single time.
- Why You Shouldn't Feel Bad About Armpit Hair?
- No More Ingrown Hair (Ingrown Hair Armpit)
- No More Ingrown Hair Armpit
- Less Smelly (Yes For Real :)
- Free From Social Norms Pressure
- It actually Saves A Lot Of Time
- Self-Acceptance, Feeling More Connected, More Natural
- Warmer, Especially in a Cold Climate.
- No More Looking For "Permanent Solutions" Like Underarm Laser Hair Removal
- No More Waxing Armpits
- No More Waxing Armpits
- No More Sensitive Skin
- So, Why Do People Shave?
- In Conclusion
Why You Shouldn't Feel Bad About Armpit Hair?
Hair removal has always been a topic of significant concern not only for myself but for the majority of women too. As a woman, I remember from a young age how self-conscious I had to be about my body hair, particularly my armpit hair.
Sadly, I fell into the pressure and developed a habit of removing every bit of hair on my body every single time. Growing up, I came to realize that I was not alone on this.
Especially in our society, hair removal has become a kind of ritual for most people, and this is primarily due to the perception of beauty and sexiness been related to an overall smoother skin.
This current trend leads to unnecessary societal pressure and body negativity. So much that the hair in the armpit or any part of the visible body is perceived as laziness, unwillingness to follow the trend, and lack of respect for self and others.
I have recently come to an understanding of the different benefits and roles hair play on our body. On that note, I now have a different perspective towards body hair, and I'm more appreciative of my body in its natural state. In a bid to promote self-love and body positivity, let's check out some of the major benefits of not shaving.
No More Ingrown Hair Armpit
Ingrown hairs, also called razor bumps, is an experience I dread the most, but regularly experienced while I was still shaving my armpits. Ingrown hairs occur when the sharp tip of the hair curls back or grows in a different direction inside the skin, usually sideways.
I wouldn't categorize this as a severe condition; however, ingrown hair can cause redness, irritation, pain, pus-filled bumps, severe itching, and scarring.
Apart from shaving, I also indulged in some hair removal techniques, and their effects were even more pronounced. I discover how waxing, in particular, promotes the growth of ingrown hair and how tweezing and electrolysis also irritate the follicles.
Since the hair is being pulled out of its root, the new hair will grow on its own with no guide to follow its typical path.
Also, when I waxed in the opposite direction of my hair growth pattern, I noticed a remarkable increase in the number of ingrown hairs in my armpit.
Read here more on ingrown hairs and how to remove them.
Less Smelly (Yes For Real :)
There is a common myth about hairy armpits being smelly armpits, from my experience, I say that this is totally not true.
When I was constantly shaving my armpit-hairs, I discovered that I had worse selling odor than when I stopped. The key generally is always to wash the armpits with soap while taking a bath.
I don't ignore them; I ensure that my armpit is adequately cleaned daily so that the odor-causing bacteria are drastically reduced, and I was surprised how much of an improvement I had.
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Free From Social Norms Pressure
Some of the remarkable effects of unshaved armpits are how much freedom I felt and how many body-positive people I unexpectedly encounter. You'll be surprised how many people out there feel the way you feel about body hair.
Fighting for body positivity and not in support of policing the bodies of women but instead see a natural body as sexy.
It actually Saves A Lot Of Time
Another chief complaint of shaving that I had was time is time. It simply takes too long to go through all the steps to have a great shave every morning.
Most mornings are hectic enough as they are, and adding more steps to a simple routine is not that appealing. No armpit shaving means I got to cut down your morning shower time by at least 5 minutes.
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Self-Acceptance, Feeling More Connected, More Natural
Just like me, from a young age, many women begin to develop complicated relationships with their body, as we become more aware of what society considers 'normal' and 'attractive.'
Despite armpit hairs being as natural as the hair on our heads, and everywhere else it grows for women, armpit hair tends to be unnecessarily controversial.
Sadly, social expectations play a significant role in why I saw body hair on myself and other women as "disgusting" or simply socially unacceptable.
If I'm to be honest, as a woman who purposely grows my pit-hair to flout societal expectations, I still feel self-conscious, showing my armpit hair in social settings. I hope this societal norm changes soon, though.
Warmer, especially in a cold climate.
