Men shaving legs?

Hair Removal Methods Shaving/Trimming
#201

Hi:

It seems to come down to the same old argument over worrying or caring what others might think of you if you shave your legs or other body parts.

I had to overcome that plus a whole lot more. If I got hung up on what others think I would have had a miserable life, which I did for many years.

I am a TS, and people are afraid of me because they don’t understand it. But, this is who I am and I had to come to terms with it for my own sanity. We have to live our lives to be happy. If shaving your legs makes you happy then do it
because that makes you happy. You don’t have to answer to the perceived thoughts of others. Many times it is just our own fears getting the best of us.

As for women liking or disliking shaved legs? Some like it some don’t. Most women like a guy who is his own man however
and does not dance to the dictates of others as far as appearance, confidence, etc…

Alicia

#202

Hi Italianguy and Alica! You’re so right in your posts that we shouldn’t get hung up on what others think and let them control our lives–after all, we do have one life to live and we should do what makes us happy and not worrying about getting everyone’s approval. I mean there’s so much crap going on in the world, what difference does it make if a man shaves his legs or another part of his body? What does bother me though is whether it would turn off women–my ex-girlfriend didn’t like the smooth look but it wasn’t the reason for our breakup. I can’t understand this but maybe, it’s the “brainwashing” that society has put into people’s heads. On the other hand, I had an Austrian girlfriend who DIDN’T shave her armpits and it didn’t bother me. Lots of women in Austria/Germany don’t shave their pits and it wasn’t an issue for me. What do you think it would take to get “mainstream” society to accept an individual’s choice in how hairy they want to be.

Stuart and some others mentioned in an earlier post the medical advantages of smooth legs when in malarial areas or with the dangers of ticks. I couldn’t agree more–when exercising in the summer, who needs all that thick sweaty and matted hair? It really bothers me and the smooth look is so much better for an active lifestyle.

#203

Sadly, it’s much easier said than done to not worry about what other people think.

I have had laser hair removal on my chest and they are trying to sell me to do my forearms (and it’s not a sales pitch). I do think that hair on the forearms and a bare chest look odd (I’ve had others tell me it doesn’t) - but I think a consistent look makes it look less obvious that I’ve had any body hair removed.

I also know people who have been told the chest and arms should be consistent.

My only real reason for not having the forearms done is concern what others will think. I still think there are women that think it’s not masculine. I understand men who are concerned.

As far as legs go, at this point, I don’t see a need - but I understand why some men do it.

What’s sad is, people I know who have removed body hair - say it is much more comfortable for them - and that is what some women may not understand about men.

#204

There are quite a few women who don’t shave their arms, so I think that is less of a femininity issue.

To me it doesn’t make sense to have a hairless chest and hair on the arms.

If you have any muscular development on your arms at all, removing the hair from them will make them look noticeably bigger. That’s reason enough to lose the hair. And you don’t have to have the arms of a competitive bodybuilder to realize the benefit.

RJC2001

#205

I’ll say to you what I always say: no one will notice if you shave your forearms. I think it looks much more consitent and natural if your chest is shaved and your legs are shaved to shave your arms. Also your pits. I’ve shaved my arms for years, and only this week did a nurse mention it, but she was examining them very closely for a test. I think that is the only time anyone has every directly mentioned any part of me was shaved. I know you might feel funny about it, but people don’t notice. Also, my pet theory is men shouldn’t shave the same places women do (legs and pits), so arms are OK, as are chest and back. Pubes are a kind of unisex area. This is my own theory.

People say that hairy pits are a “Man” thing. That is stupid, as obviously women have just as much hair there as men. It must be that women shave it, not that they have it, that makes it effeminate to shave there. Same with legs. I don’t think many women shave their arms, other than bodybuilders. Many should, but few do.

#206

Actually I have never or currently have plans to shave my legs. This is more of an issue about chest and forearms.

I’ve talked to some people who mention armpits for men. I agree that may be more comfortable - but it doesn’t look good IMHO - and I think you have to think about vanity a little bit.

I wouldn’t say I have the most muscular arms (and not a ton of hair) - but I did try removing the hair twice and they do look better and cleaner and no one said anything.

I just find it looks odd to have a bare chest and hair on the arms - only because to me - it highlights that the chest is likely shaved or waxed.

#207

You think armpit hair looks good?

#208

I wouldn’t say it looks good - but unless you are shirtless or wearing a tank top, who sees it. I just think it may look odd for a man to have bare armpits.

I don’t necessarily think hair looks good either…

#209

Hi Hairfreeincalifornia:

No one said it is easy to overcome the fear of caring what others think of you. But it is possible, as I have been able to do it in order to be myself.

