ugh…shaving…
Here you go…it’s five questions time! And since it’s summer, let’s talk shaving. Ugh.
- What on your body do you shave? How often?
- What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
- Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
- What other hair removal processes do you engage in?
- If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
My Answers:
- I shave my face about every week. I shave under my arms every day, I shave my legs every couple of days – or every day if I’m wearing dresses/skirts; I hate hate hate stubble. I shave my nether region also, but not very often 😉 I also have random hair OTHER places I shave when I think about it, including my toes and the top of my foot. Yeah, I shave my toes…
- I use these shavers for my face, only about twice before I throw them away, and follow up with a soothing layer of Shiva Rose Glow balm (I’ve repurchased this 3-4 times and it lasts forever). I shave my face dry, after I’ve cleaned it well and applied witch hazel and let it dry. I use barbasol shaving cream for my legs, because it’s cheap, and it works. I’d love to use a more “natural” shave cream, but don’t want to spend the money on it, to be honest. I use regular Gillette razors with replaceable blades, and HATE HOW EXPENSIVE THEY ARE. Has anyone used any of the cheaper razors out there? What has your experience been?
- No, I’ve never considered this. It’s just not something I want to spend money on. Sure, it would be convenient, and I guess if I had lots more disposable income I’d do it, but it’s definitely not a priority.
- Nothing – I’ve considered waxing for my bikini area, but have never done it. First, I don’t want anyone down THERE, and second, I know it will be painful. I used to do threading for my eyebrows and upper lip when I lived in Atlanta, and loved it, but now that I’m shaving my face, I’ll never go back to anything else.
- I guess I shave because it’s expected? If I’d grown up surrounded by women who didn’t shave, and images of women with visible hair on their bodies, it might be different, but that’s not how I grew up. I started shaving as soon as I was allowed (I don’t remember when that was exactly, maybe 12-13?) and have done ever since. I go for quite a while not shaving my legs in winter if I’m wearing pants all the time, but I can only go so far; I don’t like the feel of too much hair on my legs. I shave under my arms every day that I’m going to Pure Barre after (which is pretty much every day), but will take a day off here and there. I just don’t like the look of hair under my arms, or anywhere it “shouldn’t” be. I know that’s subjective, and I respect people who don’t want to shave, but I am very particular about it for me. I appreciate that there’s a fine line between “socially acceptable” and just being you, hair and all, but I will admit, it’s still rather shocking to me to see women with hair on their legs or under their arms. No judgement, it’s just not for me.
Your turn!
What on your body do you shave? How often?
Underarms, legs, bikini area. Just about every day. My body hair is dark and grows quickly.
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
I use an old school safety razor with soap and water or sometimes just water. Way less expensive than disposable razors or blades and the blades last a lot longer. I do have a razor with disposable blades for travel since you’re not supposed to take safety razors in your carry-on and and I hate to check bags. I use coconut oil on my body after I shower.
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
Yes, but haven’t made it a financial priority. I would love to though.
What other hair removal processes do you engage in?
I use an epilator on my arms (see dark body hair) every few days (though I might let a week or two lapse occasionally). I’m too prone to ingrown hair to use it on my legs with any regularity. I tweeze my chin and brows and use this on my upper lip: https://www.amazon.com/TWEEZERMAN-Gesichtshaarentfernung-Twezerette-abgeschr%C3%A4gter-verschiedene/dp/B00JVOU89E/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501078371&sr=8-2&keywords=tweezerman+facial+hair+remover
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
My answer is pretty much the same as Grechen’s. It’s what I’ve always know and what I see. I’m pretty self conscious about my body (and facial) hair.
What on your body do you shave? How often?
I don’t shave anything with regularity. However, I also have very light, almost white hair on my arms and legs, which makes this a much more socially-acceptable decision. The hair under my arms in the same dark and coarse hair as on my head, but it frankly feels like too much work to get into shaving just for that one area.
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
n/a
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
n/a
What other hair removal processes do you engage in?
n/a
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
I make a conscious decision not to shave because I reject the double standard that Western society has placed on those who identify as female to remove all visible body hair below the eyebrows. Frankly, I think this standard is absurdist bullshit (sorry if swearing isn’t ok :D!). Male-identifying individuals are not only allowed but often encouraged to cultivate body hair, I choose to do the same as a cisgender woman.
