To shave or not?

[Sparklybutold]

So I'm pretty au natural but notice it does influence what I wear if I'm out, especially armpit hair. With the weather currently replicating what it must feel like to live in a volcano...

Do you wear what you want regardless of hair to skin ratio?

Do you judge others if they're au natural?

I wished I had the confidence to just wear what I want when I want regardless of hair status. I couldn't care less about other Womens hair coverage but have a different criteria for myself?

I'd notice but I wouldn't care. Up to you if you want hairy pits. I don't and that's my business.

I never shave, only trim. I think 'bald' legs and armpits look silly.

Basically every man goes around with hair (okay, a few men do shave armpits). Why should you, as a woman, be any different? We're the same species, all mammals.

I have to shave because despite daily showers and anti perspirant I will sweat and smell if I don’t. I need to shave down below too for that reason and that it is so much cooler shaved! It is going to be 36-7c here (103-4f) here today!

@AllThingsServeTheBeam nope, hence why I never said that

Was merely asking what on earth that poster was on about, how does saying hairy armpits make sweat marks worse = not hairy armpits leave no sweat marks

Honestly how some on this site manage day to day with such a poor grasp on written English baffles me

I prefer the smooth look. But if things get a bit prickly I don’t fret.

I feel like I'm not allowed to say this because everyone will go mad but.. my immediate thought would be that that person probably doesn't look after themselves and probably smells.

I actually don't mean that in a nasty way. It is just genuinely the thought that would pass my mind for a split second.

I wore see through tights today and my legs need shaving so probably wasn't a good idea. Haha. You could actually see the hairs. However I couldn't care less if anyone noticed.

But I do shave and I will soon.

I stopped shaving my pits when I was about 25, and I get less smelly now than when I used to shave (I read a paper a while ago that showed this is because the hair draws the sweat away from the skin, which makes the conditions less favourable for bacteria to reproduce). Like you though I do think twice about wearing vest tops, sleeveless dresses etc exactly because I think I will be judged by the likes of hoohaaar

I've never shaved my legs though, and don't give a monkey's about what anyone else thinks about that. For reference, I'm dark haired and fair skinned so it's very obvious that I'm hairy 😂(Don't shave my nethers either, but nobody ever sees them to judge !!)

I must be a freak of nature because I find shaved armpits and (on the one or two occasions I have ventured into it) a bald undercarriage feel much more sweaty and clammy. I hate my fat upper arms so never go sleeveless so literally never have to worry about shaving armpits.

Do you think that about every man with body hair? Or is it just female leg hair that stinks?

Armpits are shaved. Legs are not, but I don't have hairy legs anyway.

I must be in the minority as I always shave and wouldn't wear sleeveless tops/skirts/swimsuits if everything wasn't groomed.

But that's just me and I wouldn't judge other's decisions (but I would notice).

Some men do shave, I can report from a summer of promiscuity. I find a stubbly chest and shoulders... odd.

Well it's ok to be completely wrong about things

You are wrong though that shaved pits don't sweat or leave marks.

I noticeable sweat different with hair. For the better.

I am 51 and think if I don't shave pits and legs people will think I've let myself go.
I shave if they will be seen.
This doesn't really align with how I live in general but hey ho.

I have two teenage dds who don't shave - I am impressed that they make their own choices and their peers seem to be very 'live and let live' about each other.

The fact that body hair retains moisture means that less of that moisture gets on to your clothes. The hair, rather than your top, is absorbing it. So yes, you’re right @AllThingsServeTheBeam.

All the hygiene-based arguments for shaving body hair are pretty much just made up by beauty companies to kid women into thinking they’re disgusting if they don’t do it, or made up BY women so they can kid themselves into thinking they shave because it’s hygienic, rather than admitting that they just like to conform to beauty standards. Same with shaving your minge. There’s always someone who insists it’s more hygienic. It isn’t.

Personally, I always shave legs and pits, for the sole reason that I think it looks nicer on me. I’m not sure really notice whether other people do, generally, but I’d think nothing of it if I did notice. Their choice.

Tbh I can't lift my arms up (RA) so no one can see them anyway and my leg hair is blonde

This is actually quite funny. I know several people who get the works - eyelashes, get their nails done, spray tan and diet etc only to sleep around and drink heavily - I would consider that behaviour to characterise not looking after yourself. On the other hand, I don't get any beauty treatments, eat healthily, in a stable relationship, don't drink and yet I'M the one who doesn't look after myself because I don't shave?? 😂

Absolutely this. I definitely noticed more sweat patches and marks on my tops when I shaved my pits regularly.

Ooh, I like the sound of one of those summers!

I shave legs and armpits, wax bikini. That is my personal preference. I don't make opinion on other people's body hair. It's a choice and also none of my business

Oh so you mean that they smell and do t look after themselves in a NICE way