A new trend among young women is growing right underneath their shoulders: armpit hair.
What was traditionally seen as unclean, unkempt or unladylike by the masses has been reclaimed in the name of womanhood and radical self love. Of course magazines have highlighted celebs such as Madonna and Miley Cyrus show off their hair as a means to shock fight traditional beauty standards. However, the organic beginnings of this movement started with regular women who were tired of maintaining a rigid status quo and proudly took to the web to make a statement.
Photos of women sharing their newfound freedom in embracing what comes naturally can be found all throughout social media using the #noshavenoshade tag.
To add their own personal flair to the movement, aside from women growing out their armpit hair, they’re also dying it!
What are your thoughts? Have you let your armpit hair grow? Are you for or against armpit hair?
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,so here it is: in the Western civilization, women shave their legs and armpit hair. It’s just basic grooming etiquette, has nothing to do with beauty. In my opinion, armpit hair on women is just disgusting. What’s next, not brushing your teeth?
I’ve been waiting for this to come along. This is the part of me that’s a bit more 70s than millenial. I’ve always hated the fact that women are expected to shave everything but their heads and look prepubescent our entire lives, while men get to walk around taking full advantage of their bodies developing into adulthood. I’ve seen men with armpit hair nearly half the length of their arms, and it’s never seen as “disturbing”, but any amount of peach fuzz on a woman seems to gross everyone out. I’m lucky in that I have very thin hair all… Read more »
It’s not for me, but people should be able to do whatever they want with their hair, facial, body and otherwise.
Well, actually having body hair is healthy for you. Especially pubic hair. Do your research. The hair has a purpose.
Thanks for responding to my opinion, I don’t know why I would need to conduct an evidenced based research on the importance of keeping armpit hair, it’s not going to make the world we live in a better place or cure cancer. I don’t like armpit hair on men or women, simple. I don’t care what it does. To all the ladies who want to embrace it, go ahead, more power to you.
As long as one is clean, take showers, smells descent etc I don’t see what the issue is with armpit hair. Not brushing your teeth and having clean, healthy non-smelling armpit hair is totally different. It’s not for everyone and that’s alright.
Agree, one other point brought up by one of my coworkers is that the more armpit hair you have, the more you might sweat. Not sure this is true but that’s what he said.
Personally, no. No way am I dealing with more hair. Like thinking about growing out my armpit hair is uncomfortable. Do you take care of it like you do the hair on your head? Do you wash & condish it? Do you do a twist out on it to change up the look? Idk I mean more power to you if you do that, you better than me but that is one thing I will shave. A lil tmi but I don’t shave a lot downstairs though, only after my cycle. It makes me feel like a new woman, but… Read more »
I don’t always shave. I do it whenever I feel like it but whenever I don’t there is no itching at all. It feels normal as if nothing is there. I don’t know if it’s because it’s straight and thin hairs but it’s just normal. And there’s no special ritual that goes into it. You just scrub your armpits as anyone would 1–2x a day during showers. Oh and I don’t know anyone that twist their arm pits either lol. It’s nothing extra and not that deep.
My pits only itch when the hair is growing back from being shaved bald.
Perhaps these women who are so into their body hair that they dye it do further maintenance as well. I personally don’t do anything special to any of my body hair. Do you do all of that to your pubic hair when it’s long?
Your body can be clean without shaving, whereas your mouth/teeth cannot be clean without *some* kind of brushing.
Not brushing teeth is unhygienique. Not shaving isn’t, and the only thing against it is people being conditioned to think they must shave it for decency. The problem isn’t that its gross, it’s that you’re not used to it .
You’re prolly right Ugonna, I’m just not used to women walking around with bushy armpits.
Not to come off as rude, but did you never ask yourself where that “grooming etiquette” comes from and why it is only expected of women? It has to do with beauty standards. Also women have been shaving throughout history on and off again in parts all over the world. So I am not sure why you bring western civilization up.
