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Original poster

Shaving before swimming

199 replies

Frazzled2207 · 07/06/2021 21:03

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?

OP posts:
Veronika13 · 08/06/2021 11:13

@countrygirl99 love a good 'wrong post' thread 😂

Veronika13 · 08/06/2021 11:14

'Wrong thread' post

countrygirl99 · 08/06/2021 11:24

Ha ha I thought I had copied a bit about virtuous people not noticing others at the pool 🤣🤣. That 'll teach me not to check before I hit the button

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 08/06/2021 11:28

I swim often, I epilate my legs & underarms much less often, bikini line rarely as its so painful.

If people like Veronika13 are looking at me and calling me gross & vile in their heads, I really couldn't give a shit Smile, I'm there to swim & not worry about the internal judgement of strangers which has no impact on my life.

Veronika13 · 08/06/2021 23:10

@Ihaventgottimeforthis I would never look at you and think that.
This is more how I find hair on myself, I don't like it.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 08/06/2021 23:25

So veronika why are you more harsh on your own self? I've been trying to explain to my DD, if you can get to a place where you maybe not love but at least accept and embrace every aspect of your body, fat rolls to spots to teeth gaps to poky-out hairs, it makes your path through life much easier & lighter and more content.
And makes an impromptu swim session a joy rather than an anxious prospect.
Treat yourself as people who love you treat you.

newnortherner111 · 09/06/2021 21:37

It's personal choice, but please don't forget to shower before you go in the swimming pool.

Crimeismymiddlename · 09/06/2021 22:03

I shave my legs/pits everyday anyway and if swimming bits of my minge that grow on my legs but honestly I really don’t think anyone notices or cares esp when lane swimming. I often wish I could go without shaving but the body hair hating 90s really did a number on me!

gospelsinger · 09/06/2021 22:04

I wear shorts or a swimsuit with a skirt to cover bikini area as I don't like the feel of hair that's starting to growing back.

bellie710 · 09/06/2021 22:14

I would not judge you but I absolutely could not go swimming without my bikini line done, I have very light hair on my legs and underarms but personally and I know it is each to their own I would be mortified if any hair was poking out the side of my costume! Years ago I was at Centre Parcs and there were a group laughing at a woman walking with about 2 inches either side of the costume, ever since that I have been paranoid.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 09/06/2021 22:19

I remove all body hair but don't give a fig what other people do; I wouldn't notice anyway and even if I did, it's hardly unusual, is it?

I shower at home, put my swimsuit on and drive to the pool; I don't then shower there as well. At my pool/gym, you can't shower when you finish, you just rinse and dry off - and go. It was different pre-Covid but that's how it is now.

Thelm · 09/06/2021 22:21

@Viviennemary

Underarm hair is not acceptable. It looks vile.
Is this just women or is men’s armpit hair ok?
Original poster
Frazzled2207 · 09/06/2021 22:24

Well we went today and I had no hair poking out and it was all fine. I did actually think while there though that I was so busy with the kids, as was everyone else with their kids, that it really didn’t seem to matter at all.

I thought back to when I lived in Japan and went to onsen- single sex large spa bath things where no costumes of any descriptions were allowed. We all went in, hair and all. It was fine.

I think I’ll get myself a shorts type swimsuit for next time and generally try and worry less about it in future. Appreciate all the input.

OP posts:
Original poster
Frazzled2207 · 09/06/2021 22:30

Ps still would like to know if those who are not ok with body hair in swimming pools are equally not ok with any body hair on men.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 09/06/2021 22:31

No. I dont like it on men either. Its like in a place where hair shouldn't be. Nobody has to agree with me. But thats just thw way I feel about it. Gives me the creeps.

LST · 09/06/2021 22:32

@Viviennemary

No. I dont like it on men either. Its like in a place where hair shouldn't be. Nobody has to agree with me. But thats just thw way I feel about it. Gives me the creeps.
Blimey I bet its really hard being you
Viviennemary · 09/06/2021 22:34

It is. Grin

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 09/06/2021 22:36

How is it a place where hair shouldn’t be?
It’s actually a place where hair should be, but some of us choose to remove it?

mathanxiety · 09/06/2021 22:40

I might do my armpits. Leg hair - maybe, if I remember to. I reckon everyone has so much chlorine in their eyes they're not really staring too hard at anyone else.

I wear boyshort style swim trunks because I feel more comfortable both in and out of the water wearing them. Far less cheeky.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 10/06/2021 17:54

@theleafandnotthetree

I'm sorry but I don't want to see anyone's pubic hair, male or female makes no difference.

I also laugh at the saintliness on display on these kind of threads where a disproportionate number of people seem never to notice other people's hairiness, weight, baldness, height or any other physical feature. Do you just see blurry outlines then? I notice all those things and indeed the infinite variety of human bodies and features is fascinating. Largely I just notice them and that's the end of it, I din't go around thinking about it, judging people excessively. But of course I notice!

Where do you see 'saintliness'? I'm mostly indifferent. I might or might not notice but, unless somebody is about to dive on top of me or crash into me, why should I care?

Is this the new method of shutting people up who have a different opinion to you? Calling it sainthood, sanctimony or some such other bollocks? Leaving you and people like you who feel that they have the right to denigrate and disparage other people and how they look? Anonymously of course, hidden under a username that's changed at a whim? You might just notice-and-not-judge but your post is the antithesis of that - and other people certainly do judge. Posts like yours just give them tacit understanding that it's ok to do that.

If I've misunderstood your post then apologies but your 'laugh at the saintliness' comment was irritating.

PandoraP · 10/06/2021 22:32

I actually see only blurry outlines as I am so short sighted 🤣

Crowsaregreat · 10/06/2021 22:40

Love a body hair thread. No one goes swimming to stare at your fanny, love. Plenty of top to toe hairy men in swimming pools giving zero hours of their life to the pursuit of hairlessness.

NiceGerbil · 10/06/2021 22:41

I don't think people look that closely at each other at a pool do they?

I bought a legsuit a few years back and I love it. It's got little shorts. I feel so comfy and relaxed wearing it.

I also wear it on hols. I get funny looks sometimes from women as they're all in bikinis usually but

A. I don't care
B. I can dive jump etc without having to worry about losing bits of my costume
C. I don't have to pull it out my arse crack
D. I'm v pale so much less time doing sun cream
E. Zero needs doing to pubes not that I ever did anyway (I'm blonde)

Soooo there's an idea!

I also always think that some men are vv hairy and that's fine and in Speedos or smaller shorts pubes are out and no one really thinks anything of it!

NiceGerbil · 10/06/2021 22:45

Oh and I can put a t-shirt on and it looks like I'm wearing shorts.

Love them!

This idea but sure you can get fancy ones with a bit of a look.

www.zoggs.com/en_GB/predator-spliced-legsuit-black-multi-462218

supadupapupascupa · 10/06/2021 22:56

I shave my underarms, might do lower legs. But I always tuck the pubes in.