Shaving before swimming

[Frazzled2207]

Really have not had an exciting time during the pandemic but am going swimming later this week with the smalls for the first time in I can’t remember so careful to shave all appropriate bits as I always used to.

But it made me think- as I find it a sensitive area and quite difficult due to having an awkwardly located cyst - is it ever ok to go swimming and not shave underarms/legs/tops of legs? I don’t think I’ve ever really noticed what other people do which I suppose is a good thing and suggests we can all just do what we like. But until now I guess I thought it was some kind of unwritten rule. Is it?

Of course it’s ok! More than 50% of the population don’t bother with it 😊

I never shave the top of my legs but tend to do the bottom half/arm pits if they're obvious. I wear shorts as hate shaving bikini line. OH is used to my body hair as I only shave if it's going to be on display and while he'd like permanently smooth legs I'd like him to have a permanently smooth chest (which he doesn't have) so if i put up with his body hair he has to put up with mine.

Why is it 'judging' if others don't like hair? I don't like hair on people.

If you choose not to marry an obese man as you find him unattractive, is that judging?
What about the thread where a lot of women wouldn't go out with a short man.
That's a preference not judging.

My preference is smooth clean shaven skin. I find pubes/armpits hair sticking out unattractive. Just like you'd find a shorter man unattractive (for those that do).

@murbblurb

Like many people I need specs or contacts and can't wear them in the pool. I can see people but not their body hair. And if someone was close enough to see my body hair I'd give her a good kicking.

Why are women so bitchy?

Ha yes so do I. So even if I do get judging looks I won’t be able to to see them.

Thanks for the vast majority of supportive posts. I shall be very tidy this week but hope to develop a more relaxed attitude and will also invest in some shorts type swimwear so that I’m not so self conscious.
Am surprised some people might think visible body hair is grim though. If I shave it’s because I am self conscious not because I think it’s grim not to. What is grim is that it’s ok for men to have hairy bodies but not women. Where or earth did that come from? Luckily for me my dh doesn’t give a toss.

I've only once in 50 years seen a woman with pubes poking out of her costume and I remember that because it was so shocking. Shouldn't be if course, but it is very unusual.

Personally I am on the hunt for a "nice" bikini with boy shirt bottoms so it's all well covered rather than removed. I don't understand why there isn't more of a market for them. The only ones I've found are plain black athletic styles and whilst costumes exist, again only in very boring styles.

I go swimming most days. Often I have unshaved leges and I haven't checked my armpits recently. The only women I notice are the ones that are so waxed and fake tanned that they look all shiny. I think its weird. I'm 50 and loads of people talk to me when I'm there so I can't be a monster with my stubbly legs. Fuck knows what my pubes are doing when I'm there but then I'm a big fan of pubes so they can do what they like.

If anyone comes across nice flattering boy shirt swimsuits, please let me know!

Personally I think if you can see pubes sticking out of a lady’s costume you are looking too closely.

@DirectionsForUse

I've only once in 50 years seen a woman with pubes poking out of her costume and I remember that because it was so shocking. Shouldn't be if course, but it is very unusual.

Personally I am on the hunt for a "nice" bikini with boy shirt bottoms so it's all well covered rather than removed. I don't understand why there isn't more of a market for them. The only ones I've found are plain black athletic styles and whilst costumes exist, again only in very boring styles.

Try Lands End. They have quite a few discounts at the moment.

I have these shorts and one of these tops and one of these as well.

The high neck top is really hard to get off, but other than that I am really, really happy with them and think they will last a very long time.

Philips lumea changed my life. I now shave once a month!

I also shave about once a month (or less). Nothing to do with Philips Lumea... I just couldn’t give a shit.

@Veronika13

Why is it 'judging' if others don't like hair? I don't like hair on people.

If you choose not to marry an obese man as you find him unattractive, is that judging?
What about the thread where a lot of women wouldn't go out with a short man.
That's a preference not judging.

My preference is smooth clean shaven skin. I find pubes/armpits hair sticking out unattractive. Just like you'd find a shorter man unattractive (for those that do).