However, I am very aware of the privileges accorded to me as a white woman who lives in a liberal city and often moves in spaces occupied by those with similar identities and access to higher education. I also have the additional layer of not-very-visible body hair, which makes my pseudo-political decision much less controversial than it otherwise might be. I appreciate the opportunity for this conversation and agree that ultimately this is a deeply personal decision with no wrong answer!
I don’t shave anything anymore! This has to do with several factors. 1) I don’t work in a professional environment where I may be judged for this; 2) I am 51 and don’t really care what people think much anymore anyway; 3) I HATE shaving; 4) I have dark skin and relatively light hair growth on my legs and underarms, though you definitely CAN see it; 5) I actually like the dissonance of being stylishly dressed and groomed (which I am) but having natural legs/arms – I feel that it makes the choice look very intentional and interesting and not just lazy (which I also am) – the same applies to allowing my hair to gray naturally whilst being a style maven; 6) have never/would never wax the nether regions, which I think is INSANE; 7) have very little facial/eyebrow hair so do not have to deal with the face issue but I would probably engage in some removal if I did – I am lazy but not without some conventional vanity; 8) finally, I just kind of like the way body hair looks on women – the strong, sexy, DGAF attitude. Looking forward to reading other comments as I know I am an outlier on this issue, at least among straight women.
What on your body do you shave? How often? I shave my legs twice a week, occasionally more, in the summer and once a week during the winter. I shave under my arms whenever I shave my legs. I very occasionally shave my bikini area when I know I’ll be wearing my suit but I don’t do that often.
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving? I don’t have a favorite product. I use the Gillette Genius but hate how expensive the razors are. I use face wash, Cetaphil, on my legs because it’s what I use on my body and it’s already in the shower when I am. I sometimes use hair conditioner because it is also in the shower.
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal? When I was younger I did. If I could have afforded it I would have.
What other hair removal processes do you engage in? I have fair hair/skin so shaving has always been relatively easy for me. I do it for myself as I don’t think anybody can see a difference between whether I shave or don’t:) I trim my eyebrows when they become long but don’t have enough brow to ever have considered tweezing.
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not? I like my legs to feel smooth.
thanks for your comment gigi!! i love it 🙂
i find it so weird that i have negative reactions to body hair on women – i don’t *think* i expect anyone to conform to gender “norms”, but there it is. i know on me, i love the way smooth skin FEELS (without hair), but i wonder if that’s not also somewhat dictated by norms?
i don’t know, i’m just going to keep doing me and everyone else can do themselves 😉
Less and less over the years. My aging body hair is so soft now that shaving/waxing/sugaring doesn’t work anymore so if I am vacaying and it will involve swimming in upscale areas I will use chemical depilitories (my rationalization I only do it 1-4 times per year and only from the knee down), otherwise don’t bother.
thanks for your comment, and engaging in this discussion!! as i replied to gigi – i don’t think i expect anyone to conform to norms, gender or otherwise, but i guess i do…when it comes to body hair anyway. i don’t know why? i agree that it’s a double standard, and frankly WEIRD – i mean who came up with the idea that we should remove all our body hair?? – but i’m not going to judge anyone for doing what they feel comfortable with.
free to be you and me 🙂 i don’t know why that just popped into my head, i wish my mom had kept that book/record for us! it was pretty ground-breaking for it’s time, i remember vividly the story about the boy who wanted to play with a doll and thinking, yeah, why not??
Love this post! And all your posts!
I shave under my arms once a week or if I’m wearing sleeveless and I shave my legs about 2x a week.
I use Dollar Shave Club razors and I love them. I just use soap to shave with and it works for me. I used to use Kiss My Face shaving cream, which I loved, but to me it just works like soap so I started saving the money and the plastic. Simple lotion after shaving.
I got laser hair removal under my arms and my bikini area and IT IS THE BEST. I had to cut my 6 sessions due to moving out of state but even after 3 sessions my armpit hair was cut down by 75% and my bikini area never ever came back. I even did it pretty aggressively, not a full Brazilian but almost. Now I never have to worry when I don a bikini, there is nothing there anymore. I LOVE IT. Like my Lasik, some of the best money I’ve ever spent on myself. I wish I could have done the full 6 sessions on my underarms, I bet they’d be bare and smooth.
I tweeze my eyebrows and sometimes my upper lip if it needs it.
I guess I shave for the same reasons you do. Because it is the norm and also, I don’t like hair on my body. It is WEIRD though. Kinda like your bra post, why do we even do it?
Thanks always for a great blog!
