Most people know this struggle. Whatever type of hair one is referring to, it always seems to be intrinsically connected to our level of attractiveness. It decides how desirable we are to other people, and based on that, our self-worth. The more you grow aware of your assigned role in society, the more appearance (and hair) establishes itself as issues. When it comes to body hair, the solution seems to be clear: just don't have any, at least not visibly. You grow up thinking having perfect hairless skin is easily attainable and normal until you realise it’s not, at least not for you.
Beginning to remove your hair is like the beginning of a fight. Micro-cuts, blood, rashes from shaving excessively, pain when waxing and ingrown hair. And still you don't quite look like the photoshopped models in the glossy pages and colourful advertisements.
Why is having body hair a journey? Why is having body hair a fight? It comes with every body and grows on everybody. No matter your gender, no matter your age, no matter your ethnicity. Body hair doesn’t care so why do you? And why do other people?
When teaching how to remove your hair properly and healthily, information on how to take good care of it should be given. Caring for your body hair, grooming and moisturising it should be no different from doing so for your skin and for the hair on your head.
The first shaving ad where a woman was shown removing visible hair was released in 2018. Still, the simple fact that body hair is not connected to your gender presentation doesn't seem so simple. Growing your body hair isn't any more relevant to your gender presentation than an accessory. If your partner is freaked out by the amount of hair you choose to have, fuck them (not literally). Your worth is not determined by someone else's opinion. What matters is that you are comfortable with yourself.
So if you want to grow your hair - do it, if you want to shave it, wax it and use all the other countless hair removal methods that are available to you - do that. Having hair is hot. Not having it? Stunning. No judgment here. Just be kind to yourself and your skin.
Getting over ourselves, leaving societally conditioned opinions behind, and minding your own business is great for that glow of yours.
Having your looks dictated by the media and the so-called beauty standard is out anyways.
Normalise caring for your body hair, even if you choose to remove it. Trust and believe it makes the whole process much less painful and more satisfying.
Brands like FUR (which is why we are so happy to have them at ISLA) and many other body positive brands have been focusing on making your relationship with your hair more healthy and pleasurable. So why don’t you?
Written by: Carla Kowollik (@kosmoschild)
images courtesy of: Liza Mikhaleva (@liza_mikh) and Fur (@fur_you)
The day you grow aware of your body hair is the day you start being judged for it. And then you grow to hate it. You're taught that it's not attractive, it’s disgusting, it's unhygienic... Those and countless other BS myths trick you into believing that there is something inherently wrong with your body, with yourself. We're bombarded with advertisements of women shaving their already hairless, smooth legs, thinking we are flawed. If it works for her, why doesn’t it work for me. Why don't I look like this?
Beginning to remove your hair is like the beginning of a fight. Micro-cuts, blood, rashes from shaving excessively, pain when waxing and ingrown hair. And still you don't quite look like the photoshopped models in the glossy pages and colourful advertisements.
Why is having body hair a journey? Why is having body hair a fight? It comes with every body and grows on everybody. No matter your gender, no matter your age, no matter your ethnicity. Body hair doesn’t care so why do you? And why do other people?
Having or not having body hair should be treated like getting a haircut, a piercing, or a tattoo. It should be treated as a choice. A choice that is no ones concern but your own.
When teaching how to remove your hair properly and healthily, information on how to take good care of it should be given. Caring for your body hair, grooming and moisturising it should be no different from doing so for your skin and for the hair on your head.
The first shaving ad where a woman was shown removing visible hair was released in 2018. Still, the simple fact that body hair is not connected to your gender presentation doesn't seem so simple. Growing your body hair isn't any more relevant to your gender presentation than an accessory. If your partner is freaked out by the amount of hair you choose to have, fuck them (not literally). Your worth is not determined by someone else's opinion. What matters is that you are comfortable with yourself.
So if you want to grow your hair - do it, if you want to shave it, wax it and use all the other countless hair removal methods that are available to you - do that. Having hair is hot. Not having it? Stunning. No judgment here. Just be kind to yourself and your skin.
Getting over ourselves, leaving societally conditioned opinions behind, and minding your own business is great for that glow of yours.
Having your looks dictated by the media and the so-called beauty standard is out anyways.
Normalise caring for your body hair, even if you choose to remove it. Trust and believe it makes the whole process much less painful and more satisfying.
Brands like FUR (which is why we are so happy to have them at ISLA) and many other body positive brands have been focusing on making your relationship with your hair more healthy and pleasurable. So why don’t you?
Written by: Carla Kowollik (@kosmoschild)
images courtesy of: Liza Mikhaleva (@liza_mikh) and Fur (@fur_you)