“TMI Tuesday: Body Hair!!!”

1. On June 14th, 2011 at 7:42 am Shieldmaiden1196 Says:

   A few summers ago my husband and I were living in two separate houses; he was establishing our new home in the mountains while I was packing up our old home and finishing a project at work in person that was the condition of my being allowed to work from home 250 miles away.

   I was bored. That’s about the only excuse I can muster.

   I bought some Sally Hansen hair remover for the ‘bikini area’. It was a hella ridiculous hot summer, and I thought removing a bit of the scratchy from my nether areas might make for a cooler and more sanitary day. I would never consider a brazilian wax; I don’t get into that position for a stranger unless we are talking about health and the woman in question has letters after her name.
   I read the directions, applied the business, and settled down to read for a while.
   I checked things, and the hair really didn’t seem to be going anywhere. So I left it on for a few more minutes.
   And then a few more.
   And then the burning started.
   I jumped in the shower and rinsed it all off. Then I washed with soap. Then I rinsed some more. The burning intensified. I was kind of panicking. No one wants to roll into the ER with a flaming bajingo and explain how it got that way.
   I ended up in bed with an ice pack and a feeling like having a sunburn in the worst place imaginable.
   And for no reason whatsoever, since not a bit of the hair budged.
   Ever since I let my fur flag fly.

2. On June 14th, 2011 at 9:24 am Not Blue at All Says:

   Okay, bajingo is a new one for me, but I love it! Thanks for that! And for sharing this story here. WOW! Sounds like an allergic reaction or something. Nasty stuff! I’ll all about letting my “fur flag fly” now, too. Woo! =0)

3. On June 14th, 2011 at 8:02 am vesta44 Says:

   I don’t shave my legs, I have to wear surgical stockings to keep them from swelling so who’s going to see them? I don’t shave my pits either, I don’t wear sleeveless tops in the summer, not fond of getting sunburned (I don’t tan, I burn, get a bit darker, burn again, repeat). I do shave my mustache, but only because the hairs came in really dark after I hit menopause and it was really noticeable. I pluck a few chin hairs that are really dark, and pluck the eyebrow hairs that get really long and stick out – that’s maybe a once a month thing. My lady parts have only been shaved once, and that was when I gave birth to my daughter, back in 1972. It itched and was annoying while it grew back in, so not something I wanted to repeat (and they didn’t have time to do it when my son was born in 1975, I went to the hospital in labor at 4 a.m. and he was born at 6 a.m.).

4. On June 14th, 2011 at 9:26 am Not Blue at All Says:

   I didn’t know they shaved ya when you give birth in a hospital?! That’s weird to me. But yeah, when I shaved my bajingo year ago it was terrible growing back in all itchy and stuff. Blegh! No more! I get a few chin hairs. And I’m with you on the sunburns. I go from paste to lobster in 20 minutes flat! I would probably shave my pits more if I didn’t have these painful lesion things most of the time. I do shave them for that purpose occasionally, but I have to be mega careful so as not to enflame the lesions more. Thank you for sharing! (Almost typed shaving, had to laugh!) =0)

5. On June 14th, 2011 at 8:13 am E. Ai B. Says:

   I shaved my eyebrows in middle school. They NEVER grew back. Same for most of my pubic triangle. lol. LAME.
   I do pluck my face. I’ve got PCOS, body hair bothers me quite a bit for some reason.
   I shave pits/legs every few days, but my hair is (obviously) slow growing. 0_o

6. On June 14th, 2011 at 9:27 am Not Blue at All Says:

   Yeah, so what’s with hair not growing back when you want it to? Ugh! Thank you for sharing this here. =0)

7. On June 14th, 2011 at 8:17 am Emily Says:

   I sometimes remove my leg hair, but I have gone months without doing so. People often ask me why I don’t shave. But, to me, that is the wrong question. Since shaving is an affirmative act, and being unshaven is the natural state, it seems as if one would need a reason *to* shave instead of a reason not to. In fact, the “reason” that I often don’t shave is that I can’t think of a reason *to* shave.

   I am amazed by how ubiquitous removing leg hair has become for women in American culture (or at least in urban areas of California, Texas, and New York, which is where I have been lately). I see all kinds of women when I go out: fat, thin, young, older, dressed up, casual, makeup, no makeup, traditionally “feminine,” more “masculine” in appearance- the bodies, style, and grooming are diverse, but the ONE thing they seem to have in common is they ALL seem to shave, wax, or otherwise remove the hair from their legs. Now, granted, I do not see all of their legs, as some wear long pants. But in the summer and at places such as the pool or gym or nail salon where most women are bare-legged, they are all shaved. It is like it is an obligation.

