Body hair is weirdly political. It shouldn't be, right? It’s just protein filaments growing out of follicles, yet here we are. When someone says come see my hairy armpits, it isn't usually an invitation to a gallery show—though in some Brooklyn lofts, it might be. Usually, it’s a defiant shrug against a century of marketing that told women they were "unclean" if they didn't scrape their skin raw every forty-eight hours.
The history of why we shave is actually a bit of a scam. Honestly. Before the early 1900s, most women in the West didn't bother with underarm shaving. Then came King Camp Gillette and a massive 1915 ad campaign in Harper’s Bazaar. They called underarm hair "objectionable." They created a problem to sell a solution. Fast forward a hundred years, and the simple act of existing with natural fuzz has become a battleground for bodily autonomy and "Januhairy" movements.
The weird psychology of the come see my hairy armpits movement
Social media changed the stakes. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are flooded with hyper-curated, hairless perfection. So, when a creator posts a photo with the caption come see my hairy armpits, they are basically throwing a brick through a digital window. It’s a vibe shift.
It’s about reclaiming space. You’ve probably seen celebrities like Janelle Monáe or Miley Cyrus rocking the look on red carpets. They aren't doing it because they forgot to buy razors. They’re doing it to prove that femininity isn't a performance that requires a blade. It's about comfort. For a lot of people, shaving causes chronic folliculitis—those painful, red bumps that look way worse than a bit of hair ever could.
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There’s a biological side to this too. Your underarm hair isn't just there to annoy you. It actually serves a purpose. It reduces friction between the arm and the torso during movement. It also acts as a natural wick for sweat, helping to regulate pheromone distribution. We’ve spent decades trying to suppress these natural functions in favor of a "doll-like" aesthetic that is, frankly, exhausting to maintain.
Health, hygiene, and the "smell" myth
Let's get real about the hygiene argument. People love to claim that hairy pits are "dirty." That is scientifically inaccurate. Sweat itself doesn't actually smell. Odor happens when bacteria on the skin break down the proteins in sweat. While hair provides more surface area for bacteria to hang out, regular soap and water solve that issue regardless of hair length.
If you're thinking about ditching the razor, you might notice a transition period. Your skin might feel different. Your deodorant might need a different application technique.
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- Try a spray or gel: Solids can sometimes clump in the hair.
- Exfoliation is still key: You still have skin under there. Use a gentle scrub to keep pores clear.
- Trim instead of shave: If full-on bush isn't your thing, a beard trimmer with a guard keeps things neat without the itch of regrowth.
The "itchy" phase is the hardest part. When you first stop shaving, those blunt, cut ends of the hair start to curl back and poke the skin. It's annoying. It lasts about two weeks. If you can get past the fourteen-day mark, the hair softens, and the irritation usually vanishes entirely.
The cultural impact of natural grooming
We see this shift everywhere now. Gen Z is leading the charge, but even older demographics are starting to question the "tax" of grooming. It’s expensive. Razors are pricey. Laser hair removal is a small fortune. When you stop and realize how many hours of your life are spent in a humid shower trying not to nick your skin, the come see my hairy armpits philosophy starts to look like a massive time-saver.
It's not just about being "natural" or "crunchy." It’s about the right to choose. Some days you might want to be smooth. Other days you might want a full forest. The power is in the lack of a mandate. For a long time, the mandate was "smooth or stay home." Now, the trend is moving toward "do whatever makes you feel like yourself."
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Realistically, the pushback is still there. You’ll see it in the comment sections. People get surprisingly angry about other people’s body hair. It’s a projection of their own insecurities or their rigid adherence to social norms they never bothered to question. But the more we see natural bodies, the more our brains habituate to them. This is called the "mere exposure effect." The more you see hairy armpits, the less "shocking" they become. Eventually, they’re just... armpits.
How to navigate the transition to natural hair
If you're ready to embrace the look, don't feel like you have to go 0 to 100 in a day. You can start by just skipping a week. See how your skin reacts. Notice if your confidence shifts.
Most people find that the biggest hurdle isn't the hair—it's the fear of what others think. But honestly? Most people aren't looking at your armpits. They’re too busy worrying about their own perceived flaws.
Actionable Steps for Personal Grooming Freedom:
- Ditch the dull blades: If you do choose to shave occasionally, use a fresh razor to prevent infection.
- Hydrate the skin: Use an unscented oil or moisturizer on the hair to keep it soft and prevent tangles (yes, armpit hair can tangle).
- Audit your social media: Follow creators who normalize natural body hair. If your feed is nothing but airbrushed skin, your perception of "normal" will stay skewed.
- Experiment with natural deodorants: Without the barrier of constant shaving irritation, many find they can finally use baking soda-based or stronger natural deodorants that used to sting.
The bottom line is that your body isn't a project that needs finishing. It’s just a place where you live. Whether you choose to keep it hair-free or invite the world to come see my hairy armpits, the only person who needs to be comfortable with the decision is you. Wear the tank top. Lift your arms. The sky won't fall, and your skin will probably thank you for the break.