There was a time when Black women loved their hair . . . and not just on their heads. A "hairy" Black woman used to be a sign of her beauty.

Now, as in many other things, Black women define her beauty in ways similar to White women . . . shaving her natural tresses is but one example.

Black women that shave and Black men that love it! Which one are you and why?

NNQueen, i don't remember when a "hairy" black woman used to be a sign of her beauty, it never happened in my house. i think that when i was a young girl, i used to watch my mothers grooming habits and followed suit. my mother always shaved her underarms, legs, pantyline, etc. on the other hand, she had a head full of gorgeous hair and a braid that went down to the middle of her back. i always wanted to be just like her when i was growing up. now i too keep myself groomed and if i have hair anyplace other than my head, it is pretty gross to me. i like the smooth feel of skin after having shaved my legs and underarms etc. i am not adverse to getting wax jobs. i even wax my eyebrows or anyplace else on my body that has hair where i don't think it belongs. i guess i'm just heavily immersed in western culture. hair on a woman's head is pretty to me, long, short, however she wants to wear it...but hair on a woman's body is a no-no. oh, on the other hand...i don't think that my husband notices. he has never made a comment about the hair on my body one way or the other...matter of fact, you have me curious about it and i am going to ask him now! :lol: thanks, i'll get back to you on that!

Hey red, maybe Black men that liked Black women with hairy legs was a southern thing. I'm trying to find information about that and if I run across anything, I'll certainly share it here.

But what I find interesting that I didn't realize is that there is a whole history around shaving that goes back a very long way. The information found in the following link pertains to men and women alike, mostly in northern Europe, but with a few examples from Africa as well.

What this proves is that shaving is definitely a cultural phenomenon and nothing more. People have gotten rich, and still are, from us applying depilatory creams and razors to our bodies.

Let us know what your husband prefers... :)

http://www.quikshave.com/timeline.htm

hair ................
it look good on some women as to others
under arms hair should be shaved to give them that lady touch
now on her legs some guys like the hairy look the light hair some
like the smooth touch this one is wide open now hair in other
places is well up to the woman men can take it with or without
but yes most do shave their as well to give the glow of body
grooming is a key to beauty & essence.......
i like to hear more women on this one .

NN, sorry i am just getting back to you. i asked my husband how he felt about my shaving habits and hair in general on a woman's body. i was hoping he would get more elaborate but ended up saying something smart like...well if you've been shaving all of this time...and you're my wife...then that is your answer. so i am ***uming that he doesn't like hair on a woman's body. thanks!

lol@red's husband...well, he does have a point. He sounds like a man of few words...lol

Thanks for the feedback red! :)

Man, ...i shave but not to the point of lookingg like a little twelve year old girl down there...yes, i wax my brows n shave my underarms..anyone who doesn't ..to me its just gross if you don't keep yourself neatly trimmed and shave your underarms

Posted by NNQueen,

Hey red, maybe Black men that liked Black women with hairy legs was a southern thing.

:lol:....Well I really wouldn't say that. I don't believe your location determines what turns you on and what doesn't, or your grooming habits.

But I shave, my only particular reason being that HAIR HOLDS ODOR. That is just oh so nasty to me. But hair in itself does not bother me at all. And if I didn't choose to shave, I'd kick a man to the curb if it did bother him. (IF I liked men.)

That may sound a little harsh, but, its the honest truth. To me thats just like a man asking you why you read the books you read or watch the TV shows you watch or pee every morning or something like that....

But thats just me I guess.

:heart: :heart: PLAY :heart: :heart:

I grew up in the south and yes I remember when it was sexy for women to have hairy legs. I used to get compliments about that all the time. But, that was back in the day and I was a teen age young lady! As a woman I shave legs, underarms, and my kit-kat :D

Hair holds odor from bacteria and it is good hygene to keep yourself groomed. Also, I think it's cute to have that bikini shave/wax down there!

Ummm...well from here...I keep it so fresh an' smooth... ALL ova' :)
seriously though i agree wit emprezz & PlayWitItPimp05
Hygiene is fadin these days i mean fo' real!!!
:)
My hair (on my head of couse :) ) goes to the top of my butt and is naturally thickly HUGE (yes its real) sooo...I know about the hair hygiene;)

It takes a lot to keep that hair smellin' purrrty so...yeah clean shaven haven here LOL :)
but I will say that I was also raised to believe love ya self hairy or not...:)

I've heard it said that Americans are obsessed with odors and their noses have been trained to be offended by certain natural fragrances.

What did people do before modern day deodorants were created? Why are we offended with smells that are natural to the body? We perspire for a reason. In fact, hair has it purpose on our bodies as well, much of which helps us to maintain good health. I wonder whether our noses are so numb now that we can no longer smell diseases that attack our bodies and send signals of danger. Did you know that we can or used to be able to do that?