8. On June 14th, 2011 at 9:29 am Not Blue at All Says:

   Yeah, being a Cali-girl, I agree! And I did shave for so many years. I just don’t care anymore. And I’m with you, unless I have a reason, I don’t bother with it at all. For awhile I shaved just so I would remember to put lotion on my getaway sticks, but now I just can’t be bothered. If I were to go swimming or something I might consider it. I do love the feel after shaving, of getting into clean sheets and the silky smoothness of it, but hardly worth all of the trouble and expense for such a silly thing.

9. On June 14th, 2011 at 8:20 am purplekeychain Says:

   Haha you are so hilarious!

   Okay, so when I was about 11 or 12 or so, back in the Kriss Kross and Vanilla Ice days, where rappers had lines shaved into their eyebrows, I tried to do that to my right brow with a regular wet razor — and shaved half my damn eyebrow off! I had to draw in the missing half for about 2-3 weeks before it grew back, and it’s never been the same. Hahaha!

   I also shaved my lady-bush once and it never grew in the same. I sometimes wish I had one of those old-school 70s porn-star deals, but alas, it wont grow that way. My husband often makes fun of my “sparse little garden”. Ugh.

   I like smooth legs and pits, but totally respect those who make a different choice. The hair on my body has always grown in pretty sparsely, and the hair on my arms, legs and face is almost the same color as my skin. So even when I have hairy legs, it sort of blends in, so I only shave once a week. Armpits are another matter — as a fat, I find that if I don’t shave my armpits every few days, they start to retain odor and smell more often and more pungent. I use some kind of Sally Hansen thing on my mustache and “beard”, but I hate doing it — it dries out my skin HORRIBLY and I end up with dry patches and flaky skin for about a week. When it finally clears up, it’s time to use the cream again. DAMN AND BLAST.

   🙂

10. On June 14th, 2011 at 9:34 am Not Blue at All Says:

    My hair is very light, too! The first night my husband and I slept together, well it wasn’t planned and so I hadn’t shaved in months, he didn’t even notice. In fact, I remember one point where he felt my calf and said, “So silky” I couldn’t believe it! Inside I was dying, “Oh no! He’ll think I’m gross!” but he cares less than I do about it.
    Are you using a bleaching or dminishing cream on your ‘stache? I’ve never tried those but they seem to be popular. You might see if there is a more natural version of the same thing. Like Nuetrogena or something. Just a thought.
    Yeah, I used to actually love the bounce and body of my lady-bush back when. I do wish I’d n ever shaved it. Same reason, sad little garden that I have now. Ha-ha!
    We must be close in age, doll. Vanilla Ice & Kris Kross (“Jump! Jump!”) love it! I always wanted to shave my brows like that, too…dad wouldn’t let me!

11. On June 14th, 2011 at 1:04 pm Twistie Says:

    I’m completely down with other people making their own damn decisions about their own damn pelts, but my philosophy (such as it is) on the subject is that I am a mammal, and mammals are – by and large – hairy. I am in no way ashamed of being a mammal, so why should I spend a lot of time, money, and skin irritation on trying to fight my mammalian qualities?

    The last time I shaved my legs (tremendously sporadically) was about twenty years ago, and I stopped shaving my pits entirely a couple years later. I wear tank tops and capri pants and skirts without ever getting the evil eye for it.

    Of course, it helps living this close to the People’s Republic of Berkeley, I imagine.

    As for my lady bits, No. Way. In. Hell. will I ever allow razors or depilatory creams anywhere near them. It may have something to do with the fact that while Mr. Twistie was offered his first senior discount when he was about thirty-five, the last time I was asked what high school I go to I was roughly the same age. Thirteen years later, I’m still worried about proving my majority. Even though I haven’t been carded in more than a decade, it’s a lingering worry that I’ll have to prove Mr. Twistie isn’t a dirty old man, after all.

    Seriously, we have a couple pictures from when we were first dating and he looks like a middle-aged perv because I look like I’m about twelve. Considering I was twenty-three and he was twenty-six… yeah, it’s a thing.

