“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair, so that I may climb the golden stair.”
And they lived happily ever after.
It’s all fun and games when the hair is on your head, but let it be elsewhere and you’re branded ‘Cousin It’ from The Addams Family.
Pubic hair on a lady and bearded hair on a man have always been a touchy subject. However, some people cannot help it – they’re naturally overly hairy and it should be acceptable. What the media portrays is the opposite of such, thus fostering insecurities and a lowered self-esteem.
Chances are when you first spotted hairs sprouting, you were elated because it meant you were growing up. Then it dawned on you; this would need grooming and maintenance. Expectations for men and women regarding facial/pubic hair vastly differ. There’s no scientific research to back up the ever-changing trends with personal grooming except for influence from the porn industry and more recently the rise in pro-feminist attitudes and narrative especially when it comes to female grooming habits. Social media and Movember, I believe, have influenced #BeardGang when it comes to men.
“I am fascinated by hair on a woman, but not on her face. I’d say a combination of a neatly trimmed bikini area, hairy legs, hair on the head – obviously – and soft hairs on the stomach, yeah. No hairy pits though.” Mpilo, 26
“Facial hair on a guy, yebo!. And he can have hair anywhere else just not the shaft area. I’m not fond of rubbing up against hair and chafing. It must be smooth over there, testicles and all. It just appears cleaner when it’s all shaven.” Tholakele, 21
And what of their personal grooming:
Mpilo says, “Neat and trimmed all the way. Smooth testicles, and hairless underarms. I will let mine grow out sometimes, but not for long.”
Tholakele says: “I clean up often – underarms and bikini area, but not with razor blades. I don’t shave my legs though; I like them as they are.”
Methods of grooming include shaving (most common), trimming, waxing and laser. Each varying in pain, cost and grow-back time, it’s wise to always read up about each method and as the experts say “test on a small are first.”
When it’s all said and done, it’s your face and body. Remove or do not remove the hair because it’s what you want and what makes you feel comfortable. Partner preference and/or peer pressure should never be reasons to alter your appearance.
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