Not shaving legs — Anyone else?

Question

I wear makeup and present 'feminine' (as in, I wear clothing marketed for women), but I haven't shaved my legs in a very long time. Sometimes, I see colleagues pause when my legs poke out of my cropped pants, or with skirts. Do you think it's unprofessional? Who else is a proud non-shaver?

Lisa · Answer

I'm a proud non-shaver. I don't wear skirts though but will do crop pants sometimes. Honestly, they shouldn't be looking at my legs and if they are, they deserve to be offended by my leg hair. Don't feel like you have to conform to make other people comfortable.

Emily Gurney · Answer

Sometimes I shave my ankles or parts of my leg that might show through my pants, otherwise not very often.  It isn't so much a choice of expression or defiance against the status quo as much as I am lazy and can't be bothered with it.

But good for you! I personally don't have the confidence to rock a hairy leg.

Susan Smoter · Answer

Do what you want to do with your own body and ignore everyone else!

Anonymous · Answer

I don't but I'm also not very hairy and have very light coloring! Meaning I can walk around without shaving and I think  nobody notices (or at least I think so).

Denise Downs · Answer

One day at work I was in a meeting with all women.  The air conditioning stopped working and it was August in NYC.  I wore a sleeveless shirt and had to wear a lightweight sweater to hide the fact that I hadn't shaved my armpits.  Well, someone in the meeting asked why I was wearing a sweater.  I told them because of a hectic couple of days with the kids I hadn't had the chance.  Several of the women made a similar confession and we all had a great laugh!  I think you'd be surprised how many people aren't shaving!!!!!!

Mandy Trouten · Answer

People pause b/c it's uncommon, not b/c it's an actual problem. I present 'comfortable,' as in I wear women's underwear and a bra; but, those and all other clothing choices are based primarily on what's comfortable. I wear men's or women's pants, depending on what I'm doing and what's available, but primarily women's tops. This is simply b/c men's pants are made to cover the lower half of your body in a normal manner, whereas women's pants are almost always made to 'flatter'--or, at least, someone thinks they're flattering... Professionally, I usually wear men's dress pants; but, I have several pairs of leggings that I wear otherwise. Likewise, generally, I wear women's tops; but, I also have 1-2 men's shirts--again b/c they're comfortable. Lastly, I generally wear men's walking shoes b/c women's shoes exist according to what's 'in style,' whereas decent, comfortable men's shoes can be found year-round.

I haven't shaved my legs or armpits in years, I think, and almost never shave. The only exceptions are when I'm going to the beach/lake or somewhere else where I'm going to be wearing shorts and showing off my armpits, and even that isn't a given. Men usually don't shave and no one expects men to shave. I see no practical reason for why I should have to on account of my genitalia being different.

However, I do shave my peach fuzz b/c facial hair is more masculine than I'm prepared to claim. I also trim my eyebrows as necessary, including basic shaping before important events.

Denise Downs · Answer

really? do you think they just notice your legs or are they passing judgment?  two different things.

Miss.JanelleK · Answer

I hate shaving! Especially my pits. Went without shaving for a long time as well and recently shaved, 'cause I have a hard time seeing my own hairy pits  O_O.  I love the feeling of being smooth. Didn't like how my leg hair tickles in the wind when I walk.  Feels like a spider. And yet I hate shaving.... 
I want to become more comfortable with how I see my own legs and pits with hair. It's a total head game.

SusanA526 · Answer

It's a personal choice and some people will pass judgement. You can't control that. I just read a story that a women's basketball coach told a player she couldn't play until she shaved her armpits. I certainly don't agree with that.

Rebecca Jones · Answer

I have been wearlong pants lately, but I have let leg hair peek out a time or two. My hair is light so no one noticed. My employer also tries to be very friendly towards dress codes, gender expression, etc. We have some androgynous looking coworkers, and it is totally ok.

Now, if I wore a short skirt, sat on a desktop and licked my lips at a coworker, that would be different.

No one seems to care about leg hair though. If anything, the guys are jealous because they want to wear shorts. I tell them they can wear a skirt and then they drop it.

Not shaving legs — Anyone else?

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