Hairy pits improve your sex life? You may be surprised what other
benefits come from leaving your razor behind.
Shaving body hair is an extremely personal choice. Throughout history,
hairlessness has been considered a sign of cleanliness, purity,
and fertility. While people have been removing body hair since the Stone Age,
it didn't become a social norm for women in the U.S. until the 20th century, according to CNN.
These days, shaving is typically viewed as an aesthetic choice — one that many still feel
pressured into by society. This is especially true for women, who are often encouraged to
remove their underarm hair. In fact, it's still considered so taboo that the majority of shaving
commercials targeted toward women feature a model sliding a razor across already hairless skin.
"I haven't been shaving my pits, see?"
"Oh my god."
Despite any social norms that still exist, it's entirely up to the individual to decide
whether or not they want to keep their body hair. But a factor that's often overlooked
is the benefits of choosing not to shave. Sure, it's much more convenient to not have to worry
about pesky underarm hair, but it also may help you in other, more significant ways.
As dermatologist Rachel Nazarian pointed out to Well + Good,
body hair serves an evolutionary purpose, saying:
"Hair prevents skin from irritation when it rubs against itself,
protecting from chaffing in many areas of our body, especially in the underarm area."
While chafing under the arms can occur during activities like running or walking,
underarm hair can help reduce friction, protecting the skin from things like rashes
and ingrown hairs. This lack of irritation is one of the primary benefits of not shaving your
underarms. Not only will you be able to avoid annoyances like razor burn, but you'll also
decrease your risk of certain infections. The micro-tears caused by shaving leave
you susceptible to infections like streptococcus, staphylococcus aureus, and MRSA, per Cosmopolitan.
Your love life might also benefit from not shaving your underarms. A 2013 study claimed
that one of body hair's major functions is to release pheromones, which play a role in our
attraction to others. The study also showed that males secrete a pheromone called androstadienone
from their underarm sweat, which increases sexual desire. The pheromones emitted by women have yet
to be studied in depth, but as Byrdie points out, that doesn't mean they behave differently.
As explained by The Cut, there are scent glands in your armpits, and growing the hair out actually
helps spread that scent. While this might sound gross, the outlet cited a 2001 study that found
that how someone smells is one of the most important features people look for in a partner.
Today, more and more people are embracing their armpit hair,
including a lot of celebs. The wave of celebrities who are showing off their unshaved underarms
goes back decades. Vogue noted that Sophia Loren flaunted hairy armpits in the 1950s,
while Julia Roberts rocked underarm hair on the red carpet in 1999.
As actress Bella Thorne wrote in a piece for InStyle,
body hair is totally normal and no one should be ashamed of it. She explained:
"Guys feel more manly when they have body hair, right? So what's the problem with a woman wanting
to feel more manly [...] Whether I'm a tomboy or a rebel, I'm comfortable with it, so why
shouldn't you be? If you really want my legs and armpits shaved so badly, you can do it yourself."
If nothing else, you'll save time and money if you stop shaving under your arms. Just think
of the money spent on razors and shaving cream — not to mention all the time spent
shaving your armpits and nursing razor bumps, in-grown hairs, and cuts. A 2009
survey from American Laser Centers found that, on average, women will shave nearly
8,000 times in their lives. That's a huge chunk of time dedicated to removing body hair,
but it also comes with quite the bill: $10,000 on various shaving items, to be exact.
Not shaving under your arms could make your to-do list a bit more manageable. Ultimately,
the decision is yours alone — but the benefits
of having body hair are certainly worth taking into consideration.