Armpit hair

[flexagon]

For a variety of reasons¹ I've been thinking about not shaving my armpits for a while -- basically just as an experiment, not as a lifestyle commitment. I've always shaved them ever since I had any hair at all... it seems weird to me that I don't even know what it looks or feels like to not shave them.

So far I'm still at the (rather prickly) stage where I look like I forgot to shave, rather than looking like a raging hippie. But I have to admit, I'm astonishingly nervous about crossing that line. It's weird, because what the hell is the big deal? -- it should be no stranger than a guy growing out a beard for a little bit. And yet because of the statistics, it is. I had been thinking that it's fall now and nobody will see my armpits, but yes they will! Maybe not at work, but I work out six times a week, for crying out loud, and that nearly always involves a tank top. If and when that gymnastics class starts up I'll be raising my arms in front of new people who are just meeting me! I'm almost sure I don't have the nerve to do that.

The trouble is that (since getting past my uber-idealistic teens anyway) I've always believed in picking my battles. If something doesn't matter very much to me, I'll conform, because maybe I have better things to do than defend my choice to wear polka-dotted socks or whatever. So basically, unless I end up loving this I'm going to end up shaving again, because not doing so is seen as such a strong statement. But it's weird, really weird to me that even trying it turns out to be so scary. I think I've become just a leetle bit addicted to being seen as traditionally attractive.

¹Although nevers's essay in Trabant 2 definitely brought it to my mind, I've also been thinking that in practical terms my skin might be happier if I didn't shave it all the time, and if there was something soft in there. It's even possible that with some hair to catch the sweat I might sweat on my shirts less at work, though I'm not sure if it really works this way. Plus, one or two of the best female yoga teachers I've ever had have hairy armpits... I used to hate this but lately have just been associating it with mad inversion skillz.

Comments

[apfelsingail.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I might point out that you're very blond, so it's unlikely that you would end up with one of those curly monster-shocks of armpit hair that just leaps out every time you lift an arm. Most likely, you'll end up with silky blond fuzz; it may not even be that noticeable.

[flexagon]

Good point, although my hair does tend to grow long everywhere... we'll see.

[apfelsingail.livejournal.com]

If it does and you aren't a huge fan of it being super-long, you could still trim it.

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

I have the same issue...namely being addicted to being kind of traditionally attractive. Add that on top of being accused of being masculine all the time as it is, and I'm not brave enough to try. Camping has created the odd test run here and there, but that's not the same. You are a brave pioneer. :)

[nevers.livejournal.com]

yay for hair-growing experiments! i still might end up shaving next summer, though i'm fine with exposing it at the gym throughout the winter. also it was way easier for me, i think, because i was doing handstands with so many unhsaven girls. but man, when i did shave my pits for the vsa reunion my skin was so unhappy. i know a lot of that was just becasue it was shocked but id on't even want to deal with that.