Hairy armpits - liberating or gross?

[SausageCrush]

As I'm unable to go swimming at the moment I haven't bothered/been able to keep up with many of my usual beauty/maintenance routines.

For the first time in my life I now sport long underarm hair and am quite fascinated by it! It's very unfashionable in England, but I like it. What are your experiences..?

I'm tempted to keep it and wondering wha

Neither, I’m not really bothered what people do with their own hair as long as they don’t feel they can judge others who don’t do the same. I often go long periods without shaving mine but it’s not a statement, it’s just hair. If it’s particularly hot and I feel a bit sweaty I might shave them or I might just shower more often and put a bit more antiperspirant on. Each to their own

So is it gross on men too? They manage not to smell despite not shaving (unless they do). Personally I feel more sticky and smell more when I shave, but sometimes I do shave. Depends how I'm feeling really. 🤷‍♀️

I don't want to be close to anyone who smells. If that means practicing better hygiene or shaving, it doesn't matter what sex they are

That's fair Worra but you said it wasn't gross - I just wondered if all those who say "ew, armpit hair, smelly and disgusting!" hold men to the same standards as themselves/other women?

I shave mine off because otherwise it is more sweaty with the hair. It's just more comfortable for me to get rid of it. Only have to shave once a week so its not a big deal. Plus I don't get any bad reactions to shaving like some women do which is lucky.

I don't get how not shaving can be liberating though. If you're feeling that controlled by society then you've got bigger issues really. Chances are you are thinking WAY more about what other people possibly think of you, and they will have given a second or two of their thoughts before moving onto the next thing they see. Another random person in the street is unlikely to notice unless you tell them. Just ignore the other people and carry on with your life. Those that do make comments? They have incredibly dull and unfulfilling lives. Hence why they need to comment on something so stupid. Pity them, don't be worried about what they think.

I remember a distant fashionable family member visiting from Italy when I was a teenager. She would have been about 25 and was made up, beautiful and sported a full bush of dark underarm hair. I was totally fascinated as had never ever seen women before with underarm hair. I wonder if it's more normal in other countries.

Its abit rude to say that people who smell don't wash everyday! I shower every morning, deodorant, clean bra/top everyday and then bath in the evening. Even with all that I can still smell on a hot day. Some people are just more smelly than others!

Both..?
I don't care about body hair on other people.
I would like everyone to be allowed naturally furry legs, though, without anyone caring. There's nothing gross about hairy legs ever, but not accepted anyway.

With or without the hair you sweat the same amount (although the hair may lead to better cooling )

So how can it be dirtier to have the hair than not? Either you wash the stale sweat from your armpits or you don't . People with hairy armpits are not allergic to the shower.

I prefer to shave mine but that’s just my preference. If I saw another woman with a hairy armpit I wouldn’t bat much of an eyelid.

Having hair is not necessarily dirty than without but some of us are saying that for us, we find we smell more with hair. Everybody/ every body is different.

I like to sometimes wax them and sometimes let them go natural

Having them hairy reminds me of the flower power movement and makes me feel like a hippy or German I also felt really empowered the first time I realised that the sight of my hair didn’t upset me or make me uncomfortable anymore

I personally like to wax them for the most part though, but that’s because I am a very hairy person so I sweat a lot and removing the hair definitely helps me keep odour under control

I used to have lot of hair and despite a very good hygiene and various deodorants, I still smelled especially during the summer. My hair was also thick and black and painful to wax (typical Mediterranean dark hair on fair skin), so I has it lasered. Best money I ever spent. It's much easier to manage now; my father shaves his armpits as well as he has the same issues I had.

I think people who have very little hair and are very fair don't need to shave and sometimes do not understand how difficult it is being so hairy.

I can't say I care what other people do.

I don't shave mine because I feel much more clean and comfortable, and less sweaty, with hair. I know that's not the same for everyone but I smell noticeably less and feel much drier with hair. I don't get sweat patches under my arms on a hot day, which I used to when I shaved. I suppose the sweat is sitting in the hair but that's much easier to clean than clothes! I feel quite unpleasant and sort of clammy with no hair.

A cautionary tale though: the other day I shaved my legs for the first time in about a year and promptly got sunburned shins. Do not underestimate the protective nature of a year's worth of pelt.

Iv let mine grow as usually get waxed. They are quite sparse tbh. But threw head yesterday and.did a shave as they were getting long

It's just hair.

I get sweatier and stickier when I have just shaved than when I am hairy, so I don't really understand people saying the opposite. But there you go.

I’m another one who feels sweatier without hair.

It’s like my antiperspirant doesn’t work as well.

Gross.
I started to use an epilator many years ago, on my legs and underarms.
This has really reduced the re-growth. I seldom have to do anything at all to my underarms and all my legs need is a quick pluck with tweezers every couple of months.
I am an olive skinned brunette!

I don't like body hair anywhere - I even shave my head - so, no: armpit hair is not for me.

But it's all a matter of personal taste, at the end of the day

I quite like it. If I wasn't in a relationship I'd definitely stop shaving mine, but I would not be brave enough for it to be seen by others.

Neither

Just normal and wouldn't notice

I thought that body hair was for wicking away sweat not trapping it?

I don't think it looks particularly odd, but on me, personally, I hate hate hate how it feels, so I shave it for that reason. My legs tend to go longer without a shave because I can't really feel them so if doesn't bother me, although once I start wearing shorter clothes I give them a shave; if others don't I can't say I notice to be honest.

I rarely remove any body hair.
Pit armchair is absolutely fine.

DH also likes it.

Armchair? Hahaha