Our Topic: My hair, My Business. Or Not?

People have wanted to get rid of their hair since time immemorial – in prehistoric times with flint and shells, and in ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece with hot lamps (ouch!), tweezers and bat blood creams. The wheels of the million-dollar shaving business only began turning more than a century ago, when American salesman King Camp Gillette patented his razor with a disposable and replaceable blade in 1901. Perhaps he had no idea what a revolution he would cause. Mainly because ladies were embarrassed to buy his razor – what would people say?

Headline Scandals

Around 1915, however, fashion trends meant shorter hemlines, which also led to the exposure of much larger areas of skin. And suddenly the hair looked out of place. Gillette launched its razor for women, challenging them to shave (at least) their underarms. And when the trend was confirmed on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, which featured a model in a sleeveless dress with shaved underarms, it became a hit. Campaigns based on the idea that body hair was unfeminine and unhygienic reinforced it even further. And there was soon a shortage of razors. Regardless of what the lady next door had to say. 

Shaving Is for the Bourgeoisie

During the war, most American women began to shave their legs too, for the simple reason that there was a shortage of stockings. All the nylon was grabbed up by the arms industry. Liquid stockings were also easier to apply to shaved legs. Behind the Iron Curtain, meanwhile, they could only dream about such things, so body hair was still fashionable – in fact, it was the norm.

Maybe that’s why, during the Communist era, people believed that only the bourgeoisie, actresses and sex workers shaved. And if they still wanted to shave? Whilst today you can choose your hair removal method depending on your budget, pain threshold and comfort, back then the choice was razor or depilatory cream, the “fragrance” of which faithfully accompanied you for the rest of your life! 

Shaving, a Question of Choice

“For me, body hair is another opportunity for women to exercise their ability to choose – a choice based on how they want to feel and their associations with having or not having body hair,” says model Emily Ratajkowski, who says there is no right answer to the question of whether or not to shave. “And there is no right answer, no choice that makes me more or less of a feminist. Ultimately, the identity and sexuality of an individual is up to them and no one else,” she adds. When she wants to shave, she shaves, and when she doesn’t, she pays no attention to the hair. 

Just like Ashley Graham, Rachel McAdams, Madonna, her daughter Lourdes, Gigi Hadid, Paris Jackson and Miley Cyrus, who sometimes dyes her armpits pink. One of the most famous examples of unshaven armpits was demonstrated by Julia Roberts at the premiere to Notting Hill in 1999. “I think I just hadn’t really calculated my sleeve length and the waving... so it wasn’t so much a statement,” the actress explained. Body hair doesn’t always have a message, sometimes it’s just hair. Part of the body. Like the hair on your head, freckles or eyebrows.

Thankfully, we no longer have to shave with a flint blade or be embarrassed to buy a razor. Everyone is free to do what they want with their body, to have or not have hair as they see fit. Not succumbing to society’s unrealistic beauty standards when they don’t want to be dictated to about how their body should look. And what is the result of this? Do what makes you comfortable. Your body, your hair, your choice.

Just enjoy your body and your summer. Whether it’s with or without hair, always make sure you do it with the confidence of Frida Kahlo.