Hairy legs

[Bedbouncer]

I currently have very hairy legs because I hope to be having knee replacement surgery imminently, and it is recommended not to shave beforehand, to avoid possible nicks that could get infected. It has made me wonder why hairy legs are perfectly acceptable for men, but not for women. I don't mind them, but think I would be uncomfortable in a skirt in the summer. It's just not socially acceptable for women to have hairy legs is it? Even in 2024!

Bump

I was thinking of starting a thread about this recently. My child asked me why I shave my legs and I said because society expects it. Which is outrageously unfair. Being told your natural state is "unattractive" or "gross" but artifice is preferable always grates with me. Yeh I don't have to shave and usually Im not fussed in the winter, but I really resent it

I shave my legs because the hairs are itchy and uncomfortable nothing to do with expectation.

It's ok to have hairy legs but after the menopause they migrate from your legs to your chin.

That's why I shave mine but since I got my Philips lumea I'm lucky if I need to shave my legs every 2/3 months.

I mean, I actually don't mind my hairy legs - but am aware that many/most people will find them 'gross' - do I just ignore that?

Odd they aren’t for men then.
Or me. I have very few now post menopause, but remembering to shave was always a nightmare as they are just there. Itches after shaving sometimes, but not long hairs.

I rarely shave my legs, in summer tend to wear long skirts/dresses (just because I like them more), so not that many people would notice.

Aesthetically, I do prefer the no hair look, especially because I am fairly hairy, but day to day I cba! Every time I think about shaving, there's always something else I'd rather be doing with that time!

I used to be terribly self conscious about body hair but honestly, the less you shave, the less you care.

I would maybe think about it if I was going on a beach holiday, or to a wedding or something like that.

I think that a large reason that women shave so much is because men are so put off by hair, which is very much a them problem, not ours!

Presumably they are only itchy and uncomfortable because you have previously shaved them and they are regrowing.

I shave mine occasionally but am generally hairy legged. They can be a bit itchy when growing out but then they feel fine. Men don't shave their legs and I have never heard one complaining about itchy legs that require shaving.

I don't shave anymore since I had issues with ingrown hair. I also don't care anymore what other people think.

But yes, other women are actually the worst offenders in describing hairy legs as unsightly or outright disgusting.

I have very dark hair and I rarely shave or hair remove by another method nowadays, too busy fighting the hairs on the chin and lip

Legs have had to take a backseat due to the appearance of a beard from absolutely no where 🤦‍♀️🎅🏻

I don't bother any more.
I started because of social pressure (other teenage girls and my mum), but I don't like social pressure.
My partner(m) doesn't care at the slightest, noone told me anything at all in years, I noticed altogether one scandalised look during the time.

I made a specific exception for friends wedding (with a knee length dress, I just didn't want to steal attention in any way, so it was easier to do it than ruminate about that).
Because of the AC, I prefer light trousers for the office anyway, but some of my work colleagues may know if they care, as I met some at local outdoor events.

My observation is, that people in real world care much less than we might expect based on the internet calling it gross and so on.

Because lots of women shave them.

If most / a substantial proportion of women didn't shave, legs with normal hair would be just that: normal legs. We're all mammals. We all grow leg hair following puberty. It's only that many women are involved in pretending that they naturally have bald legs, that women with leg hair become the outlier. With your help, we can re-normalise hairy legs.

I haven't shaved my legs since I was 12. Nothing will happen to you if you go around with your normal leg hair grown out. I've never had any unpleasantries. Only a handful of people (no strangers) have asked. Only very occasionally do I see a look - but people can look at you for whatever reason. I don't wear skirts, so it's even more directly just like men do.

I haven't shaved my legs or pits for about 5 years now. You get used to how that feels.

You get to not give a shit when you go swimming.

The more it is seen, the more it will be normalised.

It is liberating. Why should I shave or rip the hair out of my body? Seems utterly ridiculous now.

Bloody hell... I am getting ads about hair removal for pre-teens now. WTF?!

I was a hairy teen. Was not allowed to shave. Got bullied lots.
I can't be arsed as an adult. Once stopped and checked myself when wanting to wear a floaty skirt to Tesco. Like OMG, my legs are hairy..... and SO WHAT?
Women ARE hairy.

I've always shaved my legs and armpits religiously... every day.
Then a couple of months ago my adult autistic son came into the bathroom for a chat while I was in the bath ( no sense of privacy and it doesn't bother me) and asked why I did that, and was he supposed to do that too?
I said no, men don't shave their legs or pits and he asked why do ladies then.

It struck me I had never throught about it! I just did it because it was expected!!
So I left my armpits for a week, and the world didn't cave in, and dh didn't even notice. And my skin felt so much better! So now I do them weekly, as I am not brave enough to stop entirely. And my legs are shaved once or twice a week instead of daily. I'm working towards not bothering

I rarely shave my legs, only if I'm having a spray tan for an occasion (so, two or three times a year). It has never stopped men hitting on me, it seems only women really care!
I shave my underarms weekly or so, as I sweat a lot and don't like the feeling of underarm hair /worry it smells.

I rarely bother to shave my legs. I prefer to be natural.

If other people have any issue about it that's their issue and frankly I think they are weird.

It all started in the 1920s, didn't it, with razor companies pushing the idea that women had to shave their legs (and armpits) as skirts got shorter and evening dresses more revealing?

I used to be self conscious about it thirty-odd years ago, but have long since stopped caring. One of the pluses of living in a retirement village is that nobody is bothered about that sort of thing.

@MrsMoastyToasty "It's ok to have hairy legs but after the menopause they migrate from your legs to your chin."

How right you are! The chin spikes are the only ones I bother with - not because anyone can see them, but because I can feel the damn things and plucking them is almost a hobby now. 😂😂😂

PS hope your knee replacement goes well, OP!

I starting shaving at 10. I stopped at 43. The world hasn't ended.
I've noticed quite a few younger women don't shave.
DD is 13 and never has, she has hairy legs and armpits. Quite a few of her friends don't either. I love this as at 13 I would have died if I discovered a stray hair. Maybe times are slowly changing?

I don't shave my legs or anything else. I get abscesses in my armpits if I do and I really don't care if anyone doesn't like my hairy body.
Very very rarely if I'm wearing tights I might do my legs to the knee.

Always shave my legs purely because I prefer them that way. Would never notice whether other people do or not ---- or care.

Still waiting for them to stop growing after menopause - I am 67.