I'm not talking about odors that come from people who don't take care of themselves. Foul and offensive odors that come from unwashed bodies is not good. In fact, it can cause people who are exposed to them to get very upset.

But what about odors that come from natural bodily functions? We all have them. Why mask them or alter our bodies to try and eliminate them? We cover up with perfumes and other so-called "beauty" products, to make us pleasant smelling when some of the very base ingredients used (or used to be) to make the perfume, come from animal musk glands.

Could all of these things we do now to alter the way we look, for reasons that have been planted in our minds to believe these are good things to do, convincing us these things are healthier for us and make us more beautiful and attractive, be another way that we have been programmed so that we can be controlled and kept acting "civilized" and less natural? For example, our attraction to each other is not just determined by our eyes.

Our noses are highly sophisticated. They are important to our existence. We can smell for important reasons. A man or a woman who is shaved down and covered up in perfurmes--what happens to the love when the hair growths back and we don't use the perfume anymore? Does love between two people leave with it?

How are we changing as a people and what are we becoming when we manipulate our senses and alter our thinking about what "beauty" is?

Just a thought....

interesting point...i actually do NOT wear perfume my sista I love to my natural women scent flow off :) but i suppose society has managed to even manipulate that as well.

As a lady I shave my underarms most definitely

Now the legs it depends like Ms. Arie "Sometimes I shave and sometimes I don't". In the summer all the time in the winter it depends.

I like the hair on my head to remain short and curly.

I don't have much body hair...so I only shave my legs once a month...and even still you can barely see the hair. Underarms, weekly.

The Kitty stays bald, shaving it about every two weeks.

I love NAIR.

My choice to shave has nothing to do with a white or black issue. I personally love the feeling of smooth skin...

Shave that kitty-kat. I guess as long as I can't braid the hair down there it's acceptable...but I strongly prefer bald...no hair. I won't get too graphic. :huh:

I'v shaved my underarms since middle school gym class, and my legs since high school. I actually used to date a guy.. and recently (I've known him for 11 years) i made a comment about not shaving my legs.. and he said, "You shave your legs?" Panty/bikini line, I don't mess with too much, mainly since i don't wear bikinis........ My mother hipped me to shaving my underarms.. but legs? My mother never had much hair on her legs, and she told me that men like women with hairy legs.. Even in high school, I ran into a few. But by now, it's beena habit for so long. *shrug* Besides, I like the feel of freshly shaven/waxed legs and armpits.. Lotion and deodarent go on so much smoother, IMHO.

Hi everybody... interesting thread. I shave my underarms religiously that's about it. My legs I did once when I was a kid...the hair in that one spot has never grown back, lol. As far as "Ms. Suzie" goes it depends upon the mood I'm in...I have to be honest ( I mean we are fam right?? :grouphug:) one time I wanted to see how long it would grow so I let it grow out long enough to braid and rubberband. I know...I know... I was just goin' through something plus it grows really fast, long, and straight so it only took like a month of not shaving.

Anywayyysss...enough about that. My question is what about the guys who shave. Any brothers hygeine regimine include shaving..not facial but underarm or other body hair? I know some brothers who say it is a habit they picked up when in the military...at least trimming underarm hair. Do any sisters find it unattractive to see a man with a gorilla hanging under his arm, lol) Just kidding. :spin: What do you think ladies?

There was a time when Black women loved their hair . . . and not just on their heads. A "hairy" Black woman used to be a sign of her beauty.

Now, as in many other things, Black women define her beauty in ways similar to White women . . . shaving her natural tresses is but one example.

Black women that shave and Black men that love it! Which one are you and why?

My first boyfriend was African and he said he loved hairy legs. There are also some European cultures that are notoriously known for liking unshaved women.

I personally prefer to shave everything on me... I feel body hair on a woman is too masculine.

Hi everybody... interesting thread. I shave my underarms religiously that's about it. My legs I did once when I was a kid...the hair in that one spot has never grown back, lol. As far as "Ms. Suzie" goes it depends upon the mood I'm in...I have to be honest ( I mean we are fam right?? :grouphug:) one time I wanted to see how long it would grow so I let it grow out long enough to braid and rubberband. I know...I know... I was just goin' through something plus it grows really fast, long, and straight so it only took like a month of not shaving.

Anywayyysss...enough about that. My question is what about the guys who shave. Any brothers hygeine regimine include shaving..not facial but underarm or other body hair? I know some brothers who say it is a habit they picked up when in the military...at least trimming underarm hair. Do any sisters find it unattractive to see a man with a gorilla hanging under his arm, lol) Just kidding. :spin: What do you think ladies?


Hair on a man is sexy, unless it's out of control.

I started shaving my legs when i was about 12, a friend of mine taught me how to do it...gotta keep the legs, underarms shaved,eyebrows waxed..bush trimmed low.. I dont like men with alot of underarm hair..and they got deoderent clumps in they underarm hair. grossssssssssssssssssssssssss.