I don’t think you’re being rude, it’s a valid question. I never cared how the cultural practice of shaving armpit hair originated. I brought up western civilization because this is where I live and that’s what’s important to me right now. I can bring up whatever geographic location I want, no? Freedom of speech, free thinking?
Um…to each is own. I’d rather take 15 seconds per armpit to keep it smooth. Not that serious.
More power to women who don’t shave under their arms. It’s not something I see myself doing. Shaving underarm hair is just a part of my grooming and hygiene ritual.
Yuck, I find it unclean in both men and women!
You don’t have to like it and that’s alright but I don’t think it’s nice to shame someone based on their preference. Are they still considered unclean even if they take regular showers and wear deodorant?
The important difference between not shaving and not brushing your teeth is that hair doesn’t disappear when you wash. And clean hair isn’t going to pollute your airspace or harm the skin it’s growing from. It’s fine to feel that unshaven armpits are disgusting. I think beards are disgusting too. But I won’t make someone feel that they are unclean for keeping a beard (and I’m not saying you go out of your way to make women feel that way, just society in general). It’s not just about grooming etiquette. Women are made to feel that a part of their… Read more »
I don’t like beards either because I think it makes the guys look so much older and a lot of them are so cute under those beards, but anyways, I digress. I am not trying to make anyone feel disgusting, I just don’t want to know about your armpit hair, that’s all, lol.
Didn’t know I would cause so much raucous.
I can’t do the pit hair thing sleeveless but I only shave my legs when I feel like it and that was a very freeing decision.
No ways that’s gross . It’s all about basic hygiene for me . Even I think armpit hair on men is gross .
I don’t. My man doesn’t mind it. When I started being more natural…I started being natural in every way. I’m still fresh and clean.
Do what you want with your body, it’s none of my business. But just as you are allowed to have a preference for what you find attractive (and unattractive), so do I.
Personalty. I do not want to look like I got a pussy under my arms. I was sitting way back in a favorite club. A popular ladys daughter raised her arm while dancing on the dance floor. I said s$&%t to much hair under the arm. In my head I said ” me and the guy did put his P#N$ under my arm. Rather for him to do it that way than drop his Ulk in my vagina. I don’t grow a lot of hair. it still get F #%&$y.
Wow
I have no problems with it at all. Just don’t be musty. It just smacks of some type of Feminist showboat to blame MEN for why they shaved to begin with. I never knew why they did.This is a distraction sisters. They did this to your mothers and grandmothers before. When we fought for Civil Rights and FREEDOM they divided us with the Feminist Movement that is STILL destroying our families to this day. Now that you sisters are finally waking back up and the NATURAL HAIR MOVEMENT is gaining momentum, here goes your ENEMY once again taking away your… Read more »
I don’t shave often, but not as a statement. I developed razor burn on my pits and they had become pretty dark; so, I stopped shaving. After a two or three months of TLC, my pits were back to their normal color. Now I shave only when I plan to wear something revealing enough for them to be seen…and that could be every 2–3 months. At the end of the day, I don’t really care about wearing sleeveless tops or dresses; so, it’s working out well for me. Not to mention, body hair has its purpose. Some may not like… Read more »
I love it!!!!!! Let the revolution take place!
To me, not shaving under my arms isnt linked in anyway to me feeling more empowered as a woman, i think there are other ways women can show and feel their womanhood and self love. Won’t be doin this one…to me shaving is just a part of my grooming ritual
So, women showing armpit hair is a movement now? Ummm.….….no. The fight for civil rights…THAT was a movement. Growing hair naturally and choosing not to groom it is not a movement. It’s a personal decision that should be kept personal; but, nothing is personal anymore in this selfie-ridden, “hey, look at me!” culture. You can grow armpit hair, raise your arms, and take a picture of yourself. Wow, you are well on your way to making the world a better place. Personally, I’m not a fan of the look. I would never be seen in public with armpit hair. Every… Read more »
A struggle against racism is just as honorable as a struggle against Sexism. no matter what styrene isostatic never fair to downplay someone else’s struggle. This is called a movement because women are finally questioning why the human body us shunned if a majority of human beings have one. We are on a website that celebrates black women wearing their hair “naturally” to show off natural beauty and somehow this means less thano women of all colours standing up against the shunning of the human body? Somehow that’s “nasty” and “tthey should put their arms down”? Well then, honey, we… Read more »
Some women don’t shave regardless of what people think but they don’t show everyone. I am one of those women and in this say and age I don’t think any one cares.