Many men shave various body parts below the neck now…..even if they keep their beards! Just putting it out there!
yes, this is true. is it horrible that i wish my husband would remove some of his back hair???
1. What on your body do you shave? How often?
I don’t shave very often – I started sugar waxing a year ago and it’s amazing. I do lower legs and arm pits – I don’t have much body hair and never wear anything above he knee so don’t really need to do anything on my thighs or really even the back of my upper thighs.
I’ll trim “down there” and tried a sugar wax for “bikini line” (I don’t wear bikinis but bugs me when it sticks out of undies! Haha, tmi? You started it) did it myself and didn’t hurt so might again?
I will shave my armpits during the summer if I will be going to a nice event or giving a presentation and will be sleeveless and it’s not long enough to wax yet but long enough to see.
Sugar waxing – arm pits every week and a half-2 weeks
Legs once a month?
It’s amazing and lasts forever and it grows back much sparser.
I use the Moom stuff.
2. What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
When I shaved I used a 1950’s ladies safety razor. So much cheaper to just buy blades.
In the shower while wet, occasionally used alba shave cream. Always use witch hazel afterwards.
3. Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
Yes. For pits and this stupid hairy mole on my chin. ?
4. What other hair removal processes do you engage in?
Sugar waxing! The only thing I’ve tried that really works for my crazy sensitive skin. Shaving armpits all the time in the summer would give me all kinds of bumps and rashes and whatnot, sugar waxing is less painful than regular waxing and doesn’t irritate me skin in any way!
5. If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
Hairy armpits hold more smells, hairless works better with natural deodorants (for me).
Hairy legs get sore when I wear socks.
I am not as concerned with the visual 90% of the time, but the comfort of hairlessness is nice.
What on your body do you shave? How often? I shave my legs below my knee once, maybe twice a week (depending on what I’m doing/wearing) I was just telling a friend today my “system” 😉 I take a bath in my clawfoot tub on Sunday night & shave legs & underarms – then short dress Monday and maybe Tuesday (my hair is getting more sparse as I age- the one good thing about aging?) Long dress Wed, and either pants or shave again for Thurs/Fri. I’m almost always at home on the weekends and don’t bother shaving unless I’m doing something. Shave under my arms once or twice a week too.
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving? I love Kiss my Face shave cream. For travel I use shave oil.
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal? I’ve had laser on my bikini line & underarm. Worked GREAT on my bikini line – I no longer have to wax (I will trim “inside” the bikini line as needed – I’d say TMI, but this whole topic is TMI, so… 🙂 Underarm probably needs more sessions but I got lazy – it was mainly the bikini I wanted done for good. Got a great deal because of an employee discount at the aesthetic center attached to the University where I work – so great quality for a good price, not a strip mall groupon 🙂
What other hair removal processes do you engage in? Used to wax eyebrows but now I pluck the 3 hairs in between as needed. Same for the 2 hairs on my chin or nipples when needed…Tried threading eyebrows once and was in pain for a week. I hope that’s not normal but I am never doing that again!!!
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
I went for a few years in late high school/early college not shaving (my brother called them my “Lola Granola years” and my dad kept begging me to do something, offered to pay for waxing – eventually I gave in. I work in a field where I probably could “get away” with not shaving, and I don’t really think my husband would care once he got used to it. but….societal norms or whatever. I definitely notice when other women don’t shave what I expect to see shaved, but my typical internal response is “She’s awesome!” Maybe in a couple more years, I’ll truly enter the “I don’t give a f*” stage of my life and this will be one of the first things to go…
And YES I definitely help my husband manscape. Not private areas – don’t care! But if there is a stray ear hair or eyebrow, I want it GONE before I have to stare at it for 5 hours on an airplane (yes. that happened). Husband shaves his head year round and his face in the spring/summer, so I also check – he has a habit of missing a stripe between the back of his ear/upper neck for a few weeks in a row….
I had laser hair removal a few years ago, and it was worth every penny. And it certainly ended up being cheaper than the endless waxing and has saved so much time. Seriously, it was the single-best beauty-related thing I have ever done. (The only thing that maybe would compare is if there would be some permanent hair color wherein my hair would grow out of my head without gray roots anymore. Get on that, science!) There’s a little regrowth on my legs and pits, so I take a razor to errant bits a few times a year, but I can’t remember when the last time was.
If you’ve got coarse and dark hair and don’t want to, laser is really the way to go.
