Embracing body hair...has anyone else done this?

[HelenThatsHisWilly]

I am mixed race (white and Asian), with mid brown skin and dark hair. I have shaved my legs, arms and underarms since puberty. I am getting fed up with the daily shaving and a big part of me wants to let it all grow....f**k your media-fuelled ideal body image crap etc...but I don't know if I have the balls. Has anyone else (especially dark haired women/women with lots of body hair) done this? How have you felt, and have you had reactions, either positive or negative, from anyone? Thanks

I haven't shaved in about 4 years. At first it felt liberating but now I barely notice! Think I'd resent the time it takes if I ever took it up again! Unless you routinely go around pointing it out to people, I've found no one really notices or cares :)

Thanks! Can I ask if you're dark haired/skinned?

Dark haired and pale skinned so it really does show up, particularly my armpits. Still most don't notice, but then I don't spend a lot of time waving my arms about and don't wear skirts massively often :)

I tried stopping a few years ago. But my legs felt uncomfortable in tights/leggings and I don't think deoderant/antiperspirant worked so well on me with hairy armpits as I was a lot sweatier under the arms. I felt that fat, spotty, sweaty AND hairy was not a good look and I looked more unkempt than liberated. If I was better sized and dressed, I think it wouldn't have looked quite so slovenly. If the rest of you looks great, then definitely try stopping!

Try regular waxing so you don't have to shave daily. It really does slow hair growth and eventually it thins out a lot and stops growing. I don't think hairy would ever be a good look, sorry.

I'm not very dark but only shave as and when required.

Ie if I'm going out and wearing a short dress etc.

My armpits, after a couple of weeks growth I do t feel so clean so do them about that often.

I've never had any negative comments from men about my body hair.

It could be an unremarkable look if more people stopped shaving. I'm not particularly hairy, but some of my hairier friends spend so much time and effort removing hair! They resent it but they don't feel they have a choice. I think it's a shame. Men can have hairy bodies so why can't women?

I'm pale skinned and dark haired, and have PCOS which makes it all a bit more - I rarely bother with hair removal; I've grown up with hairy arms, I shave my armpits maybe once a month, the legs only get done if the hair gets long enough that it catches in leggings/tights. I do pluck the occasional 'beard' hair, but don't bother with my 'moustache' - I haven't noticed anyone reacting to it, and I think I would happily shrug it off/give them a lecture on PCOS and body-shaming etc if anyone did say anything.

As PPs have said; it's not actually that often that people would get a chance to see that I've not shaved my pits/legs. Plus I'm a little bit more 'outlandish' than others, so they're probably not surprised given the rest of my look.

Do whatever you feel comfortable doing - and remember; it's only hair. If you let it grow and then decide you don't like it, you can go back to shaving without any issues. You get to call the shots.