You really have the choice of living your life as you feel comfortable, or conforming and compromising yourself just in case someone else may not like your appearance.
It is not easy if you feel as I used to, that people might laugh at you or ridicule you.

Courage is something you develope one step at a time, but you need to take that first step first and dare to face that fear. More often than not the fear is unfounded.
But if someone thinks going hairless is effeminate, maybe they need to mind their own business and “get a life”.
If you have courage to be yourself, then you have something that most of these sheep never have. You should be proud of yourself.

With pride comes confidence, and most women admire a confident man. Some women like hair, and some don’t. You don’t need every woman in the world to like you, just that special one. It is like the old saying says; “It’s what’s inside that counts”. Just be yourself! Be proud!

Alicia

#210

HairFree, Lots of men shave their pits, it is getting very common. In the gym I workout in I’d say the majority of men who wear sleveless tops shave under their arms. Truthfully, seeing sweaty hairy pits refleced in all those mirrors is just gross, whereas smooth lats are very attractive. On a muscular guy, the armpit area when shaved reveals all the muscles there, and is very sexy looking.

In terms of consistency, a smooth chest and hairy armpits doesn’t really go together, especially if you shave your arms as well. I know that many men find their hairy armpits “manly”, but that is clearly misguided as women have just as much pit hair as men, there is nothing about pit hair that is masculine at all, other than not shaving it. And, that isn’t really masculine, there are women who don’t shave under their arms.

If I preferred them shaved, I’d do it and not worry in the least about what others think. As you said, most people will never know whether or not you shave your pits. It is much more comfortable, try it and see.

#211

I agree with Veinlover that a smooth chest would look a bit funny with really hairy arms and pits. Armpit hair is pretty gross–I recall the one post about some guys drying it off in the locker-rooms with a blow dryer–LOL!!! (maybe, that great post was yours Veinlover) Smooth pits feel great and are the only to get women to kiss or lick you there which is really sensual–I don’t think that many women would go for a mouth full of sweaty hair.

Veinlover, you made some astute observations that maybe society thinks men “aren’t supposed to shave legs and pits” because that’s where women shave but it’s really a bunch of crap. As Alicia and Italianguy said you “should do what makes you happy and it takes courage to go against the so-called norms of society”. So it could be argued, that you REALLY are more manly and a stronger individual if you choose to shave hair off your legs and pits.

#212

Veinlover, you mentioned the nurse who noticed that you shaved your arms–how did she react? Have you had any other reactions at the doctor’s due to smooth legs or pits? I had a USG last year and kinda let my leg hair grow out a few weeks before going and the doctor didn’t seem to notice. I do think that stubbly or prickly dark hair like mine is more noticeable than completely smooth legs–after a week, they stick out like a porcupine and probably would draw more attention than smooth legs.

Ahem, changing places a bit–has anybody encountered strange looks or comments from doctors/examiners for shaving “down under”?

#213

The nurse didn’t really react at all. It was simply a question as to whether the slight rash on my arm was caused by shaving them. I said I’ve had the rash for some time, and she basically just said OH. No comments on my equally shaved legs, and tons of doctors and nurses have seen them. In fact, I had an EMG, and the Dr. was sticking needles into my skin, and his only comment had to do with the fact that I was obviously a bodybuilder. That actually surprisded me, as I’m not huge, just muscular. Perhaps the shaved legs figured into the comment a bit, I don’t know.

I’ve also been shaved down below, and had a uroglogical test that involved sticking a tube up me, and no comments were made by either Dr. or nurse, either. I really think they’ve seen it all, and as long as you aren’t disfigured, you’re OK.

I think a bunch of dark stubble, as you say, is the worst of both worlds. Someone would wonder why you keep your legs stubbly.

#214

[quote]I agree with Veinlover that a smooth chest would look a bit funny with really hairy arms and pits. Armpit hair is pretty gross–I recall the one post about some guys drying it off in the locker-rooms with a blow dryer–LOL!!! (maybe, that great post was yours Veinlover) Smooth pits feel great and are the only to get women to kiss or lick you there which is really sensual–I don’t think that many women would go for a mouth full of sweaty hair.

I just don’t see where the armpits come in. The arms are not hairy by any means. My main question was just if the chest is smooth, should the arms be. As far as armpits go, it seems like that would be totally unrelated to the chest… ditto for the legs.

#215

Hairfree, you are the only person I’ve ever seen, other than me, to post how incredibly sensual and sexy it is to have your armpits licked, kissed and touched. I LOVE having that done, and no woman I’ve met is going to want a mouth full of sweaty, gross hair. Plus, it doesn’t feel that good having your hair licked, you want the skin licked, it is very sensitive under your arms. My ex wife wouldn’t even touch my pits until I shaved them, and she wasn’t keen on men shaving their bodies, with that exception.

