What’s with all this body hair?

Charlotte Miller body image, penis and balls, puberty, skin and body hair, vagina and vulva

Here’s why your body hair is your business

Body hair. We all have it, and it’s completely normal – but it doesn’t always feel like that when we’re surrounded by people shaving, waxing, and threading any kind of hair that pokes out of “unwanted” places. And no, body hair is not gross!

When and where do we start growing body hair?

Everyone will grow body hair at some point in their life – most commonly under your arms, and on your arms, legs, face, and genitals. This usually starts around the age of 11 or 12. But these ages are just averages, so don’t worry if you start growing hair on your body at an earlier or later time.

Why do we have hair on our bodies?

Whether you love or loathe your body hair, it does have a purpose. The hair on our bodies helps regulate our body temperature. It stands up when we are cold, which traps heat to make us warmer. Some body hair, like eyelashes and nostril hair, prevent dirt from entering our bodies.

But what about pubic hair? Surely there’s not an actual purpose for it? Wrong! Pubic hair acts as a barrier that can prevent potential harmful bacteria and viruses from entering your body. It can also help reduce friction during penetrative penis-in-vagina sex. That’s pretty neat. Despite this, there’s still a lot of myths about pubic hair and hygiene. Many people believe that removing your pubic hair leads to a “cleaner” vulva or vagina. Again, wrong! There are no health benefits to grooming your pubic hair no matter what genitals you have. In fact, hair removal can sometimes lead to irritation and infection.

Why do I have more body hair than my friends?

Some people have lots of body hair and others don’t have much at all. Some of that is down to genetics, but it could also be hirsutism. This is a common condition where you grow thick, dark hair on your face, neck, chest, tummy, lower back, bum or thighs. Hirsutism mainly affects people with a vagina. The most common cause is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Although it is common, it may make you feel self-conscious, or perhaps you completely embrace it. Both are totally okay!

If you think you have hirsutism, you may want to visit your GP, as they can look at the underlying cause and talk about possible treatments if you want to remove the hair. But remember – what you do with your body hair is your choice, so don’t let others make that decision for you.

To groom or not to groom?

Some people love their body hair, and that’s great. We’re finally beginning to see celebrities and models celebrating and normalising their body hair. But many people want to groom their body hair, and that’s cool too. One brand, Billie, created the first advert to actually show women shaving their body hair, in an effort to tackle the taboo around our fuzzy parts. They even have a gallery of women showing off their body hair.

If you do want to remove your the hair on your body, common methods include waxing, or shaving using a traditional razor with shaving cream or an electric razor. If you decide to shave, make sure you are careful so you don’t cut yourself. When using a traditional razor make sure you wet the area before shaving, use shaving cream, and use a new and sharp blade.

Normalising body hair

Having hair on your body is completely normal. Like with the hair on your head, why not try out different styles to see what works for you? And whatever you decide, make sure it’s you making the decision and not someone else. Afterall, your body hair is your business!