It's everywhere. You walk into a drugstore and there are forty different types of pink plastic razors. Flip on a streaming service and almost every actress is perfectly smooth from the neck down. We’ve reached a point where seeing naked and shaved women in media is so standard that we don't even think about the massive amount of labor, money, and history behind it.
Honestly, it’s a lot.
Most people think this is a new thing, or maybe something that started with 1990s swimsuit issues. But if you look at the actual history of hair removal, the "smooth" look has been drifting in and out of fashion for literal millennia. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about class, technology, and some very clever marketing from the early 20th century.
The Cultural Pressure to Be Hairless
Why do we do this? Seriously. If you’ve ever dealt with an ingrown hair or the "itchy phase" two days after shaving, you know it's a hassle. Yet, the global hair removal market is worth billions. According to data from Grand View Research, the industry is expected to keep growing at a steady clip through the late 2020s.
Back in the day—we're talking Ancient Egypt and Rome—being hairless was a status symbol. It wasn't just about looking good; it was about hygiene and staying cool in desert climates. They used everything from sharpened flints to sugar pastes (which we now call "sugaring"). If you had the time and the servants to help you stay totally smooth, you were clearly at the top of the social ladder.
Fast forward to the 1910s. This is where things get interesting for the modern era. Before this, most Western women didn't worry about leg or underarm hair because, well, clothes covered everything. Then hemline lengths started creeping up. Sleeveless dresses became a thing.
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The Gillette Pivot
In 1915, Gillette released the "Milady Décolleté." It was the first razor specifically marketed to women. They didn't tell women they were "hairy" or "gross"—that would have been too aggressive for the time. Instead, they framed it as a "necessity" for the modern, fashionable woman who wanted to wear the latest sheer fabrics. They basically invented a problem so they could sell the solution.
It worked.
By the time World War II rolled around, nylon shortages meant women couldn't wear stockings. To mimic the look of hosiery, they started shaving their legs more frequently and even using "liquid stockings" (basically leg makeup). Once that habit started, it never really stopped. The image of naked and shaved women became the baseline for "femininity" in the eyes of advertisers.
Realities of the Skin: What Happens When You Shave?
Shaving isn't just "cutting hair." You're literally dragging a sharp blade across the top layer of your skin, the stratum corneum. If you aren't careful, you're taking off more than just the fuzz.
Dermatologists like Dr. Whitney Bowe have often pointed out that over-exfoliation (which is what shaving is) can wreck your skin barrier. When that barrier is compromised, you get redness, irritation, and those annoying red bumps.
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People swear by different methods. Some go for the classic safety razor—which is making a huge comeback because it's cheaper and less wasteful—while others stuck to the five-blade cartridges.
Then there’s the "shaved" look achieved through other means. Laser hair removal? It's basically using light to cook the hair follicle so it stops growing. It’s effective, but it’s not a one-and-done thing. You need multiple sessions because hair grows in cycles. If you catch a hair in the "telogen" (resting) phase, the laser won't do much. You have to hit it during the "anagen" (growth) phase.
The Shifting Landscape of Choice
Is the "totally smooth" look dying out? Sorta.
We’re seeing a massive counter-movement. You’ve probably seen celebrities like Janelle Monáe or Miley Cyrus sporting underarm hair on red carpets. It’s a pushback against the idea that a woman's natural state is somehow "unclean" or "unattractive."
Social media has been a huge driver here. Gen Z, in particular, seems way less bothered by body hair than Boomers or Gen X. There’s a growing sentiment that shaving should be a choice, not a default setting.
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But let’s be real: the "naked and shaved" aesthetic is still the dominant one in professional settings, fitness competitions, and high-fashion modeling. Even in the "body positivity" era, the pressure to conform is intense.
Common Misconceptions
- Hair grows back thicker. Total myth. When you shave, you cut the hair at its thickest point (the base). When it grows back, the blunt end feels coarser than a natural, tapered hair tip. It's the same hair.
- You need shaving cream. Not necessarily, but you need something. Plain water is a recipe for disaster. Conditioners or oils often work better than cheap foams that are mostly air.
- Dull razors are safer. Nope. A dull blade requires more pressure. More pressure equals more nicks. A sharp blade should glide.
Practical Steps for Skin Health
If you prefer the smooth look, there is a "right" way to do it that doesn't involve destroying your skin. It’s not just about the razor; it’s about the prep and the aftercare.
- Steam is your friend. Never shave dry skin. Ever. Wait at least five to ten minutes in a warm shower so the hair softens.
- Exfoliate first. Use a gentle scrub or a washcloth to get rid of dead skin cells. This prevents the razor from getting clogged and helps prevent ingrowns.
- Direction matters. Shaving against the grain gets you a closer finish but increases the risk of irritation. Shaving with the grain is safer for sensitive areas like the bikini line.
- Moisturize immediately. Once you get out of the shower, pat your skin dry—don't rub—and apply a fragrance-free lotion or oil to seal in moisture.
- Clean your tools. Razors left in a damp shower grow bacteria. Rinse yours thoroughly and store it in a dry spot. Replace the blade every 5-7 shaves.
The conversation around naked and shaved women is ultimately moving toward autonomy. Whether someone chooses to spend thirty minutes in the shower with a razor or toss the blades in the trash doesn't change their value. Understanding the history of these beauty standards helps strip away the "shame" factor and turns hair removal back into what it should be: a personal grooming preference, nothing more, nothing less.
To keep your skin in peak condition, focus on supporting the acid mantle. If you notice persistent redness or "strawberry legs" (keratosis pilaris), consider switching from manual shaving to an electric trimmer or a chemical depilatory, provided you do a patch test first. Most skin issues from hair removal stem from friction, so reducing the number of passes the blade makes across the skin is the single best way to avoid chronic irritation.