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Original poster

How many women wax their upper and lower arms??

33 replies

plinkduet · 03/08/2011 01:06

I know someone who is always being complimented on her beautifully smooth skin on her arms and it occurred to me she might wax them to achieve that.

Do many women do this? Even if the hair is soft and fairly fine? And how does regrowth?

OP posts:
Empusa · 03/08/2011 01:10

I shave it. But then pale skin plus lots of dark hair made me look like gorilla woman.

I don't think it's very common though.

HamburgerHelper · 03/08/2011 01:29

I shave it too. But then I'm part Greek with dark hair.
If I had fine hair I wouldn't bother.

titihood · 03/08/2011 02:14

I have really fair hair so have never bothered. However, if I had dark hair I might think differently.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 03/08/2011 08:24

I have loads of fine blond hair on my lower arms as do all the women on my mums side of the family.

I waxed it once in my 20's and it was lovely and smooth, but there is no way I would be arsed to do it again.

When we first got together, dp commented on how hairy my arms were and asked if I ever felt the need to remove it, he got this face --> Hmm and has never mentioned it againGrin

Meglet · 03/08/2011 08:31

I bleach mine. Waxing would probably give me (more) in-growing hairs.

Mimmit · 03/08/2011 09:17

I used to bleach mine but my ex used to laugh at my combo of blond arm hair and dark head hair!
For ages I haven't bothered but I hate being hairy so had my arms waxed for a big party I was going to. It felt so nice and I lived wearing short sleeves.
There is a couple of days when regrowth looks a bit stubbly but I think it is worth it. If I had endless time and money I would get it done all the time!

SilveryMoon · 03/08/2011 09:19

I shave mine too.
Like Empusa I have very pale skin.
I have been shaving my arms since I was about 13!

happy2bhomely · 03/08/2011 09:51

I shave mine. I am fair with even fairer hair that 'glows' because it's so blonde. I only do it once every 6 weeks or so. I also shave my toes! (and thread my upper lip and eyebrows)

lubeybooby · 03/08/2011 10:01

I shave my lower arms - fair skin and dark hair so it really shows up otherwise.

Ephiny · 03/08/2011 12:21

I don't bother doing anything for arms, the hair on my forearms is much less noticeable than on my legs (don't know why but it just isn't as thick or dark) and as far as I know it's still socially acceptable to have a bit of hair there. I have practically no hair on my upper arms anyway.

Seems a weird thing to compliment someone on though!

uninspired · 03/08/2011 12:59

Can I ask those of you who shave your arms, does it not go stubbly and scratchy?

I epilate my forearms as they are really dark and hairy - hurts like mad the first time but less so afterwards and the hair has definitely got finer since doing it.

MizzyTizzy · 03/08/2011 13:38

I don't wax/shave/remove hair from my arms.

But...this is because although I have almost black head hair naturally, I count myself as very lucky to also have freckly skin and very blonde and fine body hair...the only drawback to this is in my natural state I look eyebrow-less! My eyebrow hairs are also fine and blonde! Confused

SilveryMoon · 03/08/2011 19:01

uninspired I do mine every 3/4 days so doesn't ever have a chance to go all stubbly and scratchy.

aquos · 03/08/2011 19:08

Wow. Hair removal on arms. Never realised people did it and I'm about to start training as a beautician. Shows I've got a lot to learn.

toutlemonde · 03/08/2011 19:28

I use an epilator - fab invention

SiamoFottuti · 03/08/2011 19:30

another wow, never ever heard of such a thing. Is it one of those can't stop after you start thingies?

SixtyFootDoll · 03/08/2011 19:34

I draw the line at arm hair removal. I have loads of arm hair that luckily goes fair in summer.
I like my hairy arms, someone once told me it was a sighn of strength. I like that.

SilveryMoon · 03/08/2011 19:34

It's not really any hassle shaving arms, and I do it alot more often than legs!
i forgot that I didn't tell dp I do it, so when he first walked into the bathroom whilst I was halfway through (4 years after getting together), his face was a picture!

DirtyMartini · 03/08/2011 21:24

Shock I had no idea people did this either. Not criticising, just surprised (partly at myself for never realizing)

MrsSchadenfreude · 03/08/2011 21:27

I don't have any hair on my arms. Or the tops of my legs. And never until recently, realised it was such an issue for some people. Blush

Soups · 03/08/2011 22:02

For the last few years I've been doing my arms with an epilator. In the autumn and spring I may do my forearms every so often, in summer more likely to do the upper also, particularly before our summer holiday. I'm not that fussed if I don't do them properly or keep them hairless. The regrowth doesn't bother me because it's fine, gradual, and not stubbly. For some reason I don't get ingrown hairs on my arms? My head hair is light brown with redish hints, my leg hair is always dark, my arm hair is always blond! I do have quite a bit of fine, fluffy, blond hair on my arms tho.

It seems an odd thing to compliment someone on! I don't notice hair on other peoples arms.

SilveryMoon · 03/08/2011 22:17

I've never had an ingrown hair on my arms either and I've been shaving for 16 years.

SarkySpanner · 03/08/2011 22:32

Fecking hell. The things I've learned on MN :)

hellymelly · 03/08/2011 22:37

I never knew that anyone depilated arm hair! Can honestly say I've never seen a woman so hirsute that arm hair removal would seem sensible.Is that because they've all removed it?!

violetwellies · 03/08/2011 22:42

Good Lord, and I can't believe anyone would want to, but then there's 12 weeks worth of growth on my legs :)