I agree 100%! The cost of razors, shaving etcetera and the pain of ingrowns or bumps is just not worth it. Waxing, even at home, was pricey and painful, and you have to let the hair grow between each session, so the smooth factor is really lacking. I wish I had done laser years ago. With a groupon or sale pricing, around Houston they’ll do your whole body for about $1200. Personally, I only care about lower legs and armpits, so I paid a lot less to do just those areas.
1. Underarms, bikini – daily or every other day. Legs – weekly. Face – occasionally, not as much anymore now that I don’t wear foundation.
2. Shick Intuition (with the moisturizing strip) & face shavers from Japan. I used to have a bikini trimmer but don’t have one right now – not particular on the brand but open to suggestions.
3. Yes but not interested in doing that any longer.
4. I used to wax my eyebrows but I no longer trust anyone with my brows. I like them thick and as we get older the hair does not grow back as easily.
5. Underarms/bikini: To reduce body odor and sweat for the most part. I feel the humidity/sweat more if I miss shaving. Appearance and comfort in a bikini. Legs: Weekly is an estimate, if I think about it in the shower but the legs aren’t a big issue for me and I do wear dresses all the time. Face used to be so the make up would go on smoother.
First off, my body hair is very very light and fine, so…
What on your body do you shave? How often? Underarms and legs, once a week sometimes more often in the summer. in the winter? please. still about once a week underarms, but legs, I don’t from probably November thru April, unless I can see hair poking out of my tights. what’s the point? I need all the insulation I can get for Chicago winters.
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving? Harry’s razors are awesome, whatever moisturizing shave gel, it’s been Aveeno as of late
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal? nope, no need
What other hair removal processes do you engage in? I mean, I keep downstairs trimmed.
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not? because the women in my family did. quite frankly I like freshly shaved legs in the summer and would continue to do so regardless.
*if I had dark coarse body hair my answers would be completely different!
Hi Grechen,
Thank you girl this is a fun one and I’m enjoying reading everyone’s responses..
1. What on your body do you shave? How often?
When you are half Russian and half Polish like me you have hair and need to shave.
I shave my underarms everyday, try to shave my legs every day or every other.
I’ve been waxing bikini area for over 20 years. After a few months it doesnt hurt so much, you get used to it and it also depends on the person doing the waxing.
2. What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
I lather my leg and underarms w Aveno body wash and then add Trader Joe’s Mango Shave Cream with it. I use any good razors that are on sale for women or men.
3. Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
Since my 40’s Ive been doing electrolisis on my chin. I’m not consistent though.
4. What other hair removal processes do you engage in? None
5. If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not
I have probably for the same reasons all the other girls who grew up in the States shave, because it was the norm. It was fun shaving with my girlfriends in 6th grade for the first time. We got Debbie’s Dad’s shaving cream and razor shaved together with our bathing suits on before going to the pool. I stopped shaving my underarm hair one winter when I was 19, and my bf Ray, while we were in bed said, ‘baby shave your pits, please’! I cracked up but I did shave them for him and for me, less hair less smell.
Too funny 🙂
xoxogena
This is a really interesting post!
1. I shave my armpits and my legs (mostly from the lower thigh to my ankles) every day. I also like the feel of smooth legs and I wear dresses a lot in the summer, so I almost never skip a day, even in the winter. Sometimes in the shower, I gently run my razor across my upper lip to get rid of any stray hairs.
2. I just use Cetaphil Restoraderm body wash because I have a tendency to get irritated hair follicles and this works really well. I use an old Schick Hydro razor with the removable head, and I use it way past the recommended time. It actually seems to work better for me that way, and I will sometimes rinse the razor in alcohol or tea tree oil to keep it clean. If I switch razors too often, my legs get really itchy and irritated, especially if I’m swimming a lot. I do like to apply unscented lotion immediately after my shower each morning.
3. My hair is fairly light and fine, so I’ve never thought about permanent hair removal.
4. I just pluck the occasional stray eyebrow hair these days. As I’m getting older, my body hair seems much lighter and finer.
5. I started shaving my legs and armpits in middle school and I’ve just always done it. I don’t really have strong feelings about body hair, either way, though I like having smooth legs. I’ve always been totally natural in my pubic area, though. I prefer it that way and listening to my friends and sisters talk about their waxing experiences always sounded so excruciating. 😛
What on your body do you shave? How often?
