Underarm hair
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Underarm hair, also called axillary hair, is the composition of hair in the underarm area. This hair, as most of the other body hair, normally starts to appear between mid and late puberty, and sometimes even earlier. The release of pheromones from the axilla at this stage of human development suggests association of armpit hair with sexuality. The positive response to olfactory stimulus in mammals and the consequent intensification of the sex drive caused by release of pheromones offers useful clues as to the purpose and importance of axillary hair in humans.
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[edit] Removal of underarm hair
Today, in many Western countries, it is common for women and sometimes men to wax or shave off their underarm hair regularly for aesthetic reasons if it is likely to be in view, although the prevalence of this varies widely. Such hair removal must be performed more frequently than leg shaving, as underarm hair grows faster than leg hair. [citation needed]
[edit] History of practice
The practice began around 1915 in the United Kingdom and the United States, when one or more magazines showed a woman in a dress with shaved underarms [1]. It became readily feasible with the introduction of safety razors at the beginning of the 20th century. Underarm shaving did not become widespread on the Continent of Europe until well after the World War II [citation needed].
As the positive effects of pheromones are better understood, the practice of shaving is becoming less widespread and, unless armpit exposure is inevitable (as in sleeveless dresses, bikinis, etc) a 'trimmed' or 'fuzzy' appearance is becoming acceptable.
[edit] Effects of shaving
For some women there is some truth in the belief that the underarm hair will grow out more thickly with regular shaving [citation needed]. Not only does the resulting stubble make the hair seem to be thicker, but the armpit area darkens over a period of time and, even with a close shave, an "evening shadow" is visible. Because hair under the skin can contribute to a dark appearance of the underarm, waxing, by removing the hair from the root, can effectively reduce this darkness. [2]
Both use of underarm antiperspirants and shaving have been claimed to be linked to breast cancer in women, though the risk of cancer due to these factors is neglible. [3]
[edit] Reasons for hair removal
While the majority of men do not shave their armpits, many from different parts of the world do so for hygienic, aesthetic or comfort reasons.
Many male and female competitive swimmers remove hair to make their bodies more streamlined before taking part in races. It is also common amongst bodybuilders, for aesthetic reasons.
Men and women in Muslim countries shave their armpits and it is considered unhygienic in their countries not to shave this area. [citation needed]
