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Female body hair: From the impossible to the difficult return to naturalness
For you, wearing a skirt, shorts, dress or even a swimming costume without removing hair is out of the question! You are undoubtedly part of the 96% of women who believe they have to remove hair from at least one part of the body. Even if hair is natural for everyone, for women it quickly reflects a lack of hygiene and femininity. Numerous criticisms or remarks from our mothers, grandmothers or friends increase this social pressure on women, who still today opt for smooth skin that’s easier to live with socially.
A study carried out in 2017 by GlossyBox shows that 1 in 2 women adapts her hair removal according to her partner’s tastes, 1 in 4 adapts her hair removal according to the season and 78.5% are against the return of the “all natural” trend.
>>> You may be interested in this article: 10 Tips on how to let go and feel freer than ever
Did you know?
A woman who removes hair regularly between the ages of 15 and 65 will spend about 800 hours, or more than a whole month, lying on her beautician’s table or in the bathroom saying goodbye to her hair.
Accept your hair and say no to beauty obsessions
More and more stars like Emma Watson, Alicia Keys, Julia Roberts, Miley Cyrus or even Madonna are accepting and proudly showing off their hairy armpits and legs. Thanks to them and the rise of feminism, women are taking back possession of their bodies and are overturning codes. Many hashtags on social media have been created to reconcile the public, women and men, with body hair in its natural state, such as #bodyhair launched by Adèle Labo, a woman from Lille. This was an opportunity for a razor brand Billie to celebrate hair in an unusual advert.
However, many of us still find it hard to say no to hair removal for fear of being a victim of body shaming, even though this movement for hair acceptance advocates body positivity, the quest for happiness and self-love. It’s hard not to avoid hair removal when you’re afraid of being mocked or pointed at. I’m not sure we all have the same self-confidence as Madonna or Miley Cyrus.
🧠 And for good reason! According to an Ipsos survey carried out by the brand Wilkinson in 2017, 54% of men feel that too much is asked of women for hair removal, but paradoxically, 89% of them think it’s important for women to remove hair to be seductive. But we don’t have to ask them for their opinion, either. Whether we keep our body hair should be a matter of personal choice.
>>> How I learned to love my body
Why shouldn’t you remove hair?
Some have gone ahead and thrown their razors in the bin for good. While we may look at them enviously, we’re not all ready to give up on hair removal. It’s not a problem, but let’s use those hours spent in the bathroom to ask ourselves why. Am I scared of what others think? Do I simply like removing hair? Do I do it for someone else? Would I like myself less with hair? As women and adult women, it’s important for us to make choices that take into account our well-being, pleasure and happiness. We already spend enough time worrying about others, let’s put ourselves back at the center of our lives and choices, without trying to please everyone at all costs.
5 reasons to stop removing hair: Your hair is good for you!
1. You save time and money: you no longer have to spend hours looking for the slightest hair sticking out and your monthly budget at the beautician’s can be used for other activities!
2. You’re doing your bit for the planet: between disposable razors, hair-removing creams containing numerous chemical products and batteries or other wax strips that generate a lot of waste, hair removal is generally far from being an eco-friendly habit.
3. Your legs are smoother: we all think that smooth skin means softness, yet if you allow your hair to grow as it wants, your legs will be silky smooth. I promise!
4. Your hair is useful: it protects against heat, cold and even ultraviolet rays. Its purpose is to keep the skin sufficiently hydrated through the secretion of sebum. On the armpits, they retain the flow of sweat and are part of the body’s thermal regulation. On the pubic area, they protect the genital mucous membranes from infections and limit the risk of vaginal dryness.
5. It protects you: when you shave or remove hair, many women get micro-lesions or micro-cuts that can pave the way for small bacteria, dirt or even infections.
>>> Read up on body dysmorphia
Editor’s note – Hair and conflicting feelingsMore and more stars are seen posing on social media with their hair showing. Many women are therefore subscribing more and more to the idea that hair removal could be optional and above all a personal choice. Except that hair on a star with an amazing body is easy to accept, but for us in a society where body hair is still stigmatized and bodies are scrutinized, it’s much harder. Between body hair being seen as repulsive (or even dirty), social pressure and a logical mind that forces us to think about health and feminism, it’s quite logical to have conflicting feelings about hair removal. So don’t feel guilty, just do your best! 🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now! #BornToBeMe |
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