Now, with a smooth chest, it looks much better to have smooth pits. That seems more related than arms. I do agree that shaved pits and a hairy chest does not make much sense, but for that same reason, smooth chests and smooth pits go together, especially if you shave your arms. Now, I know lots of guys shave their chest and not their pits, as they have this “manly” think about hairy pits (maybe that real men should’nt care how gross their pits are), but I think it isn’t very attractive, and also most guys don’t shave their forearms, though I do and with muscular, vascular arms They look hot shaved. Where I do agree is legs are a separate issue, though shaved arms and legs seem to me to go together.

I think having a mix of very hairy parts and shaved parts calls attention to the fact you shave, as opposed to allowing people to focus on how nice your body looks smooth. If you are hairless everywhere, people just assume you are one of those guys with little body hair. Actually, in that case, naturally hairy pits would be consistent with that approach, but I think they are so totally disgusting that everyone should shave them. And, conversely, smooth pits are incredibly sexy looking.

#216

I guess the bottom line is that there’s no right or wrong answer and more than anything it’s personal preference.

My plight basically started with getting laser hair removal on the chest and now they’ve told me to consider the forearms and underarms. Chest hair always bothered me.

I guess though doing the chest only still can look natural.

You just wonder how much of it is a sales pitch and whether they really believe it.

BTW, I wasn’t the one who made comments about the licking

  • I think that was someone else.
#217

I was cleaning up some old magazines and junk the other day when I came across a German “Men’s Health” issue from 2001. I leafed through it and found a number of men with smooth chests, pits and arms and that was from 2001! I also had a brief look at the local flyers from Geant–a French hypermarket in Poland. They all had male models with smooth chests and pits but I couldn’t tell whether their arms were shaved or not.

I really become more aware of this stuff since body shaving and noticed that a number of Polish boxers (real tough guys) had smooth pits. LOL!!! I also recall reading a few months ago in a German hair forum for women that a lot of women stated that they “expected men to shave their pits because it was so gross.” Maybe, pit shaving is more common in Europe than the States?

BTW, it was me who goes for that sensual feel of smooth pits. Shaving really gives me a “tingle” and my last gf and I took turns shaving each other pits which realy is a sensual experience.

#218

Recently saw the environmental visual feast “Baraka” which came out in the early 90s. The film contrasts the modern “industralized” world with so-called developing countries.

Anyway, there’s a scene of a huge group of men chanting and singing–could be in Sri Lanka or India and they all have smooth chests and pits! This was very evident in the film. It just makes so much sense in hot climates and is much more hygienic. As Stuart mentioned in the other “men shaving legs” thread which has been dormant for awhile–it’s a matter of safety in malarial areas as well as a way to avoid tick bites.

It really cuts down on odor and feels great in hot and humid weather.

#219

Hi All

Medical people do not judge on body hair removal. I have also had some tests and spells in hospital with shaved legs and no doctor or nurse has ever said anything about it. When I did my paramedic training the last thing one worries about is cosmetic appearance.

More importantly is to assess the patients condition with repect to life support. Actually smooth skin makes it easier for paramedics and doctors to assess and treat lacerations, deep cuts and visually assess broken bone conditions. Sterilization and stiching are much easier without hair in the way. Most of the reasons cyclists shave!

Skin penatrive diseases like Malaria and Tick Bite Fever are often overlooked as lesions or minor warts because of matted hair on males. After 6 weeks in East Africa my smooth legs have been a major comfort benefit and quick diagnostic test as to a bite. Sport, comfort and so forth are all very well, but there are many other benefits and these are very real and manly.

Regards
Stuart

#220

Yea, I thought about lasor, but I don’t think it’s needed. If my legs still looked hairy, like before I trim them, then I might go that route. Since they look not nearly as hairy when I finish trimming them, I don’t think I’ll do it. I still shave my arms, and no one ever says a word, but when I shaved my legs, man did I get the looks, and remarks. I don’t have a hairy chest, so really now that I’ve got my legs the way I want them, I’m totally happy. I’m done for the season at the amusement park I work for, but I’ll go back in March. I’m going to work inside a gift shop, instead of working outside on the midway. I don’t have a tan anymore, and when I had white skin, my leg hairs really showed, cause they’re dark like my hair. I thought if my skin was really white, like it is in winter, my leg hair would show more, but since I use this trimmer, they still look much less hairy, so I’ve kept wearing shorts even in the colder weather. It think the sun damages your skin, so I don’t want to be out in the direct sunshine for 10 hours a day. I might go to a tanning salon, where it’s controlled so you don’t burn. I just want a slight tan, not a dark brown tan. So guys, if you shave your legs, keep it up. I trim mine once a week, and I’m satisfied, cause who wants hairy legs? NOT ME!! Later!