You used the word gross. I would never say an obese person I gross

Maybe some men could chime in and explain their body hair shaving rituals before swimming?

I don't shave. At all. Or wax. I'm au naturel and I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks.

I also wear a nice plain coverall swimsuit that I'm comfortable in because I'm there to swim, not for other people's viewing pleasure.

Oh, to be a man - no one would care!

Exactly @YetAnotherSpartacus.

Men look, wear, and act as they please with zero fucks given.

@MissTrip82. Of course I can imagine that other people are different, more oblivious to noticing other people's physical characteristics. It's just that these kind of threads seem to attract people competing to prove how unsuperficial they are (and in proclaiming how shallow anyone with ANY view other than 'you can be as large, hairy, cellulitey as you like, no one will notice and if they do they are horrible people'). I know lots of people, most of them very nice and have encountered few as oblivious and unfocused on appearance as people on threads like these. In other words, I'm not sure that this thread is remotely reflective of real life. Or else some of the people on it are trying to make themselves seem less shallow, therefore more substantive than other people

For anyone looking for more covered up type swim wear. https://modli.co

I've started wild swimming in a local lake. Not seriously enough to wear a wetsuit but definitely didn't want to wear a skimpy costume. I'm not all that keen on feeling the weeds near bouys wrapped round my legs.

These people provide a really wide range of options in bottoms, from boy shorts via cycle short length to 7/8 snd full length leggings. Brilliant.

I'd notice if I'm honest, just because I don't like it on myself
You do whatever you are comfortable with

Despite being blonde and having a fair arm and leg hair I have a generous dark bush. It's everywhere from navel to upper thigh. Being so pale skinned means I can swap hair for stubble rash when I shave or hair removal cream. I hate it, I have worn shorts to swim at the gym, but it feels a lot of clothing. I usually just try to get in quick ha ahhha .

If you choose not to marry an obese man as you find him unattractive, is that judging?
What about the thread where a lot of women wouldn't go out with a short man.
That's a preference not judging.

You're comparing different things, though - this isn't a thread about what we find sexually attractive; it's about how a woman chooses to groom or not. You are judging other women for making different choices to you, actually calling them "gross" FFS! That's not a preference, that's judging. And sexist to boot.

I remove all hair aside from my head and eyebrows - I like to be smooth like a dolphin! 😂

I couldn't care less what other people do with their body hair though. I probably do notice but have never given it a thought

@Veronika13

Why is it 'judging' if others don't like hair? I don't like hair on people.

If you choose not to marry an obese man as you find him unattractive, is that judging?
What about the thread where a lot of women wouldn't go out with a short man.
That's a preference not judging.

My preference is smooth clean shaven skin. I find pubes/armpits hair sticking out unattractive. Just like you'd find a shorter man unattractive (for those that do).

Op isn’t asking you to marry her, fuck her or even find her attractive. She’s asking if it’s ok to have body hair

I know I'll be lambasted, accused of promoting the Beauty Industrial Complex, contributing to gender inequality etc but laser hair removal on my legs and bikini line especially was near enough life changing for me. I spent so much of my life self conscious about my hairyness in all contexts, swimming being just one. I know intellectually it's wrong, I know we're mammals and meant to be hairy, that there's a double standard etc but it made a big difference to my confidence levels and as a single person, my sex life to feel better about that one thing. I would urge anyone who feels as I did to consider it. It is a large initial investment but then no creams, waxing, razors pretty much forever.

When I used to swim regularly, what ‘disgusted’ me was swimmers coming straight into the pool without showering first.

All that antiperspirant, perfume, sweat, Lynx! should be rinsed off first.

Rant over.

I get it, but increasingly there will be more charging points and it will just be an alternative to filling up- in fact many are popping up at petrol stations. Supermarkets and shopping centre car parks are excellent places for them as you can leave your cars to charge whisle you do your shopping. Depending on range and your lifestyle many will only need to charge once a week (what we do). Is that really going to be too much hassle???

There are some advantages to being older and sometimes deteriorating eyesight is one of them.😁

@theleafandnotthetree I'm the same.
Lasered off underarms and bikini area. Never irritation, no stable, no hair, it's amazing.