The reaching in your argument is a bit much for me, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
If this is really a battle against sexism, then sweetie, you may find armpit hair to be a woefully inadequate weapon in the war.
When my intelligence, talent, experience, strength, tenacity, and cunning fail to gain me equal footing with men in the world, then I will be sure to turn to armpit hair as my secret weapon.
Race always take precedence over sex Sis. If certain people had their way, NO melanated people will be alive and/or free on this planet. Women included. Do women need to be not objectified? ABSOLUTELY, but if you think that Your white sisters care about you more than your black men, you have been deceived.
“The personal is political”.
It’s a rejection of sexist and biased beauty demands.
That’s the problem. WHO’S beauty demands and who birthed such insane standards. It wasn’t Black men. It was White MEN and propagated in white WOMEN magazines. My conclusion then is that you have been trying to conform to EUROPEAN standards of beauty and not MEN’s. Black men least of all.
Funny the SAME thing could be said about the Natural Hair Movement. “The fight for civil rights…THAT was a movement. Growing hair naturally and choosing not to groom (PERM) it is not a movement.”
Now, don’t be insulting just because you don’t agree with something.
1) BGLH asked what we thought, and I said what I thought. I don’t apologize for stating my own personal preferences and experiences, nor do I expect anyone else to.
1.5) Plenty of people see natural hair and consider it not groomed. They are entitled to their opinion, and I am entitled to not care and continue living my life.
2) I don’t waste my time debating with people, and I’m not about to start over some damn armpit hair. It’s just not that serious to me. Shave…don’t shave…whatever. Ciao! 😉
This is definitely NOT the same as a Natural Hair movement. The NHM is a choice for people who choose not to process their hair chemically. Not grow it out in a unsanitary manor and use it as a statement.
LMAO!!! Now I’m hungry.
In all honesty, I don’t mind if women don’t shave their arms and legs. In fact, I would prefer they don’t. I don’t have a problem with a little hair on the arms and legs. I actually find it kind of a turn on. But I don’t like hair in the arm pits anywhere on her breasts or face. Oh and leave the hair downstairs alone too. You’re a grown woman, you’re supposed to have hair down there. Just my opinion.
I just don’t like doing it in the winter, or even in the summer, unless I’m wearing sleeveless.
Mmm… I shave. I feel like when I sweat it doesn’t get trapped in the hair and smell musty lol. But I do not shave them everyday, maybe every 2 weeks as the hair grows back slowly. I shave my legs maybe once a month. I pluck my beard hairs and I trim downstairs, kind of like how men buzz cut their hair. Lmao my boyfriend doesn’t care one bit if I am hairy and I don’t have anyone to impress. I just like the way it feels I guess. Lots of men don’t care now, it is 2015. I… Read more »
Black have always not shaved. Now, it’s a movement because it’s a “thing” on Instagram. Who the hell cares whether someone shaves their pits or not? Is this the next thing to be appropriated by the self important natural hair movement? There is nothing new under the sun, remember that.
