China. China isn't fully westernized, so Chinese notions of beauty differ greatly than American ones (which is refreshing). In China, underarm or leg hair is nothing to be worried about; body hair is considered completely natural and acceptable in their culture. As a result, hair removal just isn't very popular there.
Unlike the Americans, Japanese women also shave their legs and arms. Often, they opt for an au naturel bikini line. This is a sign of maturity. They also shave their faces to prevent them from being covered with makeup.
Another interesting fact about this is that although Japanese women shave their face, arms, and legs, waxing bikini line isn't as common.
Sikhs. The Sikh religion forbids cutting or shaving any bodily hair. Orthodox Sikhs always carry a dagger with them, lest someone try to force them to do something against their religion.
On numerous trips to the beaches (and everywhere really) I began to realize that many Brazilian women have legs full of hair. While many do have bikini waxes, leg waxing and shaving is not nearly as popular as in the US. Instead of waxing, some women shave, but a large majority of women bleach. That's right.
And so we come to China, where many expats are surprised to discover that Chinese women, even those of the younger generation, simply don't shave or wax any of their body hair. While this is obviously a personal choice that varies from woman to woman, there are some common threads that keep popping up.
German men, especially those between the ages of 18 and 35, prefer to have as little body hair as possible. They shave their breasts, armpits, genitals and even their legs and arms regularly.
Sunnah is the prophet Muhammad's way of life and viewed as a model for Muslims. Muslim men and women are required by the Sunnah to shave their pubic hair and axillae. Also, Muslim men are not supposed to shave their beards, but are encouraged to shave their moustaches, according to the Sunnah.
While religion has not yet been examined related to pubic hair removal, in Muslim culture today, both men and women are encouraged to remove armpit and pubic hair [13]. A recent study in Turkey found that the vast majority of Turkish Cypriot women regularly removed their pubic hair [14].
Several examples of such hairs are chest hair, calf hair, thigh hair, hairs on the arms and others of which there isn't any commandment for them to be shaved or prohibition for them to be kept. Hence, in this matter, a person can either keep the hair without shaving them or shave them if he so wishes.
Even though many Japanese girls wear mini skirts, it's actually illegal to expose your thighs or buttocks in public according to the Light Crimes Act passed in 1948.
Many Chinese medical practitioners believe that removal of armpit hair and pubic hair is unhealthy. But many Chinese women just refuse to accept Western beauty standards, of being shaven, plucked or waxed under the arm, as their own.
French women don't shave
According to a 2006 study, 77 percent of French considered it important for a woman to be free of body hair; 83 percent of women shaved their legs, 73 percent shaved their armpits, and 54 percent shaved their bikini line.
One unique survey* shows almost 85% of Japanese women between 20 years old and 39 years old do not like men with beards. Accordingly, more and more Japanese men have been removing their beards and taking care of facial treatment.
Shaving exfoliates by removing the dead cells every time the razor glides across the surface of the skin. Nazarian says that if you stop shaving, you will accumulate a layer of skin at the top of the epidermis, making it a little tougher for products like moisturizers to penetrate and be effective.
Like everything else dealing with your body, it's your choice whether or not to shave your legs. Body and facial hair is so personal and can be an important way of expressing yourself. But grooming can take forever and you just have to do it over and over again if you want to keep the results.
Pubic Hair & Shaving for Women
As per the article's opening hadith, it is advised for Muslim men and women to remove pubic hair and armpit hair as a way to remain clean.
Exposing the intimate parts of the body is unlawful in Islam as the Quran instructs the covering of male and female genitals, and for adult females the breasts.
To keep the pubic area smooth and hairless, you'll need to shave regularly, even daily. Consider if this is worth the trouble; it may become tedious after four or five weeks.
Pubic Hair Trends
According to the researchers, when asked if they removed their pubic hair, 80% of women and 39% of men removed their pubic hair near the time of the survey. Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair.
You're Less Likely To Get Rashes
If you don't shave, those things aren't really a possibility anymore, leaving you and your lady parts in peace. Indeed, Dweck listed infected hair follicles (folliculitis), rashes, and irritation (razor burn) as some of the most common issues she sees from patients who shave.
Some teens don't do anything with their pubic hair, leaving it to grow naturally. Some girls remove hair when they'll be wearing a bathing suit, and some remove hair regularly as part of their beauty routine. No health benefits are linked to removing pubic hair, so choose what feels right for you.
Most men in Japan do shave daily. Many are now getting laser treatments so they will not have to shave. Is it an Asian thing to not grow leg hair? My Japanese relatives either don't have any or have significantly less.
1. Japan. Historically in Japan, women have preferred to shave only their legs and underarms, leaving the bikini and pubic area untouched. What's more, it's common to remove facial hair and peach fuzz for a smooth, glass-like appearance.
Ancient Egyptian women (and men) sometimes shaved the entire body including the head and I assume the legs. Ancient Greek women also shaved the entire body, and a razor was a piece of women's toilet equipment, not a man's.