Body hair is one of the taboo topics that many prefer to keep quiet about. Instead, they might attempt to obsessively remove it using different procedures to make their appearance less visible. In all of this, they sometimes don’t notice how much mental and physical effort is put into following these demanding norms.

Bright Side decided to take another perspective on these established standards. Together with you, we want to discuss why it’s totally normal to forget about hair removal for a short time. And as it turns out, it can be beneficial to your body and make you feel better about yourself.

1. Others will feel how attractive you are.

Sweat glands help us to release our pheromones, while the hair on our body helps us spread our odor. Research proves that our natural body scent plays an important role in the attraction of people around us. In fact, armpit hair helps to trap this musk, making the effect of pheromones even stronger.

2. You can free yourself from pain.

Hair removal procedures like shaving, waxing, or sugaring can bring pain, irritation, and red bumps, especially to those who have sensitive skin. But many women still proceed to do this, convincing themselves that this is normal and acceptable, no matter how much physical discomfort they feel from this. Sometimes, it’s necessary to stop for a moment and let your body rest for the sake of your own wellness and health.

• I gradually stopped. I have very sensitive skin, and for years I tried different hair removal methods and dealt with the ingrown hairs, rashes, and cystic-type lumps that cropped up as a result. Armpits were particularly bad, so I stopped shaving them. A couple of years ago I was about to wax my legs and I thought “Who am I doing this for?” And I could not for the life of me think of a good answer to that question. Still can’t. Still hairy. © Sorxhasmyname / reddit
• My armpits were always super irritated after shaving, so I quit. I still shave my lower legs because the hair there is very dark and thick but it’s barely noticeable on my thighs, so I leave that. © -breadstick- / reddit

3. It can make you feel physically better.

Hair on your body is important for protecting your skin and reflecting the sunlight. It also plays a role in regulating your body temperature. Air gets trapped between the hair and the skin, creating a layer that helps to insulate the skin against heat loss.

4. It reminds you to make yourself a priority.

Accepting yourself still remains a big challenge for many of us. We might constantly criticize our bodies and feel pressured to fit in the standards of beauty and behavior that the world around us follows. Rethinking your relationship with your body hair can be a solid step in creating a positive image of yourself and feeling free about living life the way you want.

• I really feel so great. I love doing my makeup and having a cute feminine outfit on with my leg and armpit hair. I feel more authentically beautiful and so deeply confident and sexy. © iffle / reddit
• When I was in high school I shaved my legs, underarms, and private parts regularly because I was very embarrassed about my hair. First, I stopped doing it in winter because I had no one that would see my hair for a while, and after the prickly stage, I love how it all looked! It made me love my natural body even more. © ohlookitsdd / reddit

5. You make sure you’re surrounded by the right people.

Embracing your body hair can also help you to find people who really care about you and accept you the way you are. They won’t force you to change yourself for them and won’t make you feel uncomfortable about your body. Instead, such people can help you feel accepted and empowered.

• I hate getting razor burn or itchy skin after shaving so I just stopped. My boyfriend doesn’t care and living in the Bay Area in California, it’s not that big of a deal. I see a lot of girls with hairy armpits like me. Feeling the breeze through your leg hair is surprisingly nice, compared to the momentary smoothness from shaving. © Hcat23 / reddit
• I’m half-Arabian in a European country and I’ve always noticed that the hair on my body is much darker and more visible. I was okay with it until a girl in my class laughed at me when I was 12. I became really really ashamed of my body hair and hid it for 3 years during summer by only wearing long shirts and pants. From the moment I was allowed to shave, I removed basically everything below my nose since then, a few times a week. But it all changed when I found a boyfriend. I was still very insecure about my body hair when he said, “Body hair is natural. I like it being visible. It reminds me that I am not sleeping with a child. I find this more attractive than no visible body hair at all.” He helped me remember that we’re all allowed to feel comfortable with ourselves, especially if it’s something so natural. © Naevok / reddit

6. You can have more time for other things.

On average, women can spend more than $10,000 on shaving products and up to $23,000 on waxing over their lifetime. Embracing your body hair can free you from these routines. Instead, you can work on your future by investing this time and money in your personal growth or giving small presents to yourself. Later on, this will pay you back in the form of better opportunities and greater well-being.

• I stopped shaving my arms. I used to be really embarrassed because I’m so hairy and it’s so dark. I thought something was wrong with me. I save money on shaving stuff and don’t take as long in the shower. It’s funny too because I was recently considering starting again. And then I was at the hospital the other night and a nurse had to rip my IV tape off. I made a joke that it was like free waxing and she commented, “Not that you need it.” It gave me a boost of confidence. My arms are normal human arms and I don’t have to do anything to them that I don’t want to. © tomorrowistomato / reddit

Bonus: It can help you to overcome issues from the past.

Even now, female body hair is considered inappropriate in different cultures. From a very young age, some girls can be forced to fit the standards and get rid of them as quickly as possible. This can result in anxiety and lower their self-esteem. Recognizing and accepting your body hair can be the first step to get rid of your fears and feel mentally stronger.

• I only ever did it because when I was a teen I was bullied a lot about my appearance and had low self-esteem. If there was anything I could do to blend in, I did it. Once I got a little older and stopped caring, I decided one day to stop shaving and see what happened. Nothing happened. I never shaved again. © reusablethrowaway- / reddit

What are your thoughts about body hair? Do you agree that it’s possible to stop removing it?

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