
Armpit Hair Is Trending, And It’s A Step Forward For Women’s Empowerment
Women are taught from a young age to shave everything from our ankles to our armpits. But why? What is this strange obsession with women being hairless? It's pretty creepy that other people feel the need to police our body hair when you think about it. Why does anyone care how long our armpit hair is when they can't even see it most of the time and it's not on their own body? What makes it so offensive? It's just another way to tell women how their bodies should be and maintain control, a low-key way to oppress women in today's society. Shaving should be a personal choice and not the choice of a patriarchal culture. That's why some women are saying "Hell no!" and putting down the razor, and even those who aren't are saying "Hell yes!" and supporting them. This is why armpit hair is trending, and it's a step forward for women's empowerment.
100 years of razor burn. American women didn't even touch their armpit hair before 1915. Makes sense, because showing an armpit was considered scandalous before then. When sleeveless dresses came into style, a magazine claimed that the armpit was unsightly and it became a thing of the past. Note: Guess who controlled the media, especially in 1915? Men.
Hairfree is not carefree. In recent years, women have decided to stick it to the man and let it all grow out. It's their way of saying patriarchal beauty standards are a thing of the past and no one has any say over a woman's body (hair and all) except for the woman in question.
It's empowering as hell. Throwing away the wax pot and embracing your natural body as-is can be a freeing feeling. Hair removal is a task, and purely cosmetic. Hairlessness is no longer the norm because women are embracing their bodies the way they are — as men have been allowed to do for centuries.
Take break. You can always get rid of hair and it usually grows back. Try growing your armpit hair out if you're curious. If not to just take a break from the hassle of shaving, then do it to feel free from at least one outdated beauty standard.
Men aren't expected to shave their armpits. Then why should women be? Why is hairlessness a strictly-female value? Men strut their pit hair all the time during the summer and no one gets offended. Everyone respects their choice not to remove their hair and women deserve the same respect. If a man wants to shave his pits, no one should look twice.
It's smashing the patriarchy. Men have had way too much of a say in how we treat our bodies, how we think about our bodies and how we think of a beautiful female body over the course of history. Considering not a single man has any actual ownership over a woman's body, that's pretty alarming. Making your own body hair decisions and grooming for yourself puts the control back in your own hands and out of those who try to own you.
Armpit hair is sexy. There is nothing sexier than someone who loves themselves and is empowered. Plus, you shouldn't use other's opinions as a gauge, but most men and women don't have any negative opinion toward pit hair anyway. Besides, if someone is trying to police your body in any way, they are
beyond not worth it.
Even celebrities are onboard. Armpit hair is gaining popularity in Hollywood. Madonna and Miley Cyrus are just two of the many celebs embracing their pit hair (surprise). It's no wonder that these hairy celebs are feminist icons. They're adding to the mainstreaming of the hairy pit.
Pit hair says "IDGAF!" Flaunting your pit hair is a statement. Hopefully someday it won't be and people will accept it as the norm, but for now a hairy pit tells people that you don't care about their media-saturated, misogynistic standard of beauty. It's your body and you do what you want with it.
Do it for yourself. Above all, it's for your own happiness. If you feel empowered, that's awesome. If it's itchy or you don't like the way it looks, shave! Whatever reason you have for making decisions about your own body is good enough.
Pitscaping is on the table. Your preference may be somewhere between bare and braidable, it's up to you. You can always trim it down, grow it out again, dye it green, get extensions, whatever you want. The beauty of hair of all kinds is that there are options.
Pit hair to dye for. Since armpit hair is trending among women, and women are awesome and creative, colorful pit hair is trending too. Hair stylists in a handful of cities in the US are offering armpit hair color services. There are also tutorials all over the internet on how to DIY. You have to admit, it's pretty gorgeous.
Waxing and shaving sucks. It takes up time, it costs money for supplies and it leaves skin irritated, bumpy and with the occasional cut. If you enjoy shaving, go for it. If you don't ask yourself why you go through all of this just for hairless armpits. This goes for all body hair. What a pain!
Protest the Pink Tax. One great reason to put down the razor is because your razor costs more than a man's. Products for everything from razors, to toys and yogurt put something in pink packaging, slap on a label that says "for women" and they raise the price significantly. Razors don't really need a gender, and since companies expect women to spend more on shaving products because of societal standards, don't spend anything on shaving supplies. We see what you did there, corporate America, but no thanks on the extra expensive "for her" disposable razor.
It's a preference, but the pressure is off. Some people prefer to be hairless, and that's cool. The most empowering thing you can do is make your own decisions about your body, whatever they may be. However, now that women are banding together and growing magnificent pit hair, the pressure is off. Shave less, shave more, shave not at all. The point is that you should do pit hair your own way. You get to decide.