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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIB to ask if many men shave their armpits?

25 replies

frenchchickspits · 09/08/2020 08:45

Is it common for men to shave their armpits? Is it common for teenage boys to want to shave their armpits?
Does armpit hair harbour bacteria?

OP posts:

SoonToBeMrs91 · 09/08/2020 08:47

All hair harbours bacterial. Armpit hair is bad for it. My husband shaves his armpits, especially during summer.

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 09/08/2020 08:48

I don’t think it’s common and I don’t think it particularly harbours bacteria, certainly not in a harmful way. In fact it probably has some benefit to health, just like pubic hair does.

SerenDippitty · 09/08/2020 08:48

So why isn’t good enough to wash it every day as with the hair on your head?

SnuggyBuggy · 09/08/2020 08:49

I find it uncomfortable so it wouldn't surprise me if some men did too

Gobbycop · 09/08/2020 08:51

I don't shave it but every once in a while it gets trimmed while I'm clippering my hair.

Having stubble there would be horrible so no shaving here.

MonsteraCheeseplant · 09/08/2020 08:52

I've never knowingly met a man who does. I totally wouldn't blame them though.

isabellerossignol · 09/08/2020 08:53

If underarm hair is as unhygienic as society has convinced women it is, then men would all smell terrible. They don't though.

And yes, I do shave under my arms if I'm wearing something sleeveless, because I feel that it's expected and I'm not brave enough to buck the trend. It's not a hygiene issue, it's a vanity issue.

SquigglePigs · 09/08/2020 08:55

DH does in the summer but less often in colder months. He says he feels cleaner and fresher when it's hot without the hair.

piscean10 · 09/08/2020 08:55

From what I've seen its common. My dh does it.

thedevilinablackdress · 09/08/2020 08:56

None that I've ever known. How did we get conned into this one? When did women's armpit hair become unacceptable?
(I know it's shifting a little the other way now)

Tinyhumansurvivalist · 09/08/2020 08:57

And with any hair in enclosed sweaty places on the body, armpit hair can harbour bacteria if not washed daily (or more in this weather). The smell is masked by deodorant.

My exh used to shave his with hair clippers (prevents the itchy stubble regrowth) as he had VERY hairy pits. I had to shave his back and chest too...he was a very hair monster and used to get very uncomfortable in warm weather as it would itch and get very sweaty.

I think as with anything it is personal preference

SimonJT · 09/08/2020 08:58

I do, well I tend to wax them so I don’t get stubble pits.

Armpit hair is no more smelly than head hair, or the hairs on your actual arms, legs etc.

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 09/08/2020 08:59

Maybe I’m old fashioned but I would think it a bit weird and not very attractive if men shaved under the arms. Same as if they shaved their legs. Unless you’re a professional cyclist or swimmer etc.

All personal tats though I guess.

Ditto what isabelle said: I only shave as I worry what people would think, I’m getting a bit braver though.

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 09/08/2020 09:00

tats = taste

FizzyPink · 09/08/2020 09:03

DP does but he has Afro hair and plays sport for a living. He says it’s itchy when he gets sweaty. He also removes the hair at the top of his legs under his shorts and most of his pubes but I think that’s purely for aesthetic reasons as he gets funny about having sex if he hasn’t had a trim recently

FishOnPillows · 09/08/2020 09:05

My DP trims his armpit hair very short with clippers. He said it’s because he used to find that no matter how much he washed he couldn’t get rid of the smell of BO - it seemed like the hairs just kept the smell. Same with his pubic hair.

Xiaoxiong · 09/08/2020 09:08

DH doesn't shave, but then has to use antiperspirant. I do shave because I don't want to use antiperspirant on my skin - it was giving me these cysts with the antiperspirant gunge inside. I switched to natural deodorant but it works better on shaved skin. I don't give a shit what people think either way, I had hairy pits for years in the winter anyway (too hot in summer).

Pinkchocolate · 09/08/2020 09:09

I don’t know any male who shaves their armpit hair.

DrDreReturns · 09/08/2020 09:09

No I don't. Never occurred to me. I wash every day though so they don't smell.

HotPatootiebootie · 09/08/2020 09:14

Hair wicks sweat away from the skin, it's actually there for a purpose. Yes you need to wash daily to get rid of bacteria but my husband has never once shaved his armpits and they are just tropical arm pits. He only uses a salt rock as different after a shower and it works by inhibiting the bacterial growth. He never ever smells bad. I don't stage my arm outs at all although I am very fair and my arm putts are not very hairy..... in a 40 year old on a beach holiday right now and have no shame in not shaving my arm put hair. A few people have done a double glance but I just maintain eye contact and smile at them. Nobody has say says anything ( and that is for the best as I go from zero to racing feminist in 0.2 seconds)

HotPatootiebootie · 09/08/2020 09:15

Tropical 😂. Or I could have meant TYPICAL🤦🏼‍♀️

ghostmous3 · 09/08/2020 09:30

My dp used too

hadley222 · 09/08/2020 09:32

I am a man. I don't.

SerenDippitty · 09/08/2020 09:37

@HotPatootiebootie

Tropical 😂. Or I could have meant TYPICAL🤦🏼‍♀️

I did wonder if he had palm trees growing there!

Pinkyandthebrainz · 09/08/2020 09:43

It's very common now. Most men I have dated shaved their armpits, ages ranging from 20s to 40s.

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