Hairy Pits...

This week I stopped shaving my armpits.

The scary thing is that I have no idea what it will look like. Society has us so conditioned. The moment I had some peach fuzz, I was all over my mom to let me shave it so that I didn’t stand out. I’m actually kind of excited to see what it will look like.

For something innate; it is insane that I am so disconnected from it. It makes me think about all of the bullshit that people call beauty in this world… Instead, I buy a razor and soap (or shaving cream), deodorant, etc. Just products… I buy them and use them and feel something that I have linked in my head with beauty and femininity. But it is a lie.

By growing out my hair people will be grossed out (by hair, the same thing that is on my head) and people will call me names like “hippie,” “bohemian,” “dirty.” Simply for allowing my hair to grow as it does in nature I will be stigmatized by people not even realizing why they are doing what they are doing and meaning no offense (usually) by it. It is just programmed into us to react this way. I will save money and I will have protection from the cold. From bacteria, and from who knows what else.

I will become less 'civilized.' Haha. What a bullshit term. That word has justified so many atrocities all over the world and continues to do so.

I am not the first woman to set down her razor and make this choice. I will not be the last. The cool thing is that some women never pick one up. I may not leave mine sitting around. It may end up back in my hands as I shave away my true femininity (womanhood), for ‘pure,’ ‘clean,’ and ‘smooth’ armpits. I hope I don’t, but we’ll see once I am all grown out how I feel about it.

The worst part thus far has just been the scratchiness. I am just sucking it up and dealing. I’m thinking about my Korean friend who started shaving her armpits for the first time in her life, at age 30, after seeing mine (the Westerner). I cringe. Many women here do not shave their armpits. Most of their armpit hair is barely noticeable.

As for smell… I am a vegetarian, so I tend to have mild body odor in general, but I just rinse my pits a couple times a day. It is easy enough. I have noticed that very few people have body odor here. It may be the level of personal hygiene here or just some dietary factor or a combination of things.

I remember the first time I saw a grown woman with armpit hair; I was in the midst of puberty and I was confused, grossed out (it didn’t look like my armpits), and called her names in my head. I had needed to normalize myself and 'other' her. It is incredible how vulnerable we feel during puberty. Luckily, since then I have met many people with armpit hair who are perfectly healthy, happy, and beautiful.

---

---