“[Body hair] keeps mammals warm. It protects their skin from a lot of external influences, from abrasion, from water, from chemical attack, all sorts of things,” she says.
"Letting your body hair grow is what nature intended," says Dr. Nazarian. She adds that you'll be skipping the risk of irritation from razor blades and razor burn, which are two annoying consequences of regular shaving.
Like most everyday health habits, there's really no set rule for how often you need to shave. First of all, it depends on whether you prefer to have completely bare, slightly stubbly, or all natural non-shaven legs. There's no right or wrong answer, and it's up to your preference.
Hair won't grow back thicker or thinner
If you're afraid that no longer shaving means that hair will grow at a faster rate or it will come back a different texture than before, don't be. That's a myth, and there are absolutely no changes to hair when you take a break from your razor.
Hormones called androgens, which are present in both sexes, stimulate body hair (known as vellus hair) to darken and coarsen. Men have higher levels of androgens than women, so their body hair tends to be more prolific.
It reduces friction
Armpit hair prevents skin-to-skin contact when doing certain activities, such as running and walking. The same thing happens with pubic hair, as it reduces friction during sex and other activities.
The main role of pubic hair is to reduce friction during sex and other forms of exercise, protecting the delicate skin around the genital area. Just like eyelashes and nose hair, pubic hair helps prevent the transmission of bacteria, trapping any dirt, debris, and microorganisms that could be harmful to the body.
The bacteria on your skin breaks down the sweat, which creates the unpleasant smell. The bottom line is this: shaving armpits and body hair leads to fewer bacteria and less smell.
There are some benefits to not shaving like better sex, a reduced chance for skin infections, and a more regulated body temperature. Ultimately, you should go with whatever style makes you feel comfortable.
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.
According to the book "The body project", women started shaving their legs in the 1920's when skirts became shorter.
Plenty of modern men choose to shave or "manscape" in order to maintain their preferred appearance. Many romantic partners find this look to be attractive and support the preference. Some men with dense or dark leg hair feel more confident in shorts and swimming suits if they've shaved beforehand.
Protection from bacteria and other pathogens
It follows that pubic hair may protect against certain infections, including: cellulitis. sexually transmitted infections (STIs) urinary tract infections (UTIs)
The short answer is no, it is not necessary to do anything to your pubic hair. Shaving your pubic hair is a personal choice. Pubic hair may help protect your genitalia from infection and friction. Removing your pubic hair comes with the risk of getting cuts or ingrown hairs.
You really don't need to remove your pubic hair for any health reasons, sexual or otherwise, other than perhaps decreasing odor from sweat. When it comes down to it, pubic hair grooming is a personal preference.
Pros of Shaving Your Legs
Less body hair means that muscles are more defined and easier to spot. It also means reduced drag against water and air currents, so bikers and swimmers rejoice! Shaving your legs, or at least trimming the hair on them down, can make you feel cleaner and look less unkempt.
This may be razor burn or razor bumps. Razor burn, or folliculitis, generally occurs immediately after shaving or when the hair is growing back. It can leave the skin on your legs red and inflamed, or with raised bumps. Razor bumps are most likely caused by friction from the razor and ingrown hairs.
Pro athletes need every conceivable advantage to succeed. Runners and cyclists typically shave because tight shorts plus body hair can mean painful tugs at the worst moments. Rock climbers and contact sport athletes also benefit from body hair removal, which can snag while active and tear the skin.
Leg hair and arm hair developed to help prevent chafing so we could move around without causing friction.
The fine hairs that cover our bodies, which have replaced the thicker ones seen on our close relatives, are thought to be an evolutionary leftover from our hairy ancestors. Now scientists find these fine hairs are useful after all — people with more of them are better at detecting bedbugs.
Men report grooming their pubic hair for various reasons including sex and hygiene, comfort, and curiosity. Reasons for pubic hair grooming by age are reported in Figure 1. The majority of men report grooming in preparation for sexual activity with a peak prevalence of 73% among men aged 25 to 34 years.
Bacteria can cling to hair. In the vaginal area, that is both a good thing and a bad thing. You need your good vaginal bacteria to prevent an overgrowth of yeast, but when bacteria mix with the sweat and oil on your pubic hair, it can produce a smell.
When the hair wicks sweat off the skin (to keep you dry and cool), it collects, along with pheromones and bacteria, in that area. "The hair traps the smell," Michael Cackovic, M.D., an ob/gyn at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF.
A combination of polls shows that 80 to 90 percent of women prefer some amount of grooming for starters. Only 10 to 20 percent prefer guys with a completely unkempt bush; this means that going wild below the waist is not the default look. It may require less work, but you're not playing the odds.
Butt hair is a totally normal part of life. Just because your favorite Instagram influencer hasn't hashtagged #ButtHairOnFleek doesn't mean that having it is a bad thing. Butt hair — even deep in the valley of your backwoods — is perfectly normal. Most people have some hair on the cheeks, around the anus, or both.