“Black have always not shaved.” Black people don’t shave? Nowhere on the world, since always? I assume you have a source for that claim? Also this “not shaving movement” is not something restricted to black young women in the USA. Something that is clear if any of the people restricting it to black people in the comments or making it a “Western civilization” thing had taken the time to watch the accompanying video, read the article or google the #NoShave. Instead of only looking at the article photos, which of course feature young natural haired women in the “no shave… Read more »
yup, actually if you ever found your way into the sub saharan part of Africa, you will notice that women don’t shave. In Congo where I was born, women don’t shave, they’re not that hair to begin with but they trim their armpit and pubic hair but the arms and legs are left bothered. I was the crazy american one who kept shaving everything and my cousins looked at me like I was out of my mind lol.
I had to fight SO HARD to be allowed to shave my legs as a kid. I ended up just stealing my dad’s razor. MOST of the women in my mom’s generation that I knew didn’t shave their legs. Most black women aren’t very hairy so you have to look closely. Black women shaving is more of an under 50 thing.
Put your arms down and keep that to yourself please i shave but idc what the next woman does so keep it private please
I don’t get how this is turning into a movement. It’s not a big deal. I shave under my arms to cut down on odor. Also I don’t want deodorant stuck in the hair, pet peeve of mine.
Your co-worker, at best, is misinformed; at worst, is lying. That’s not how the apocrine gland works.
He might and he might not be, who cares, it’s still gross. Arm pit hair is disgusting.
I was doing this before it was popular.
Man hello no! This shit looks gross! I cant wait until this trend goes away. Who keeps giving all of these extremist feminist all this credit? Feminist have been stop shaving and having these concepts they think its just woman , men do things for beauty too. Screw that, if you want to do it ‚do it but keep your musty ass away from me. Not everyone keeps up with shaving on the clock but make sure when you want to date I dont care if your a lesbian or gay , you find someone okay with that. I doubt… Read more »
I was doing this before it was popular.
Food for thought: If underarm hair is gross even though it grows from YOUR body weave, wigs and extensions that once belonged on SOMEONE else’s body is not? How do you know how clean that hair was before it was processed? Who’s to say what part of the body that hair comes from?
“How do you know how clean that hair was before it was processed?”–Um…they are supposed to be cleaned (some chemically some not) before they are sold. There are sanitary guidelines that has to be followed (USDOF), like everything else that has to be sanitized before hitting the market. Although there’s no guarantee that bootlegers (lol–I’ve shopped from those too) always/actually do it, and many people are allergic to some of the chemicals used (which is considered the best process). And as far as what body part it came from, lol–I think armpit hair is just not as viable in terms… Read more »
Although unshaved armpits do gather more bacteria and would stink more/faster than shaved (not trying to be rude but it’s a fact), it is not considered “unclean” to me. I only shave during the summer because that’s when despite wearing deodorant I smell like wet dog and my armpit scent is STRONG. Shaved (or in my case waxed) armpits give a chance for the deodorant to be there only. My deodorant and armpit hair do NOT like each other, lol.
I don’t get why they’re dying colors
the ‘grooming etiquette’ became popular, only after 2 world wars. Men went to war, and the Prostitutes in europe removed their body hair, and wore a merkin to replace the pubic hair they’d shaved off. It was all about body lice. So, Men would go to war, screw around on their wives, and then brought the idea of smooth prepubescent skin home. And Porn. in the 1970s, all the women had HUGE bushes, and even other body hair. Now, Porn has NO genital hair at all, not even on the men any more, and people mimic it in their lives.… Read more »
Thanks for the info, guess the world’s a better place now but in my book, controlling my body odor is hygiene. I don’t remember much but don’t they teach this in high school Healrh class?
Bruh your name is the same as my real name ( sorry I just had to put it out there lol) and body hair is disgusting imo and I don’t understand why these women are acting like they’re better just because they’re proud they don’t groom their body hair.
Thanks Antoinette (Annie), lol. People call me Annie too! It’s all good.
I did not get the impression that they were acting as if they were better than anyone else. It’s just simply their preference. They’re just simply saying everyone should have the right to do as they please as long as it isn’t hurting anyone. Live and let live. Everyone has their specific preferences. I’m sure you like things a certain way that others may not. Such is life. We don’t name to shame one another just because we find certain practices odd about each other.
