Anyone stopped shaving completely? I want to but worried by other reactions.

[alexoutthere]

I really want to stop shaving altogether, I'm feed up with whole thing and not sure why I do it anyway! I have quite dark, thick hair which needs sorting out every other day on my legs and underarms if I want to be smooth. This winter I haven't shaved for a few weeks and the result is very obvious dark hairy legs and very bushy armpits! I don't have a problem with how they look and have enjoyed not having to spend all that time dealing with shaving. But we are nearing spring and and I know my legs and underarms will be exposed once again so I face the dilemma of what to do. I've talked to my OH about it and he is actually quite supportive and says he quite likes my o-naturel look and says I should go for it!
So has anyone else embraced their hairiness and just let it go - I would be interested in other peoples experiences and what reactions they had, if any!

I think leaving the armpits is fine / leaving the bush is fine.
Not the legs in summer though...

Not quite the same thing but today I saw a woman with exceptionally hairy arms. My first thought? Fair play to her for not bowing down to the notion that women are all smooth and not spending as ime and money (which I assume she didn’t want to spend) on hair free maintenance.

I wax legs and shave underarms. My DD who is quite dark-haired does neither and is quite happy not to.

I'm pleased that she feels comfortable and wonder if this maybe signals a change in some Young girls perception of what's acceptable hair-wise.

I have quite hairy forearms. The hair is fine - l’ve never even thought about removing that! I work with lots of young people ( lm 46) and they seem to think any body hair is abhorrent! I think that is a shame.

I really don't think people notice that much. I swim a lot and can't be bothered with it...really no one is checking out my legs and I am dark haired. I think it is harder in a professional context, I wear trousers for work, but would perhaps be surprised by a suit skirt and ungroomed legs, but then I find it weird how at work women are down to sleeveless tops and bare legs in summer, but men are still in trousers and ties.
Just do what you like op, no one cares that much and if they did i doubt they say anything.

I like to keep armpits hairless as I do think that hair traps any sweat and makes them smell a bit more. Don't bother about the rest, but I wear jeans all the time, even in summer, and don't have lots of hair.

But there are longer lasting methods of removing hair nowadays. I used to wax legs and bikini line which lasted about 6 weeks. There are also creams like this which I would try if I wanted to be hair free more of the time.

Haven't shaved in about five years. Honestly? Nobody notices. I've had the occasional stare at the swimming pool because it's unusual to see a woman with armpit hair but for 99.99% of the time, the only person conscious of it was me, for the first few months, and now I don't notice it either.

I don't smell, as I shower daily and use deodorant - hair wicks moisture away from the skin anyway. Plus I don't get ingrown hairs or shaving rash or have to worry about visible stubble any more. It's liberating!

Brand-new poster with a fave perv topic? Whodathoughtit!

I wouldn't have thought discussing leg hair and underarm hair could be considered pervy?

Everyone owns their own body; Everyone should follow their preference. I’m not sure what you’re hoping for from the thread OP.

I am pale as anything with very dark hair all over and I don’t bother. My body so mine is the only opinion that counts.

I don't shave most of the time and no one comments. I swim daily before work and no-one has recoiled in horror. I prefer having hairy armpits to not now. I did shave them for a posh party at Christmastime but I also wore makeup and nail varnish so I really was pushing the boat out! Haven't done any of that since.

Legs I don't shave between September and May (except for posh Christmas parties!). I have quite fine hair and did consider just bleaching it last summer but that would be more expensive and more hassle than my fortnightly shave.

I don't shave at all over winter. It's not that bad - I'm blonde though and my hair isn't thick at all.

I find shaving underarm hair helps control body odour

No-one notices. I was so sure I'd be stared at, but no-one gave a shit.

Even if they did, I realised, what does it matter - the hairy backed blokes at the gym don't give it a second thought, so I won't either.

Women at my exercise class are much braver than me and don’t shave legs or armpits and I think it looks nice! I haven’t quite managed it myself though.

I don't shave anything. It's a total waste of money, and it leaves me with a terrible rash, ingrown hairs, and it makes my eczema flare up.

My partner isn't bothered by it, although he prefers smooth legs. I'm not prepared to go through weeks of red, inflamed, sore and itchy legs for anybody. Shaving doesn't make you cleaner, smell less, or more desirable.

My grandmother never shaved once, it's purely a fashion thing designed quite recently to make us part with money.

I've never really had any comments on it in. My mother makes her apparent disgust and embarrassment, but that's just who she is as a person, if you don't do exactly as she does then you're a terrible human being. My ex once told me people stared and laughed at my legs and I was an embarrassment but that was him making shit up to try and control me, nobody ever did that.

I've been swimming, worn shorts on holiday, been to the spa, hospital appointments etc etc. Nobody cares, they have no reason to, why would anybody waste time and energy worrying about somebody else's leg hair

I don't shave unless I'm going bare legged in summer. Mind you I have about 10 hairs under my arm pits.

If you get more pleasure stroking your hairy self than your shaved self then the answer is obvious, surely?