Hairy legs and pits...To shave or not to shave.

Hairy legs and pits...To shave or not to shave.

Okay, so you've got hair down there and hair under your arms. Maybe the hair on your legs and on your arms is becoming darker as well.

What's a girl to do about this hairy situation?

The answer is: Nothing if you don't want to. Getting rid of body hair isn't a requirement. In fact, until the 1920s most American women didn't do anything about their leg and underarm hair. But then skirt length started going up, and women began wearing sleeveless dresses, and the razor wasn't just for men anymore. European women didn't really start shaving until the 1960s. There are still a lot of women who don't shave, or who only shave their legs in the summer.

Shaving

Girls shaving is the most popular form of getting rid of body hair. Some girls shave to just above their knees and others shave the entire leg. Some girls shave their underarms because they find it helps prevent B.O.

Waxing

Other forms of body hair removal include waxing, which you can do at home or at a beauty salon. The advantage of waxing is that since it pulls out the entire hair, it removes hair for up to a month and regrowth can be smoother than hair that grows back after shaving. The disadvantage of waxing at home is it can be tricky and messy.

Depilatories

You can also try a depilatory. A depilatory is a cream or gel that chemically damages the hair roots, so that when you wash it off, the hair comes off too. The disadvantage? It can irritate sensitive areas and can smell pretty bad. Effective but expensive hair removal options include electrolysis and laser hair removal.