12. On June 14th, 2011 at 1:26 pm Not Blue at All Says:

    Oh Twistie! You make so much sense! Of course! Mammals are hairy! So when/why did society decide otherwise?! Ha-ha! Actually, if I recall it was the 1920’s when women were first marketed to for shaving “needs”, but I could be wrong. I believe the makers of men’s shaving things were frustrated at the market share and took it upon themselves to insist it more femme to shave your legs. Not sure when/how armpits got into the mix, but wev. I’m with you!
    I wanna see Mr. & Mrs. Twistie pictures!!! Especially now that you’ve described the pervishness appearance of ’em! Ha-ha! =0)

13. On June 14th, 2011 at 1:30 pm Midnyghtchilde Says:

    I usually let it grow winter, shaving maybe once every few weeks. Its winter, its cold, and I wear pants! I do shave during the summer, but it grows back hella fast, fast enough it drives me nuts! I started using Coochy Cream from Athena’s and it really is rash-free and irritation free, and I love it! I guess its a number one seller for a reason. It makes it easy and pain free so I dont mind having to do it so often. The growth seems to be slowing as I get older though – maybe I’ll be like my Mom sometime and not need to do it anymore!

14. On June 14th, 2011 at 1:32 pm Not Blue at All Says:

    Coochy Cream? Is this slang or an actual product? Is it for lady bits or all shaving? I’m all questions! =0)

15. On June 14th, 2011 at 3:55 pm jackie Says:

    Body hair is the cause of much consternation and un-needed worry for me and even more so for my mother from whom I inherited my awesome, thick, dark ‘stach, hairy chin and overall dark hairy body. Yes, I even have a love train from my belly button. I wax my face when I can afford it, shave it sometimes in-between, and my legs I usually shave when they will be seen in public. It bothers me that I shave and wax to make others feel more comfortable instead of for my own happiness, but if I don’t do it I am too worried about what others think. Sigh. The best is the number of Asian women in random California salons who have said “so thick” in horror at my facial hair. Oh well. My hormones test say that i don’t have too much testosterone, so I guess it’s just my lot. It does make me love that scene from ‘my big fat greek wedding’ where they are all getting rid of their facial hair 🙂

16. On June 14th, 2011 at 4:01 pm Not Blue at All Says:

    I struggled with what others thought for a long time, too. I guess I can’t say I’m entirely over it, but on the legs and pits? Unless I am going to be all out there, I don’t worry. My chin? yes. I do worry. And my ‘stache and mole hairs.
    Gotta love my big fat greek wedding!!! <3

17. On June 14th, 2011 at 5:44 pm Mulberry Says:

    Gosh, isn’t there anyone here who ever had a raging case of PCOS? My hair in my twenties was something like what Jackie describes. At the time, I was working in the Wall Street area, not exactly a bastion of non-conformity.
    I started seeing an electrologist when I was thirteen, and continued seeing him on and off for about 20 years. Just for FACIAL hair. I am pale-skinned and dark-haired, so the hairs really stood out. I got to shaving my legs every day. At its worst, just before getting proper hormonal treatment, I had the characteristic triangle of coarse hairs between navel and pubic area, very hairy arms with hair up to my knuckles on my hands, and hair on my breasts and cleavage.
    Now, my excess hair problem has cleared up and my facial hair has finally gone almost all gray. I used to envy you folks who had the luxury of ONLY fretting about eyebrows and wayward pubic hair.
    A year or two after the hair problem cleared up, I got psoriasis, so the “clear skin at last” period was rather short. But that is a tale for another day.

18. On June 15th, 2011 at 7:51 am Not Blue at All Says:

    I know a lot of people with PCOS and describe the hair issue close to yours. It seems like so much work. Thank you for sharing your story here.

19. On June 14th, 2011 at 6:03 pm Jessica Says:

    Body hair is something I struggled with while my body acceptance was blooming because I was never sure if I was grooming for me or for society. However, now that I’m older, I know that my grooming preferences truly reflect what I personally find appealing and comfortable– which is how it should be for everyone!

    On to my habits:
    I pluck, shape, and trim my brows because I like for them to be an expression of “me” in the same way my hairstyle is “me.” It’s not a hair thing so much as the fact that they’re the only facial feature I can change to suit me. I occasionally shave my upper lip hair, but it’s not a big deal.
    I love the look of underarm hair on women and my preferred look is around three quarters of an inch. Anything longer looks too unruly for me and will matte in my deodorant. That said, I only groom it once in a great while: if it’s bugging me, or if it’s visible. Otherwise I let it go.
    Really, the same goes for my leg hair. If I’m wearing anything that shows my legs I prefer the hairless look but that’s rare so mostly I just leave it (for months and months at a time).
    My vag is another just-leave-it-until-it-bugs-me place, but aesthetically I prefer to trim it down to what would be scruff if we were talking about a man’s beard. I shave the inner business because the hair is uncomfortable there, and that’s that.

    So in summation, comfort and practicality are most important. I do a fair bit of grooming for aesthetic reasons but it’s what I like and not what I feel pressured to do to be acceptable when I walk out the front door.

