I was going to post this in the feminist bit but i've hidden it and can't find it so.....Hair removal.

[HEXentricaGallumbits]

If I have stopped removing the hair on my legs and armpits am I a hideous hippocrite to still pluck my chin?

I have tried every hair removal thing except laser and I have finally had enough of wasting my time and energy getting smooth bits of me for a few hours. I cannot be arsed any more.

So a few questons.

Will I look like a blokes legs or will they go blonder? blond leg hair I could live with.

Having furry legs will I be viewed as letting myself go or a 'real woman'?

If go down the feminist 'how dare you suggest that because am a woman I need bald legs' route am I expected to let my beard grow?

Will DH ever notice? he hasn't yet. Will he care?

[sethstarkaddersmummyreturns]

the official feminist line is 'do whatever you blooming well want and if you want to do your chin and leave your legs or do your legs and leave your chin that's entirely up to you and if anyone tries to make you feel guilty they are daft.'

does that help?

[dexter73]

I think you should do as much hair removing as you like. I shave my legs and armpits because I don't like them being hairy, not because I think men prefer them like that!

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

you are in control

if you want to pluck your chin, then do it, or plait your underarm hair, do it

if you have facial hair that is partic bothersome then comsult your GP if you like - there are treatments that may be suitable

[bananapeanutbutter]

Your leg hair in unlikely to go blonder unless you have quite fair hair on your legs anyway and sit in the sun a lot!

re the "letting yourself go" or "real woman" thing, if you are thinking of letting the leg/armpit hair grow, then I would forget about caring one way or another what other people think.

Your DH will probably never notice unless you have very dark hair and wear very short skirts and wave your arms in the air VERY OFTEN. My sister picks on me for not shaving my legs often enough but my DH still finds me sexy...I doubt he even notices.

FWIW I get brazilian waxes every month but only shave my legs and armpits once a week/fortnight. I say do what you want and what you feel comfortable with. Who cares what feminists and husbands and sisters think, eh?

[horMOANSnomore]

I can't be arsed to remove leg hair in winter so I wear trousers.

Unfortunately it doesn't go blonde if you don't remove it, but mine is softer since I've been epilating rather than shaving.

I still pluck my beard all year round.

It's up to you. You could start a new fashion in lady goatees.

[starsareshining]

I agree with what everybody else has said, do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I don't generally shave my legs or underarms because I'm incredibly lazy and razor blades are expensive. I have quite dark hair there too but haven't found that it gets any lighter. I will shave if they're going to be on display because that makes me feel uncomfortable (once went to school in a skirt without shaving my legs, quickly changed my mind about shaving before wearing a skirt!). My partner doesn't care at all about what I do. I do try to keep him away from my legs when I'm going through a sharp stubble phase though :)

[quizling]

Do whatever. My rule is that I'll remove whatever I want, but I won't inflict pain on myself to do so. So waxing is out, but it's a faff anyway

[Ephiny]

It doesn't have to be all or nothing, do the bits you feel you need to do, and leave the rest!
I don't think feminism is about scrutinising and criticising the choices individual women make with regard to things like hair removal. More about looking at the societal expectations and standards for such things and why they exist. Like others have said, I think you should do what makes you feel comfortable.

No idea what your legs will look like - I shave mine if they're going to be visible in public because I have a lot of dark thick hair (yes I suppose like some men have) and would be very self-conscious about it - but lots of women have lighter or sparser hair, and if I was like them, I probably wouldn't bother removing any at all.