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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go swimming without shaving?

425 replies

ArriettyMatilda · 18/04/2017 21:10

I am not a regular shaver. It's time consuming, occasionally itchy during regrowth and I hate myself for feeling like I have to conform to society's expectations plus I'm lazy I really want to take dd swimming more regularly but I really can't be bothered with maintaining a smooth bikini line and legs.

I am well aware that I wouldn't even be asking this if I was a man, but I can't shake the feeling that someone will be disgusted by my hair. I'm so annoyed that I feel like I have to remove part of my body to become an acceptable member of society.

Would you judge me for having hairy legs and hair around my bikini line? If you don't like shaving what do you wear swimming?

OP posts:
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QuiteLikely5 · 18/04/2017 21:38

I avoid looking in that direction but personally I think it's awful. Please wear a skirt/shorts type costume!!!

brassbrass · 18/04/2017 21:38

even longer leg. Is this the style you meant Worra?

To go swimming without shaving?
greathat · 18/04/2017 21:41

wear boardshorts for bikini line. no one will look at your legs

MajesticWhine · 18/04/2017 21:41

I am very hairy. I shaved this morning just in case I had time to pop for a swim ( I didn't). It's very annoying. I don't mind waxing my legs but I can't do that to my bikini line, it causes a huge rash. I will look into getting one of these suits and then I can keep my pubes as wild and rampant as they are wont to be.

arbrighton · 18/04/2017 21:41

quitelikely

You think it's awful, so don't look. Don't dictate to someone else what they should/ shouldn't do with THEIR body or what they should wear. But, it's the natural state of the body, and a recent social convention to remove it.

If it was a man saying that to a woman, mumsnet would be outraged again

mirime · 18/04/2017 21:41

Took ds swimming a few times a couple of weeks ago, didn't shave or trim. Just getting to the pool with him was a big enough achievement as he'd been scared of it and I was too knackered to care as he's not been sleeping well.

Didn't notice anyone judging me, but I'm short-sighted so they'd have to be being very judgey for me to notice!

peaceloveandbiscuits · 18/04/2017 21:41

I don't shave or trim my undercarriage because I can't see it so am a bit saddened to see all the "I don't want to see your pubes" comments. I mean clearly they're not a fashion statement for anyone's benefit, but still.

My bathers cover my privates, but there is dark pubic hair on my thighs that wouldn't be covered by anything except shorts. Sorry my body disgusts some of you.

It makes me feel that I'm being lazy and gross by not removing body hair, but then I remember that everybody has it and as long as you're clean, there's no reason for it to be considered dirty or disgusting.

How do you feel when you see a man with a lot of dark hair on his chest etc?

Also, I don't make a habit of looking between other swimmers' legs, or at the rest of their body beyond glancing to see if I'm about to splash them or swim into them.

specialsubject · 18/04/2017 21:43

With my eyesight other swimmers are just a blur anyway. Those who inspect others crotches closely should expect to be thrown out!

MysweetAudrina · 18/04/2017 21:43

One definite advantage to wearing a burkini.

NotJustAWife · 18/04/2017 21:45

Honestly, I wouldn't do it myself but I can't imagine I would notice, let alone care about your bikini line. You do you.

Sadik · 18/04/2017 21:46

Goodness, I haven't shaved anything since I was a teenager, and my pubes fit quite comfortably in my regular style swimsuit. So long as you don't have a super high legged style, I can't imagine anything is going to stray. But as others have said, if you feel more comfortable boyleg swimsuits are very much in fashion these days, so easily obtainable.

Sadik · 18/04/2017 21:48

peaceloveandbiscuits since I would defend to the death any woman's right to wear whatever the hell she likes, I am actually rather embarrassed to confess that I much prefer to share a pool with male swimmers in jammers / shorts, rather than old fashioned teeny tiny speedos.

Cartman03 · 18/04/2017 21:49

I think hairy legs are fine but I might give a sideways glance to someone sporting a serious 'pants moustache' as they walked from the changing room.

I think the boy shorts/hotpants style is very flattering and hides even the most precocious of pubes.

TheLuminaries · 18/04/2017 21:49

Jeez there are some uptight Victorian maidens on this thread. Pubic hair is not dirty or disgusting and OP shouldn't feel the need to cover up to protect your delicate sensibilities.

Newsflash - people have body hair. Why is women's hair especially disgusting? Dump your internalised misogyny & stop judging your sisters for having better things to do than shave.

OP, ignore the bosom hoikers on this thread, it is doubtless the same lot who are revolted by toilet brushes. In the real world, no one will notice or care.

happypoobum · 18/04/2017 21:49

Sorry but I couldn't resist this

TheLuminaries · 18/04/2017 21:52

One definite advantage to wearing a burkini

There is no advantage to wearing a burkini unless you hate your own body because you have been raised in a culture that fears and hates women's bodily autonomy.

wtffgs · 18/04/2017 21:54

I will be shaving tomorrow before taking the kids swimming.

I couldn't give a rat's arse whether you shave or not (I might secretly admire you though)

I am completely controlled by the patriarchy when it comes to body hair. If you're not, more power to you woman!!

brassbrass · 18/04/2017 21:55

theluminaries to be fair men displaying their pubic hair would get the same reaction. We don't go around revealing pubic hair in everyday life no reason why we should have to see it in the swimming pool. Man or woman.

Legs no one cares about.

Closedenv · 18/04/2017 21:56

I'm with all the non-shavers. Anyone looking that closely would be a very odd individual. As for legs I used to when in my teens and hated feeling I had to, then noticed a woman (think summer chatting on grass at lunchtimes) who left her hairy legs as mother nature intended and fould new respect and finally freedom to be me! Never had any comments to my face or odd looks. People criticise others for all sorts if they feel the need to criticise hairy legs they need to get a life.

Gwenhwyfar · 18/04/2017 21:57

"I haven't shaved anything since I was a teenager, and my pubes fit quite comfortably in my regular style swimsuit. So long as you don't have a super high legged style, I can't imagine anything is going to stray."

A couple of women have said this, but it's just not true for many women. My bikini line extends way out of what is covered by a normal swimming costume, so I wear a leg suit.

Leg hair, on the other hand, can't be seen unless you're close by so nobody will notice it as you just walk from the changing room into the water.

qualityjaisket · 18/04/2017 21:58

Not my body, not my business. Makes no difference to me how little or how much hair anyone else has.

LauraMipsum · 18/04/2017 21:59

I don't shave, haven't for years, and wear an ordinary swimsuit.

Nobody's ever commented and I've not noticed anyone staring at my groin. I have occasionally had a double-take when someone's noticed that I have hair under my arms.

If anybody is repulsed and I daresay some are, they keep it to themselves.

nothercupoftea · 18/04/2017 22:15

I really don't want to see any pubic hair, male or female, wear shorts!
yuk. I know that some posters have to try to make up some kind of feminist statement about it, but nope, nothing to do with being female or male, just keep things away.

I personally don't like the look of hairy legs on women, but that's a personal choice. It's not the same

Tummelthecat · 18/04/2017 22:15

You don't have to remove part of your body to become an acceptable member of society. Don't get sucked into this judgemental crap. And if someone is judging you on that basis, it says more about them than it ever would about you.

Crapuccino · 18/04/2017 22:18

It shouldn't matter, but in the event that you're going to just feel excruciatingly "exposed" (insert better word there) then I can't recommend that triathlon style of short-leg swimsuit enough. No shaving needed. No anxieties over whether people are giving you side-eye. I agree wholeheartedly that it shouldn't matter, and you shouldn't have to, but if you don't have metaphorical rhino-hide, as I don't, then it's a neat solution.