Less body odor When you remove hair under the armpits, it reduces trapped odor. A 2016 study involving men found that removing armpit hair by shaving significantly reduced axillary odor for the following 24 hours.
The best way to prevent smelly armpits is to wash daily and after sweating. Using antiperspirant or deodorant and shaving the armpits can also help. Avoiding alcohol and certain foods, such as onions and garlic, will also help prevent smelly armpits in some cases.
By having less hair under your armpit (or none at all), there's less room for sweat-based bacteria to multiply. Crucially, this means a fresher post-gym grooming routine and less questionable smells once you're back at your desk.
The research shows that body hair by itself is not a cause of bad body odor. But everyone is unique. Some guys report smelling better after their shave their armpits, body hair, or pubes. They feel that it makes them sweat less and smell better.
While there are no true health benefits to shaving the arms, some people prefer the look and feel of hair-free arms and others find that having hairless armpits minimizes body odor associated with armpit sweat.
Not shaving reduces skin-on-skin contact friction, which means when you do activities that involve arm movement, like running or walking, your skin is much less likely to get irritated by the friction. This might lead to fewer skin issues like rashes and ingrown hairs.
Controlling underarm hair can also help control odor. Hairy pits are more likely to sweat, and once the sweat has started, hair follicles provide an ideal environment to trap that moisture. This encourages the growth of – you guessed it – odor-causing bacteria.
Studies have found the difference in the smell of regularly shaven pits compared to hairy ones is minimal at best. That's because our sweat is actually odourless and it's the bacteria it comes into contact with that causes a nasty smell. If you keep your pits nice and clean, then you shouldn't have a problem.
In another study, the axillary odor of shaved armpits was rated as significantly less intense and more pleasant than the odor of unshaved armpits. It should be noted that nontrained assessors rated odor samples collected using cotton pads worn in the underarms for 24 h preassessment.
These glands will continue to produce perspiration even when the hair is shaved down to skin level. The perspiration will continue to leak out of the hair's openings, even if there are fewer openings because the hair is shorter or shaved down to the skin [source: Mayo Clinic].
"It's safe to shave your legs, bikini area, and armpits every day if necessary," says Francesca Fusco, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. "It's not unhealthy, it just needs to be done properly." So, in short: It comes down to your personal preference and the routine you like to keep.
Wet your skin before you start shaving because your underarm hair is sensitive, and moisture helps open pores and soften your skin. Try shaving in the shower. This will help soften your skin to avoid cuts or nicks.
2.2 Helps reduce friction Armpit hair also helps prevent skin-to-skin contact when you do certain activities, such as walking or jogging. The same goes for pubic hair, as they help reduce friction during sex and other activities.
Smelly armpits occur when bacteria break down the otherwise odorless sweat on your skin. Some people sweat more than others and have a condition called hyperhidrosis. This excess sweating can lead to body odor. While it might cause people to be self-conscious, there are many solutions that can help.
What causes the unpleasant smell is the bacteria that build up on your sweaty skin and react with sweat and oils to grow and multiply when sweat reacts with bacteria on the skin. These bacteria break down proteins and fatty acids, causing body odor in the process.
Infrequent showering can cause bacteria to build up on your skin. Shower at least once a day (or every morning and night) and scrub your extra-sweaty areas with a scent-free, antibacterial bath soap. Stay away from strongly scented soaps, which can make your armpits smell worse.
Your sweat glands just so happen to be located under your pits. However, eliminating or keeping armpit hair short can make your antiperspirant more effective, thereby reducing underarm sweat and the appearance of sweat stains.
Armpit hair makes your pits smell bad.
This is probably the most popular pit myth. Not so, folks. Bacteria intermingling with your sweat is actually what produces the odor; however, I think some people believe that your hair makes a more fertile pad for said bacteria.
Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.
Safe Against The Bumps
The skin covering your armpits is loose, wrinkly, and well, just isn't conducive to shaving. Also, if you have been shaving regularly, you may have developed some bumps under your arms, which greatly increases the chances of a cut.
Shaving your armpits can help you to feel more confident in your appearance, particularly in the summer when you want to feel comfortable wearing short sleeved or sleeveless tops. It can also be helpful in supporting athletic performance, because having a lot of armpit hair can cause chafing and rashes.
Body hair exacerbates the unpleasant aroma in a couple ways. First, it provides extra surface area for bacteria to cling to, creating more opportunities for a nasty stench to develop. Second, it absorbs the foul odor, allowing the smell to stick around long after it should have packed it in and gone home.
In the 1920s, the new fashion for sleeveless tops and short dresses meant that the legs and armpits of American women were now visible in social situations, and advertisers seized the opportunity to encourage women to shave their legs and their armpits.
Although the results are fairly similar, there's one key difference: how long they last. On average, waxing lasts around 3 or 4 weeks because the hair is removed at the root. Hair grows back much faster with shaving, though — within 3 days to a week. This is because shaving only removes the top layer of the hair.
Culturally, the Chinese consider it bad luck to alter their physical appearance in any way. Women in the U.S. have been on quite a roller coaster ride when it comes to their armpit hair, or lack thereof, over the past century.