20. On June 15th, 2011 at 7:58 am Not Blue at All Says:

    That is fabulous! I love your philosophy! And hey, it is all about comfort! <3

21. On June 14th, 2011 at 10:22 pm fatfairy Says:

    Twistie is right. Many people seem to be at war with their mammal features. hair, warmbloodedness (that’s why humans eat every few hours instead of every few weeks), breastfeeding, sweat. It’s like they would rather be reptiles.Yea, I’m a hairy, sweaty,eat-every-day, blankety-blank primate-girl mammal. You got a problem with that? (The last was a joke, unless you are an intelligent non-mammal. If you are, there are some folks at the university who would love to meet you.)

22. On June 15th, 2011 at 7:59 am Not Blue at All Says:

    I love it! I think “blankety-blank primate-girl mammal” should be a band or club or gang or something! =0)

23. On June 14th, 2011 at 10:55 pm rebelle Says:

    I stopped shaving my legs after cutting myself every time I tried to in middle school. This decision was helped along by the fact that my leg hairs are blonde and invisible. I used to shave my armpits about once a week or so in high school, but after I moved out I stopped with that. Most of my close friends do not shave their armpits – it’s the norm among my peer group. I like it, and it always seems a little surprising to me to see hairless pits. What a pain in the ass it was to shave.

    I don’t do anything to my vag hair, but I don’t know what anyone else does to theirs. That’s a personal decision, no one sees that except people you WANT to see it.

24. On June 15th, 2011 at 8:00 am Not Blue at All Says:

    That’s interesting, but I think the natural armpit look is making a comeback. To have a group that all have hairy pits? Radical!

25. On June 15th, 2011 at 6:38 am dogwatcher Says:

    it’s comforting to hear that some other women out there don’t shave. i’ve had trouble with shaving ever since i was a teenager…i just thought it was so much work and i was so bad at it, always getting nick and scrapes.
    but i feel like a freak for not shaving, so i go back and forth on it and have all my life. i wish i could get over feeling freakish and just let it go and not worry about it anymore. i would be infinitely happier not shaving.
    maybe now that i’m 51 i can just do what’s right for me and not worry about what others think.
    thanks for listening!

26. On June 15th, 2011 at 8:01 am Not Blue at All Says:

    I am with you! I go back and forth and struggle with it. At this point, running my own business, I just don’t give a crap, don’t have time or energy to. But I do have some summer events coming up and I’m already worrying about it. Ugh! I guess that is what makes us human, the struggle! <3 Glad to listen anytime. =0)

27. On June 15th, 2011 at 7:55 am Chutti Says:

    Ok, gotta weigh in here on the hair thang.
    I don’t particularly care what people in general think, but I do sales and marketing in a fairly conservative industry, so I do care what people think about me …professionally. The sad fact is that as a fatty, I must be dressed and groomed a step above others so as not to appear sloppy. It’s just the way a lot of people think, and I can only spend so much of my professional energy on it. Bottom line is, if I shave my legs and paint my toesies, I don’t have to wear panty hose to meetings. And still get stuff done. This feels like a fair trade off, more or less.

    I swim year-round, so I find I do shave the pits when I notice they are hanging a bit. And there may be a correlation with hair and stink there. Dunno. No sense in freaking people out, but I don’t really care at the pool. They’re usually freaked out somewhat by me anyway, so f’em.

    As for the beard? Well, I have a crazy auntie with a really remarkable one. I’d rather have people look me in the eye when we talk. They are beyond simple pluckage anymore. Actually, my hubby does the wax for me every few weeks. I COULD do it myself, but it’s hard to get a clean rip on it solo. Yeah, we’re weird, but I really appreciate his being able to do it (he took care of old ladies a long time so he’s a pro at grooming). I reciprocate by tweezing his stray eyebrow hairs.

    I too, ONCE shaved my bush. Actually, it was a pretty sexy event, as my then boyfriend and I shaved together. It was pretty fun when fresh, but we both hated the itchy after. And yes, neither of us grew back as fancy later. We still laugh about that summer.

    Hair, hair. Never enough or always too much.
    What does that say? I generally like myself and the way I look. But yes, the hair thing gets critical sometimes, doesn’t it???

28. On June 15th, 2011 at 8:27 am Not Blue at All Says:

    I totally understand about your profession and not wanting to wear pantyhose! I hate those things! Ha-ha! Yes, when I shaved my lady-bush once, it was with a then boyfriend. Wasn’t as fun sounding as yours, but what can ya do?!

