How Normal Is It To Have Body Hair?

While starting this blog, I had so many questions in my mind. I know it's not only me but every girl, either a teenager or an adult, has these questions and often debates about how normal it is to have body hair?

We had always heard mean comments about our body hair. Or we often choose our clothes according to our hair growth, like wearing sleeveless only when we have shaven armpits, or wearing short dresses when our legs are smoothly waxed. 

Why do we do this? Who told us all these things? Simple, society or the mentality we all have grown up with in our growing ages. These things are made standard to us, they are spoon-fed in such a way that we do not question our choices, but on the other hand, we judge who makes their own choices. Body hair is natural, and so is its growth. But, cleaning body hair is made hygienic and regular. 

So Ironically, something natural is not normal, but cleaning it up has become routine. To know how it started and what is expected and not, let us have a quick history of body hair and its removal.

Why do we have Body Hair?

Before we talk about anything, let's discuss why we have body hair? 

Well, Millions or trillions of years ago, our ancestors were covered with hair like monkeys and chimpanzees. The reason for so much hair was due to many functional purposes. The most important one is body hair keeps the body warm, saving the skin from all the external influences. 

So, the question comes: how do we begin to lose hair? 

With the change in climate, typography and lifestyle, our body adapts to the changes and loose hair. Today, we had a reasonably tiny amount of hair compared to our ancestors a million years ago.

What is body hair?

We have an approx five million follicles of hair on our bodies. Follicles are the pores from where the hair grows. They do not increase or decrease with age, but the hair that grows out of the changes with age or hormonal changes. 

Body hair has been part of the body since humans were created. They aren't any new science or an unusual thing. Thus, hair growth on our legs, arms, armpit, pubic areas, back, chest or other body parts is as average as any other body functioning. It might differ for every individual, but it happens to everyone, either male or female.

History of body hair removal

Body hair removal has no history, but beautifying women was part of the status of the upper class over 300 or 400 years back. And to beautify women, body hair removal was one of the necessities. It displayed women's soft and smooth skin, which defines them as beautiful and sexy. Slowly, it became the social norm for every woman. In those times, pumice stones and tweezers were used for hair removal. 

With time, clean-shaven bodies or hairless bodies were termed ideal bodies. So the practice of hair removal became the mindset. With the advancement, The razor and waxing companies used this mindset as an advertisement and created the hairless body as a beauty standard and made it normal to shave or wax. 

Eventually, Hair removal was defined as a hygiene and cleanliness routine. Therefore it became a necessity, and in time it became a regular practice. This practice made the body hair removal completely normal rather than a choice.

Why is body hair normal in Men but not in Women?

Men are not considered dirty or unhygienic with all their body hair. They are not even pressured to remove their body hair. But, the same hair growth or even less is not considered normal in women; why?

Because we live in a patriarchal society with double standards for men and women, women have been objectified for ages. They have been considered things to be beautified or displayed. They aren't given choices but are pushed to follow societal norms. And society standards define a cleanly shaved body as the ideal body. 

Are we changing?

Yes! Things are changing, the mentality of the society is changing, now colour, height, weight or body hair does not decide your beauty. Your attitude and confidence do. People are learning and realising slowly that others' opinions and comments do not matter.

Things have changed a lot in the last decade. Many actresses like Miley Cyrus, Cardi B, and Halsey have walked up the red carpet or made public appearances with their body hair growth. Even the advertising companies have started displaying the models with their hair growth and are making it clear that body hair removal is a personal choice. You can choose to be yourself without caring about others.

Is this part of feminism?

No! It is not a part of any feminist moment; this is for every individual, either men or women. These trends or debates are not to prove anyone wrong or to challenge anyone. But it marks an individual's choices, especially for women, because they are more bound by beauty standards. Thus, it is more about their choices, freedom, and liberty to walk in public as they wish. It is to stop judging when you choose not to clean your body hair. 

Body hair removal is entirely a personal choice. No society, brand, man or woman can tell you how to carry your body. If You wish to grow your body hair or not will always remain your decision. Whatever makes you confident is entirely normal; with body hair or without body hair is your choice.

Nobody can force you to choose how you walk in public or personal spaces. Those who make mean comments to you are jealous that you are bold enough to be carried by others' opinions. So it's always wise to ignore others' views and love yourself in whatever choice you make for your body. Don't feel ashamed, unhygienic, or estranged because of societal norms or expectations. Be true to what you believe in. Remember, It's your body; it's your choice.