I just feel like the whole “shaming” fad is getting old pretty fast, because why do you have to advertise your own preferences? You said ” They’re simply saying everyone should have the right to do as they please as long as it isn’t hurting anyone” then why be offended if someone calls #noshave Armpit hair a movement? Why make a big deal out of your decision to not shave? It’s only “shaming” if someone apparently disagrees or “judge” your preference is what I’ve noticed.
Yes I agree, I don’t see why there needs to be an audience for one’s preferences. People including myself have been doing this non-shaving thing for years. It’s nothing. The only people that know are my immediate family members and strangers that may have probably noticed. So I understand what you’re saying, everything seems to be sensationalized nowadays. But as I said before I doubt they are doing it because they think they are better. And from reading some of the comments, people are calling them unclean and disgusting so that is why I made that comment. I don’t think… Read more »
I don’t mean to be mean but I find this to be a movement quite ridiculous. I don’t shave on a regular basis, I just cut the lenght at some places like armpits, I don’t wax because I’m a coward and it hurts lol.I shave occasionnally. It’s my preference and I don’t smell I always make sure to have a great hygiene. And a lot of women did it before it arrived on Instagram. Also I don’t see how it fights sexism as a lot of men shave and only let their beard grow. Shaving or not shaving doesn’t make… Read more »
Yeah, this is a trend that I won’t be following. That additional hair causes body odor and sweat to gather, causing sweat stains on clothing. No can do. It looks very masculine to me, but to each her own.
I view it as personal grooming, nothing more or less. I don’t care if a woman shaves or not shaves, but I don’t like it when other feminists frame it as something that’s actually IMPORTANT.
I’m so tired of this stupid riotgrrrl trend. I’m a feminist and all but I seriously don’t think anything of a woman who doesn’t shave themselves. I have more of an appreciation for women who volunteer with other women in bad situations.
Agree with you. I think this is seriously petty and a distraction away from the important issues affecting women and girls.
I WISH we could get a nationwide discussion going with the same level of fervor as this armpit nonsense, on life and death issues like female mutilation, child marriage, and honor killings. Then we’d really be on the road to accomplishing something. Instead our time and energy as U.S. feminists is taken up with trivial, highly personal matters like to ‘be furry or not to be furry’.
Check this
http://shutupsitdown.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/the-politics-of-body-hair/
Who cares what I think? Its not my armpits. I wouldn’t take part in this movement (unless its during the winter,LOL), but for all the women out there who want to, I say go for it!
I was doing this before it was a trend. I just don’t shove it in anyone’s face cause its not a big deal. Its hair. You make sure it clean. Once in a while I will trim and maybe shave, but shaving is so uncomfortable and hair bumps hurt and itch so I avoid it. Plus I’m not that hairy so doesn’t bother me.
The dying part.….. now that seems unhealthy.
The feminist movement is destroying black people?
LOL!!
Thank you!
I would never do this because I I sweat too much and lots of pit hair makes me sweat worse and makes my deodorant ineffective so I’d probably stink. But more power to these chicks, I guess.
why do people have to do this again is it because its a trend? people shouldn’t just follow trends. because some trends are just a bit stupid. like those harem pants that justin bieber wears. its on trend but it doesnt mean it looks nice. it doesnt even have a purpose. I mean the armpit hair. hair on the nose have a purpose. not armpit hairs.
Mehh, no thanks. I would smell within a a few hours. If you don’t shave, you don’t need to shout it out.
EXACTLY!
Just because someone doesn’t shave their armpits doesn’t mean they don’t shower or wear deodorant. People can still be clean and not be hairless. People see body hair as a sign of being unclean or bad hygiene. You can still take a bathe and have good hygiene people WITH body hair.
