The following are some of the reasons I choose not to remove my body hair and why I respectfully encourage others to consider doing the same:
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Body hair grows naturally under the armpits to help your bodyâs natural lymph system detox. Shaving it puts a strain on the immune system and can cause clogging of the follicles and pores (especially if done in tandem with deodorant) which backs up the toxins in your system. Over time, this can cause many problems including cancer, very commonly in women, breast cancer. (Using anti-perspirants makes this risk exponentially higher.)
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
On a similar note, shaving large areas of skin puts a strain on the immune system in a different way by causing abrasions, nicks, cuts and ingrown hairs. Your body is constantly using energy to heal, prevent infection, and grow your hair back. Energy it could be using for more important things like keeping you from getting sick.
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Body hair collects a personâs natural scent. This scent is filled with pheromones which are constantly helping us communicate with the world. We attract the people we connect best with when we are not altering our natural smell. If you eat well and exercise, your smell will not be offensive, but will instead serve to help you connect with the world around you. I strongly believe that pheromones donât only affect who we fall for romantically, but also who we get along with in every other facet of our lives (friends, family, workplace, strangers) and how well we get along with them. I believe acceptance of our own natural smells makes finding people we connect with fully and deeply much easier. Attraction of any type becomes more of a beautiful organic process like the opening of a flower to the sun. âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Body hair protects against the environment and bug bites. I know I love having the extra fuzzy layer of all-natural protection. When I remove it, I feel strangely naked and cold and awkward. âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
The itch factor- once it grows out fully, it really doesnât itch anymore. It becomes soft and fluffy. The reason for this: when hairs are shaved or cut at a blunt angle, they grow back with a thick, prickly end. After a while of growing the hair out, the hair wears down and becomes thinner at the end which eventually makes the hair much softer. Depending on the thickness of your hair, this could take as little as a couple weeks or as long as a few months. But really, itâs so worth it, in my opinion.
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
The judgmental douchebag factor- be aware that choosing to stop shaving and choosing to show your body hair to the people in the world around you will almost definitely attract some level of negative attention from assholes who make broad generalizations and try to belittle and berate your choice to remain naturally fuzzy. Itâs ignorant and can be very hurtful, but itâs their baggage, their issue, and ultimately, itâs up to you how you let it affect you. Honestly, anyone willing to openly judge and make fun of someone for choosing not to shave is not worth your time on any level. I have come to realize that my body hair acts as an awesome douchebag detector. People who are superficial to an extreme and mean spirited reveal themselves pretty quickly around me. This has greatly helped me to weed out people who arenât going to treat me with respect before getting suckered in by them in any way. âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Additional Pros to Not Shaving: You never have to deal with stubble. You never have to buy razors or shaving cream. You never have to deal with razor burn or shaving cuts. You save time and money. You may even learn to enjoy your own body more; I know I did. :)
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
These are some of the questions I used to ask myself:
Deep inside, am I really shaving for me? If not, who am I shaving for and why? What would it be like to grow it out for a month? What about a year? How would it feel to embrace my body hair? How would it feel to love it? How would it feel to find other people who accept me exactly as I choose to be without ever having to alter myself in any way for their acceptance and respect? Do I already have people like that in my life? Would they accept me and treat me with respect if I decided to stop shaving and go to the beach in a bikini? I was fascinated and often somewhat surprised by the answers.
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Embracing my own natural human state and fully accepting the important functions of body hair revolutionized my self image and level of confidence. It truly changed my life. Itâs a choice that is completely up to the individual, and I in no way judge people who choose to shave. I just think it warrants examination.
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Written by Phoenix Floe, April 2013
areudirty
dailybridgerton
vaporwave
origamiaround
snowghoul
prguitarman
kianamaiart