Armpit hair serves many purposes, one of which is to help keep the heat in. The hair helps to regulate body temperature by creating an insulating layer over the skin when we get cold and controls sweat when you get too hot. It also helps soaks up sweat and moisture that develop under the arm area aiding in proper ventilation.
So, if you live in a cold area like me or require body warmth, keeping your armpit hair is a natural way to maintain your body heat. Likewise, if you need to keep the cold in, repelling sweat is what the armpit hair does best.
No More Looking For "Permanent Solutions" Like Underarm Laser Hair Removal
The most significant benefit of letting your armpit hair grow out arguably is that you don't have to deal with the hassles of shaving it all the time!
Just like any other part of your body, you've just got to make sure you're taking the time to keep the area clean and groomed.
I'm super excited about how much money I've been able to save within these few months of not spending on shaving cream and razors. Also, the fear that my armpit hair may grow quicker and thicker after a shave is gone.
I enjoy freedom from worry about my armpit hair and instead focus on other more productive things.
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No More Waxing Armpits
Firstly, waxing is 100% healthy as they can permanently damage the skin, specifically the delicate tissue cells, as most waxes are not natural and contain chemicals. Also, waxing is painful and ultimately not as effective as should be, and I know this for sure.
When you choose to wax your armpit, you are opting for a method that usually involves introducing hot wax onto your skin. The hot wax does not only burn and bruise the skin but can also result in swelling of skin tissues, making future hair removal more difficult.
Aside from the heat, irritation, and pain, waxing when not correctly done removes hair in the opposite direction of hair growth, resulting in hair breakages and blocked pores.
No More Sensitive Skin
It's no secret that your skin gets sensitive after a shave. This is due to various reasons, two of which are: the skin under the arm is already super sensitive, hence the hair to protect it, so when you remove the hair under the armpit, it's only natural that you become more sensitive there.
Secondly, the razor takes off a layer of skin when you shave, exposing the skin underneath — resulting in razor burns.
Although my razor burns usually disappeared after several hours, you might be different, as I have friends whose wounds remained for several days due to the sensitive nature of their skins.
When I stopped shaving completely, I got rid of razor burns; armpit boils, and all other maladies that came with my skin being too sensitive due to shaving.
Topical green tea can also help thicken the epidermis, speed the curing of wounds, and inhibit an enzyme in your skin that causes pigmentation, which means fewer sunspots.
If you feel you still have question about the topic, I would suggest you check our this article. They have managed to answer every single question about how to take care of your armpit hair.
So, Why Do People Shave?
Various people have different reasons for shaving, some of which are:
Cultural Reasons
The norm in modern society is for men and women not to have hair in visible places.
For this reason, the culture of managing hair leads many to remove hair to conform to the needs of society.
For example, armpit hair for western women is quite often removed. However, there are those in other communities who like to maintain their pit-hair, and thankfully, this trend is fast growing.
For Fashion
As fashion trends dictate, hair removal becomes necessary when there is a need. Many have made statements of fashion with bald heads, shaved armpits, goatees, and the like.
You never know which twist fashion will take, and many are always curious not to be left behind, and when it involves shaving, they will do just that. Or maybe the hair is trendy today. Read here more on this.
For Sexual Reasons
It is believed that shaved armpits make for better relations, and this belief has not faded away. Shaving is perceived by people to achieve cleanliness and a sign of proper hygiene.
For Gender Reassignment
Hair removal is necessary for people who want to switch genders. For example, a man who wants to transform into a woman will need to get rid of hair so that they can conform best to their preferred gender.
When it comes to creating a neo-vagina for a man who wants to become a woman, hair removal in areas like penis and scrotum must be done. Hair is removed permanently to prevent future growth in the neo-vagina.
In conclusion...
The bottom line, shaving is a personal choice. If you feel pressured to shave or feel embarrassed in public when you don't shave. It's probably better you privately try to grow it out and spend some time with it and see how you feel before going out in public.
And if you are shaving simply because you feel cleaner, feel free. But if one day you find yourself in a swimming pool or at the beach full of hair and still feel great about it, then that's the best place to be.
However, I advise that you occasionally shave if you feel like, but don't ever feel ashamed of your armpit hair.
