Hairy legs

[TiggersLikeToBounce]

This is me. I hate shaving, waxing etc. It irritates my skin. I hate the way Gillette 100 plus years ago advertised us to shave. He made millions...
But! I am still embarrassed to show my hair in public...why?

I assume everyone here is modern, too, but I suppose I shouldn't discount the possibility of time-travelling ancient Romans

The poster you are being unnecessarily snippy and rude to was making the point that hair removal has been a thing for a very long time. I think it was a relevant point.

Look up Sean Connery's and Tom Jones' hairy chests from the 60s ad 70s!

Ugh- I find very hairy men really unattractive; actually more than just unattractive. Connery and Jones are positively repulsive.

I wonder if I would dare to tell men with beards I found them disgusting? Actually, I would not; because I do not find beards or mustaches or hair on men disgusting

I would not say so but it depends on the beard or moustache- some are disgusting.

I trim my nasal hair and sometimes get my eyebrows trimmed by my barber. I also use Veet on my (extremely) hairy back and trim my pubes/armpit hair with a clipper - the latter is also because it's much easier to apply deodorant with short armpit hair and not just because it looks horrid curling out forward my chest. I also trim my sideburns between haircuts as they get bushy and go grey, and I have to shave my neck as a 'neckbeard' isn't a good look.

I'm not a 'fancy' type either despite what the above might make you think. I'm frequently asked if I play rugby.

I said hairy armpits make me queasy. I would not say it to a woman not because she is a woman but because it is rude. Some men have very unattractive body hair patterns i still wouldnt say. Very rarely that i see a guy who looks good bearded, some look awful i wouldnt say that out loud to them either. I have openly given my opinion about a guy asking about his beard which did not suit him...some beards are disgusting like that big guy in harry potter.

I'm seeing the words "unattractive", "repulsive" and "disgusting" referring to people's completely natural bodies. I'm sorry to be seeing that here (though I would not call it "disgusting"). Nobody can tell anyone what to find pleasant to look at, but I don't like the idea that apart from some basic hygiene (which does NOT include shaving of anything) anyone needs to spend time and money fixing up their body to suit anyone else's taste.

I've dated some very hairy men, some who maintain the hairiness and some who let it grow wild and free. I don't mind either way, and tend to have the attitude of "it's your body, do what makes you comfortable". My current bf did grow a full beard because I once mentioned I like bearded men (and he looks amazing tbf).

I completely understand and approve of the feminist arguments against shaving, and I myself don't shave on a regular basis, but when dating someone I do take into consideration my other half's preferences, just as he does mine. I wouldn't date someone who preferred a "bald" woman, though. I don't like how I look with no pubes and wouldn't actually feel attractive.

I must admit I’m quite impressed there’s been a debate about body hair without anyone referencing “pre-pubescent”!

Having a preference is, of course, acceptable. I do find it telling though that a PP finds women with hair “disgusting” but men without “unattractive”. Perfect example of the different societal pressures right there.

Thanks @PhilbricksCat
Fashions for hair, thickness, curliness, placement, colour, change through time. And there’s no accounting for taste then and now.

The modern dilemma of whether to shave, pluck, wax, thread is facilitated by modern /indoor plumbing and public health measures like having fresh potable water and soap almost freely available.

In past times, when water wasn’t so freely available, there were many instances of complete hair removal with wax and threads.

Unlike most European peoples in ancient times and the Middle Ages, Vikings bathed once a week, and were very popular as a result!!

PhilbricksCat I would find beards with food in them disgusting but that's about the food not the beard. Also would apply to bodily hair!!

TeiTetua I agree.

I quite like a hairy woman sometimes There's something earthy and primal and sexy about it. And you can stroke it. It's like you've got a cute furry rodent living in your armpit…

Re-posting my absolutely favourite comment on this thread. I laughed out loud with recognition when I read it, because I feel exactly the same way. Thank you, LastMichaelmas!

I don't like the idea that apart from some basic hygiene (which does NOT include shaving of anything) anyone needs to spend time and money fixing up their body to suit anyone else's taste.

Most men would look positively feral after a few weeks if they didn't shave at all. Of course it's societal conditioning telling us this isn't desirable, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that the vast majority of women wouldn't find it attractive in the slightest.

Im really delighted to read about stacey soloman!

I go through through phases with armpits. I find it quite sexy on women but feel very self conscious when I grow mine.

I always shave my legs in summer ( less often in winter). I like to wear skirts - knee length. I just like them smooth, and I also use a tanning lotion on them when i first 'get my legs out' as the summer approaches. I paint my toe nails too. Love my feet! You'll find me in fit-flops from April/May until early October. It is a matter of aesthetics for me.

I didn’t shave my legs for a couple of years as a student, for feminist reasons mainly, but I found the skin on my shins got quite dry and and uncomfortable, especially in winter. Moisturising didn’t seem to be as effective through the hair.

I eventually got fed up and shaved them again, and after all that time it felt so fantastic having them smooth that I’ve kept doing it ever since (am now mid forties).

I don’t know if I’d be embarrassed to show hairy legs now. I wasn’t back then, but tbf I was 19. I am now older, larger and have more visible veins ... so I don’t really love getting my legs out regardless.

I haven’t shaved in 13 years except my head!
I trim my pubic hair where my labia meet because it makes for better oral sex and I trim the dry ends of my arm pit hair. I use a conditioner with beeswax designed for afros on my leg/armpit and pubic hair it keeps it soft and lovely.

I love my body hair and I don’t give a fuck who doesn’t.

It took a while to get to that point and I wasn’t really there until after my daughter was born. I was determined to normalise it for her.

I wear short skirts, bikinis on the beach (I’m a size 20,) go to kink nights where it’s all on show. I never ever cover up.

I love the way fresh sweat smells in my arm pit hair and I love to bury my face in my partners pheromone filled hairy arm pits during sex (No embarrassed face here I have much freakier kinks than that!)

I generally have found that my girlfriends stop shaving after being with me a while.
A combination of me being honest about loving it (while being very clear it is their choice and I want them to do what feels right) and seeing me out and about and owning it and nothing drastic happening.

Only once have I been abused about it. As a a hot 20 year old in men’s shorts and para boots, a couple of balding, overweight, sweaty bankers in ill fitting suits who were sat two rows behind me on the bus started talking loudly about how it was disgusting.

I looked them up and down as I left and said ‘I bet you wished I gave a fuck what you old, ugly fucks thought’

Not a way I would usually speak to people but justified in the circumstances I feel.

My skin is olive coloured with black hair... obvious from two rows away on the bus.

I chose to journey to shake of the internalised shame and love my body, hair and all.
It certainly doesn’t hold my love life back.
I am poly, I currently have 2 male and 1 female sexual partner and no time for more! I often hook up with people one off at parties and I never warn them I have a full bush and no one had ever seemed sad to see it!

I shave under arms and legs in summer months only.

Never my pubes.