As of 2015, there are few heavily debated beauty topics left. There are models of all sizes and shapes, we now choose any haircut we like regardless of age, and even complicated makeup techniques are easier than ever. But there's still one big discussion that has been at the forefront of the beauty world for the past few years: female body hair . Namely, letting it grow instead of shaving or waxing it off.
With the recent contest in China that's gone viral, it's clear that female underarm hair is actually coming back into style. But before you shake your head at the prospect of tossing your razor , listen to what a dermatologist and an esthetician have to say.
"Underarm hair has a few functions," explains Marta Camkiran, esthetician at Haven Spa. "It reduces friction between the upper and lower arm during vigorous labor or motion, covers exposed parts of the body with vital arteries, and facilitates the release of sex pheromones." So if you prefer a hairless look to your underarms, that is absolutely your choice, but keep in mind that smooth skin can occasionally come at a price.
"When you shave, you can get irritation, folliculitis, rashes, inflammation, and even infections from dirty razors," says Dr. Mona Gohara, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University. "We do it because it's a societal norm, but there really isn't a biological reason to remove that hair." So, why do we bother shaving in the first place?
"There's this false association that hairlessness equals cleanliness, but that's not actually true as long as you're clean," says Gohara. "Men wear deodorant, have underarm hair, and don't smell — there's no biological reason women can't do the same." Provided you keep your underarms clean and treat the hair similarly to the hair on your head, washing it every day, bacteria will not accumulate and therefore won't cause any bad odors.
Of course, if you want to keep your underarms smooth, you should wax and shave to your heart's content — just don't do it only because you think growing out the hair will suddenly make you dirty. As long as you keep it all clean, you'll be fine either way. Today:1