29. On June 15th, 2011 at 11:16 am Mulberry Says:

    Folks, even primate-type mammals are known to groom themselves and each other. They may go in for more basic sorts of grooming, but the instinct is still there and is not something special to humans. We are CELEBRATING our mammalian nature by grooming.

    Speaking of shaving and such, when I was thick in the throes of PCOS, I would use the Epilady (basically an electric hair puller). I can hear a collective OUCH from the invisible audience, but my legs would stay smooth for a significantly longer period of time. Also, there were fewer nicks and scrapes.

    Anybody ever try vajazzling? (Not me.) That’s when you not only wax off your pubic hair, you glue sequins to the newly bald area.

    I’ve tried using depilatory creams on my face, but by the time the after-use rash disappeared, the hair reappeared. It was, however, easier to cover up the rash with makeup than to disguise the hair.

30. On June 15th, 2011 at 11:47 am Not Blue at All Says:

    My mom used an Epilady ages ago. That thing hurt too much for me. But hey, whatever works for you is rad! And yeah, grooming is hardly un-mammal like. I’ve heard/seen vajazzling, but tried it? NOPE! No intentions, either. I mean, it’s fine if you’re into that or have the disposable income. It’s pretty. I’d rather bedazzle something else.

31. On June 15th, 2011 at 4:40 pm Kimocean Says:

    Ah body hair, such a complex topic and one that is near and dear to me right now. I recently re-engaged in the bikini line hair removal ritual with a combo of a hair removal cream for the initial go (yes it stings but it works better on the complex bits and the stinging does go away) and then shaving afterward. I’d been growing out my pubes for about a year and a half before that. I’m vacillating back and forth over whether I will keep it up. I find that if I shave every morning or every other at minimum and slather the entire area with a good soothing lotion each night I can mostly avoid the itchy horrible discomfort after the first few days (I know this is a bit messed up!). But it’s still on the edge and I swear I have more issues with undies and other clothes chaffing. I had gotten kind of attached to the ’70s style bush I had going but I am in a new relationship and it does seem to have become expected for dating women in my demographic here in LA. As someone who was recently doing a lot of dating, I heard more than once that it was an absolute prerequisite for guys if they were going to go down on a woman. Now I’ve always felt that if the hair is that much of a problem when you’re performing oral sex, you must be doing it very differently than what I prefer but people seem to just be grossed out by hair in general if it’s not growing on top of one’s head. I doubt I’ll keep this up as it’s really not my preference, but for now, I’m giving it a go.

32. On June 16th, 2011 at 8:27 am Not Blue at All Says:

    I admire your commitment to it, but yeesh, sounds like a lot of work! As for the prerequisite of a nude pubic mound? I would seriously consider that a no-go in my book. I do not understand how anyone can find a bald mound attractive. Perhaps this is just me. I just think if that’s ALL they want? Perhaps they have a bunch of other creepy hang ups, too. Ya know? And yes, I do get that it’s the super popular thing to do. It still doesn’t interest me in the least. I hope you find what works best for your chafing issues though, that is no fun, I know. Thanks for sharing your story here. =0)

33. On June 18th, 2011 at 12:27 am Dee Says:

    I started shaving at 14. I remember being the only girl in gym class who still had hair on their legs so I was dying to start. I’ve been doing it every other shower since then (I”m 21 now) I did it then to fit in, but I really do like how it feels when they’re smooth. I also do my pits too while I’m at it. As for my lady bits, I started waxing but not all of it, just so it looks groomed. I started because my boyfriend likes it that way, he prefers some hair but not all natural. It’s funny how we don’t really have a say in what our guys look like down there, isn’t it? Do we even care lol?

    Oh and does anyone else shave their arms? I’ve always wondered why we can’t stand hairy legs but are perfectly fine with the 2 inch hairs on our arms. I’m not saying that hairy arms are gross, but again, I do like how smooth they feel so I shave them right along with my legs. I think its just me though because I don’t know anyone else who does it too. I’ve always been bothered by the way the hair on my arms looked when I got goosebumps, that was the main motivation to start shaving them for me lol

    I’m glad there are so many different views on this! I love that there are unshaved legs walking about all over, I had no idea we could do that! I get lazy sometimes and wish I could skip it in the shower, now I just might 🙂

34. On June 18th, 2011 at 8:59 am Not Blue at All Says:

    I have friends who shave their arms. It’s not uncommon. I think we mostly don’t talk about these things and so it seems like it’s just us. Which is why I love TMI Tuesday. Nothing is taboo for me, anyway. I think we do have a say in our partner’s grooming habits if we voice a preference. I mean, especially if he’s doing that for you, ya know? Thanks.