Is shaving your arms a thing now?

[chubbymummy]

In the last week I've noticed two women I know with perfectly hair free arms. Do people shave their arms now? I've never noticed this before and although I'm now trying to look at everybody's arms to see if this is common place I'm thwarted by the fact that everybody else has been wearing long sleeves. How long has this been going on? Am I committing a huge social faux pas with my hairy arms?
Where else do people shave now? I just whiz the razor over my lower legs (perhaps a full leg if I'm going on holiday), arm pits and a tidy up of the bikini line (tried the all off thing and it was itchy as hell!!!). I'll also do my big toes if they sprout a couple of hairs.
I have my tash waxed occasionally, when I'm getting my brows done but should I be getting the rest of my face done too?
I'm now really paranoid that I look like a yeti.

I just always think it looks really odd/ ruins an otherwise ‘polished’ image when you see girls with hairy arms.

. But I certainly don’t judge people for not doing it!

You just did.

I'm afraid facial/body hair is in the same bracket as BO. Out of respect for your fellow humans, please deal with it

Odfo.

What the fuck harm is my body hair doing to you? If it repulses you then it’s your problem, not mine. You can not look. Or stay in.

Why don’t men remove their body and fcial hair “out of respect for their fellow humans”?

Do you also insist your oh shaves all of his body and facial hair?

I feel oddly defensive of the hairy armed now! I might stop getting rid of mine in solidarity. There’s fuck all wrong or ungroomed or whatever with a bit of natural arm hair. We’re all different colours with different hair types and quantities, this is just a part of that.

My arms look quite similar to that picture of Elizabeth Taylor (except I have freckles too). It's never crossed my minds to shave them, I like them just the way they are. But then I've never really understood the appeal of shaving. When I've shaved my legs in the past I've never thought they looked any better afterward so really not worth the hassle.

* I threw up a little in my own mouth and had to leave.* Seriously?

I shave my arms. My first boyfriend took the piss out of my hairy arms (not very thick hair - it’s not something I had noticed before, fine but dark) and I responded by shaving them. The things you do as an awkward teen.

But now I have to keep shaving them, if I don’t - my arms look like puckered hairy chicken skin, even after just a couple hours. It’s gross.

Silver lining: my daughter is starting to get self conscious about body hair. So I show her my arms when they are poultrified and say: “look, you get 3 hours of hair free arms and then you get this disgusting outcome. Don’t shave your arms.”

I’m blonde but my Asian friends when I was younger used some sort of abrasive paper you rub in little circles and removed the hair.
Anyone know what this was called?

I shave my arms. Have done for years. I have very dark hair and it’s very obvious, and I don’t like it much. So I take it off.

I would bleach / wax / shave my arm hairs if my arms were visibly hairy - I can fully understand why someone would do this.

As it happens I have blonde fine hairs on my arms and so don’t feel the need

It’s a shame that we can’t embrace our hair wherever it grows but the judgement from others makes all but the most stalwart reluctant to do this

I have natural dark hair but my arm hair is fine and not that noticeable - maybe an anomaly? Considered it years ago but am glad I didn’t as my legs etc are enough of a faff.

I think I missed the memo me too!

Never realised this was a thing, who on earth has the time or inclination?!

I have pale skin and dark hair but it is quite soft. I quite like my arm hair and often lament the fact that I started shaving my legs so early, as otherwise they would probably still be soft and wispy like my arms.

I don't mind shaving my legs as they are not on display all the time so I can go a few days without shaving, but arms are on display every day! Surely stubbly arms look/feel really weird?!

Mine are quite noticeably hairy and I have never had a single comment from anyone about it.

I tried epilating my arms once and Thy just felt cold afterwards. I’m pale and my hair is dark but not thick, I’m really not bothered anymore.

I don't get the panic about hair. Never heard of people shaving arms, but I can hardly be bothered to shave my legs either.

I started shaving my arms when I started shaving my legs as a teen. I didn't see the difference between arms and legs! A friend did think it was odd.

I wouldn't epilate my pubes though that's unhygienic.

I did as a teen but I don't see the need unless you are extremely self conscious.
Body hair is normal and pale face hair gives many women a beautiful glow.

After having multiple people take the piss / make comments about hairy arms I finally went and had them waxed at 18, kept waxing for a few years then swapped to an epilator. Been removing arm hair for 18 years now. My mum has also been doing hers with an epilator for well over 25 years.

People are cruel when you don't fit into the 'perfect body' mould.

The only body hair I deal with on a regular basis is the hair on my chinny chin chin (thank you PCOS). My underarms and legs I deal with on an as and when basis, the underarms probably more often than the legs. In the winter when I'm all bundled up I barely bother at all, this is what opaque tights and leggings were invented for . I don't do the foof at all, I might trim it back occassionally but I don't shave it. I did it once as a teen and the itching while it was growing back was horrendous. I'd rather have a full on bush than deal with that again. I know a couple of girls who shaved their arms as a teen but I don't know anyone who does it now and I certainly don't bother.

I do.

I have PCOS and am possibly part wookie. My arms are naturally more hairy than most blokes and dark thick hair too.

It takes two minutes and is just part of my morning routine.

I shave my arms. I felt so self conscious of them as I had long dark hairs I just feel better with smooth arms. It takes less than minute to do and I don't get dark stubble.

It's just personal choice isn't it.

It's just personal choice isn't it.

Not really. It’s one of those “choices” we make under pressure from others. We make the choice based on what others think or might think, probably more so than our own genuine feelings.

Just read this thread- the majority who do shave do so because of comments others have made, or because they feel others will judge them for their hairiness.

The comments about feeling sick or hairy arms being equivalent to BO- it’s our social responsibility not to offend people.

I very much doubt it’s ever a choice made for it’s own sake.

It’s just hair. I shave lower legs and armpits. If people have a problem with my arm hair they can get the hell over it.

I have quite hairy arms and I think they look very nice thank you! I do shave lower legs and armpits, but I am actually quite worried that the societal push towards people being hair free is a fetishisation of a child like look, and not something to be encouraged.

I've had a hectic couple of days and no working Internet so I've only just caught up with all of the replies.
I'm genuinely surprised at how many women shave their arms. It seems to be about 50% judging by this thread. I must have been walking round with my eyes closed.
In all honesty I'm a bit lax about shaving my legs, underarms and bikini line so I'm not keen on adding arms into the mix. Defuzzing takes me ages, I'm a larger lady so there's a lot of surface area to cover. I'd rather have an extra 20 minutes in bed.
I suppose I might start whizzing the razor over my arms if I'm going out for a special occasion.

I suppose I might start whizzing the razor over my arms if I'm going out for a special occasion.

Why? Because a few people on the internet say you should?

If it has never occurred to you before is it really that much of an issue you need to start?

Fuck it. Do it if you want to, and it doesn’t sound like you do.

@chubbymummy I think it's much rarer than 50%! Look at all the women saying "blimey, never even heard of that before!" - it's just that your title has mostly attracted women who do.