This is very BRAVE. A lot of things are natural but natural doesn’t make it SANITARY. You don’t have to shave, you can wax. However, this bush? Completely taking it too far. This is a culture for some, but to be a “movement” makes it a fad. Count me out. A few strands here and there between waxes, yes, but a bush? No.
I’m not with this movement either, but what’s unsanitary about armpit hair?? Is the hair on your head unsanitary? I’m pretty sure all these women shower so…
I would not call underam hair unsanitary, however, when I allow it to grown in beyond a few strands, its quickly gets very sweaty and more likely to hold on to odors.
To each their own, however. I chose to wax every few months and use an electric razor as needed, in between. I will NEVER again use a razor blade on my underarms or legs, due to the irritation.
Everyone has to determine what is best for them.
People are acting brand new debasing this as some ‘stupid attention seeking trend’ if they are going to pretend that we women aren’t socially conditioned to remove hair from our armpits/legs/etc to look ‘more feminine’ or else be seen as unhygienic smelly freaks. These women are defying ridiculous beauty standards and are very brave for doing so, especially in the face of ricidule they’ll get from not only men but their fellow women too. It couldn’t be me, because I admittedly couldn’t go out in a tank with armpit hair. I do also prefer the feeling of no hair there,… Read more »
Men aren’t called feral for having armpit hair, but believe me we have our own terms for men that shave their pits. Men and women just are different. We have different societal standards, we are attracted to each other (mostly) because of our differences, there is an expectation of masculinity just like there is for femininity.
Girls that grow armpit hair to fight societal standards of beauty, I highly doubt, are going “all in” by grown mustaches, not shaving their legs, allowing uni-brows and fostering unkept happy trails.
“, we are attracted to each other (mostly) because of our differences, ” Nope. My wife doesn’t remove any of her body hair and no hair of her body is a problem for me. It’s not the absence of hair which determines “feminity”. And what about this (from Anji, an English feminist) “Grown women are, after all, meant to have hair on their armpits, vulva and legs. There is nothing ‘unnatural’ about a hairy woman; if there were then the hair would not grow there in the first place. Likewise, there is nothing ‘unfeminine’ about a hairy woman; if femininity… Read more »
I’m not into the no shave trend but don’t see anything unsanitary in it. As long as you shower and put deodorant on, you’ll remain clean and not smell. And really, the only reason we see it as sticking it up to traditional beauty standards is because of the times we are in. Even in the 50s, some armpit hair on women wasn’t seen too out of place (According to the internet, women began to regularly shave their armpits in the 20s, but they went without shaving longer than nowadays and were still okay to have a bit of hair… Read more »
I only shave when i plan to wear a sleeveless outfit the next day. since that rarely happens i normally have armpit hair. I can go 2–3 days without deoderant but i did notice that when i shave and wore deoderant often i would smell more when the deoderant wore off. Also you should be mineful of shaving. Freshly shaved armpits leaves door open for chemicals from the deoderant to enter your lymphnodes. This may be a NEW wives tale but i had less irritation and less swollen lymphnodes when i stopped shaving. HTH!
This is exceptionally grotesque. It shows that you are unkempt, nasty, carrying odors. IT is disgusting to view, animalistic, and just plain NASTY! If you want to start a movement start one to VOTE, CARE ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY BEING TURNED INTO A SLAVE CAMP, NOT SOME VILE AND DISGUSTING KEEPING ARMPIT HAIR TRIPE!
So men with armpit hair are unkempt, nasty and carrying odors too? You know, they have these things called soap, water and deodorant that can keep your hair clean and prevent odors, right?
Do u feel the same about shaving your crotch…
I don’t care if they choose not to shave but I will continue to shave my arms and legs personally . The only thing I don’t shave is my private area . I don’t agree with itbr that’s their life and their decision . As long as they are happy , that is all that matters.
I don’t always shave my armpits or my legs…it’s usually something I overlook and my husband doesn’t care whether I do or dont…yay!