why hair is wonderful

Hair is soft, natural, surprising (grows differently on different people), aromatic, attractive, provocative, sensuous, tantalizing, scrumptious, shocking, revealing, teasing, daring, dangerous, mysterious, EMPOWERING, invigorating, surprising (unexpected), alluring, free-spirited, arousing, electrifying, uncommon, playful, sexy, saucy, sassy, masculine, feminine, FUN!

~ Collected from the discussion "Thoughts on Hairy Armpits"

results from the original hair survey
Q. What do you like about Hair?

Everything. ~ Madie, 16, AUS

It’s soft, tickly, personal, liberated.
~ Tim, 24, Aus

It feels natural, it’s warm, it’s soft and it’s not stubble.
~ Edd, 18, ENG

It’s mine. It’s free. ~ Laurene, 54, AUS

There is magic in a glimpse of it, shadowlike. ~ Anon

It keeps you warm in winter.
~ Genevieve, 20, NZ

From a sexual perspective, I prefer my partner not to shave,
as I find this more womanly.
~ Dale, 33, NZ

I like it because it’s me! I saw an old school friend at a wedding a couple of years ago and he said, “So Kate, still not shaving your legs?” When I replied no, he added, “Me neither!” It made me realise that it had made a fairly lasting impression on some of the people at school, but that it didn’t diminish me in their eyes at all. Having hairy legs and armpits is unconventional in our society, but isn’t that okay? It’s unconventional to oppose the war in Iraq and to garden organically, but it doesn’t mean those things aren’t admirable. ~ Kate, 36, AUS

The natural body is beautiful. Each person's hair pattern is unique, its their own, no one has the same and for that it makes us unique, Body hair is what I call natural body art - natural tattoos. A wax body looks fake - plastic. hair gives it character, a sense of realism. Its sensual to the touch and its sad no one hardly appreciates naturalism anymore. ~ Scott, 29, US

Well I reckon armpit hair is wonderful! I think its cosy and comfortable and much more easy in hot weather than painful prickly clammy-ness in the heat. More than that, I reckon
fuzzy arm pits straight out of a fragrant bath or shower are pretty cute if you've got a 'significant other' around and wanting to spend time with you. I wonder how many men would prefer fluffy hollows or boring chicken skin bareness? ~ Sera, 42, AUS

There are three main things I like. First, my showers are much faster without shaving. Second, My legs chafe less and are not as sensitive. Third, it is quite a bit warmer in the wintertime.
~ Ellyn, USA

It’s natural and something individual. It makes me feel more adult and ‘fully grown’ I guess. It also cuts down bath times so I can spend more time looking after my head hair. ~ Alice, 16, UK

It’s meant to be there, what more can I say? What’s the point in spending endless amounts of money and endless amounts of time on something that’s just going to grow back! I’m happy to have my hair there, it’s part of me, It’s the way I was made, I wouldn’t chop my hand off to look good,
so why should I chop my hair off?
~ Pavan, 22, ENG

Image by Nick the Lime Green Squid

It’s natural-looking, I can’t explain exactly why, but all I know is that when I first saw one of my female friends’ unshaven armpit, I was instantly converted. I was like, “Wow, that’s actually kinda sexy! ~ Nick, 25, Canada

interpretations of Hairy Women
Q. What message(s) do you think a hairy female body gives?

Independent thought, comfort with ones own body, acceptance, feminine in a very raw way.
~ Jo, 18, ENG

"I am more of a naturalist." ~ Sam, 18, ENG

That this is what women’s bodies ARE; that we’ve got better things to be doing other than shaving legs; and that for the price of a leg wax I could be getting a massage or buying a new lipstick! ~ Kate, 36, AUS

Confident, different. ~ Edd, 18, ENG

Lazy. ~ Talis, 15, NZ

Confidence and open-mindedness. ~ Nick, 25, Canada

“I don't conform...   I love my body...  I want to be noticed.”
~ Tim, 24, Aus

Healthy rebellion: such women normally vocalise their justifications for rejecting the idea of shaving, resolutely rejecting “the norm”; Seldom have I met a woman who doesn’t shave simply because she is ignorant of the idea(l). ~ Sean, 36, ENG

Strength and a strong sense of not giving a shit.
~ Laurene, 54, AUS

Non-conformity, originality, uniqueness
~ Wayne, 21, Hong Kong

Someone relaxed and confident. Potentially a lesbian.
~ Genevieve, 20, NZ

If there was a message here I would say the person was confident enough to be themselves which is a very positive thing. ~ Anonymous, 48

the positive effects of hair

Q. What changes have you noticed in yourself and other people since you stopped removing your body hair?

After growing my hair for around 2 months, I already knew I liked it. I couldn’t stop looking at it. It actually made me feel much more of a woman than before. I felt maternal too, and definitely more sexy. I was BALANCED out now! Sam loved it; and the longer I grew it, the more attached I became. I smelt more natural, and felt more natural. I found it very liberating, and decided to become permanently hairy. ~ Jo, 18, ENG

I do feel more myself ... I adopted the attitude that “this is me… take it or leave it” and I have to say that my sex life hasn’t really suffered. So I have always felt that I’m meeting the world on MY terms rather than trying to match up to others’ ideals. And that’s extended into other areas of my body image too. And I have to say that my husband loves it – he says that it’s incredibly sexy when a woman is just herself and is really comfortable with that. ~ Kate, 36, AUS

Being hairy teaches you the greatest secret of feminine beauty. (No, I’m not telling what it is, go put down your razor and find out for yourself!) ~ Madie, 16, AUS

It has been bizzarely interesting looking through your website. I'd almost forgotten that I'd stopped shaving so it reminded me and got me thinking again. I've realised how just the small amount of time I spent helping you with it changed how I see myself. I said that I'd stopped caring about other parts of my appearence since not shaving and that trend has continued, as I now don't wear makeup, and have stopped that ridiculous goth thing...  which has lead me to a new group of friends, therfore life. Interesting how one thing leads to another.... ~ Alice, 16, UK.