My underarms – every couple of days, more often in the summer when I’m wearing sleeveless
My legs – every couple of days in the summer, every few weeks in the winter
My face – I have PCOS, and all the fun symptoms of extra facial hair. I use a trimmer and then one of those buffing pads to make it super smooth. Sadly, this must be daily.
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
Razor and body wash or shaving cream. Mens’ razors, as they’re sharper than Ladies’, which I totally don’t get.
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
Considered it, tried it. Was completely unsuccessful on my face and underarms, some improvement on my legs.
What other hair removal processes do you engage in?
I’ve tried sugaring and waxing, but they hurt too much.
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
I don’t like stubble, I don’t like to have hair in these places. I say I do it for me, but I probably do it because of that one time at white water rafting camp when I somehow got into a sexiest leg contest that was less about my legs and completely about their smoothness (or lack thereof… heck we were camping, who cares if I had stubble? 🙂 )
Good questions!! It is interesting to read everyone’s comments.
What on your body do you shave? How often?
Summer: Lower legs 1-2x/week, upper legs 1x/week. Winter: lower legs 1x/1-2 weeks, upper legs 1x/2 weeks. Armpits: currently about once a month year-round (In-between waxes)
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
I really like Trader Joe’s Mango cream shave, and I like the Nourish Organic Body Lotion. It’s moisturizing but not too lucky to put on skinny jeans a few minutes later! I prefer men’s razors, as they seem to work better and last longer.
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
Yes! I had it done on my legs, and would like to do it on my armpits and bikini line in the future. I had very thick, coarse hair on my lower legs and armpits, which created little bumps at the hair follicle. Shaving was painful on my lower legs, and still is on my armpits (although less so now that I also wax, since there is less hair to shave). I am also prone to in-growns, maybe partly because of this? The hair on my lower legs was also so coarse that I always had a visible 5 o’clock shadow, even right after shaving :/ Getting goosebumps after shaving my legs was painful. Basically, the whole process of shaving was painful, didn’t give me the results I wanted, and I never let my legs show (/was always hot in summer).
What other hair removal processes do you engage in?
As mentioned above, waxing my armpits. I do anything to minimize shaving! I also lightly pluck my eyebrows.
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
I shave for myself to feel beautiful and socially comfortable. I think it is a silly, expensive, time-consuming practice and beauty norm, but I have internalized it, so there it is. I don’t care enough to feel guilty about following it. I just want to be comfortable in my own skin and feel like I have bigger social-issue fish to fry.
What on your body do you shave? How often?
underarms everyday; legs every other day or so (only up to my knees); nether region once a week or so. I recently started shaving my face after reading about it several places online (including here!) and I love it!
What are your favorite products to use while shaving and/or after shaving?
I enjoy Harry’s razors; they seem to be a little cheaper in the long run than gillette etc. I love, love, love Dr. Bronner’s castile soap for shaving with – it lathers up a ton so it’s “cushiony” enough for me. I’ve been trying to transition to natural/non-toxic products only from the neck down, so still looking for a good moisturizer for after shaving.
Have you ever considered permanent hair removal?
Years ago I did laser hair removal on my upper lip. At the time, it had never occurred to me that I could shave my face. So funny about that gender double standard, right? You must shave everything neck down but shaving your face is unladylike. The hair is definitely lighter there now but it has come back a bit.
What other hair removal processes do you engage in?
n/a
If you shave, why do you shave? If not, why not?
Same as you, probably mostly because it’s expected. And I still feel prettier/more pulled together when I have.
OH.EM.GEE! You are hilarious!
I had a friend in HS who used to tease me that I only shaved on Holidays! (Pretty true…) Getting older, so hair is sparse…other than chin, where it now sprouts. I use a Harry’s razor and face wash in the shower when I think of it or if my whisker pokes me. Legs…just above knee to toes (me too, Grechen!) with Hairy…Oops! Harry and some body wash. I’m a natural girl, so I don’t mind my fluffy area…I was a late developer, so it meant a lot to me when one finally sprouted. Armpits…Whenever I think of it…idk, 2x/ week?
If I could afford electrolysis, I would’ve gotten it on my legs when I was 20 (A 34″ inseam is a LOT to shave!!!) Who cares anymore? (I guess that means I’ve entered the IDGAF Era!) 🙂
I did laser hair removal on my bikini line when I was 22. Best thing I could have done! I no longer have to deal with the horrible, painful ingrown hairs I used to get in that area. Seven years later, there is still no regrowth. I would love to get my underarms done sometime in the future as well.