More Natural Living: Who else doesn't waste time or money shaving?

[Rawcstacy]

I firmly believe natural living encompasses much more than what you put in your mouth (though this is your single most important action). A more wholistic approach to life and health is in order. My second thread on this theme asks you to consider the folly that is shaving. Just like soap, razors are totally unnecessary multi-billion$ industry. Hair serves an important filtering/protective function on the body.
Personally I love my body and very comfortable in my natural skin and don't care to conform to the artificial p***star style of the day. So who else is with me?

[christinajade]

Ok...that's good for you however I am a female who likes to shave and there is absolutely no way I woud ever consider not to. Sorry.:p Its ok for men in my opinion and for any women that wishes not to shave but me...no way in h...!:D

[Dimond]

Anything I do is because I choose to not because of society. There's no one around that I have to worry about anyhow when I make choices. I prefer to be comfortable. Shaving equals comfort. The money & time is minimal. Have thought about getting lasered to eliminate it altogether, but likely won't.

[streetsurfer]

Bald Is Beautiful!

[christinajade]

:D:D Haha!

[JennaHoneyBear]

i shave under my arms every other day, mainly because i wear short sleeves and don't want anyone to see a forest under my arms!! :o (especially at work!)
i hardly shave my legs anymore in the winter, i let it grow until I can't stand it any longer (just looks gross to me sometimes).

[Revvell]

I don't shave. Haven't since I was in my 30's or so but then, I don't have a "forest" under my arms or anywhere else. If I had black hair under my arms or on my legs, might be a different story.

When I use to work for others, the owner of one shop made it mandatory that all employees wear at least short sleeves because of me. The men continued wearing sleeveless despite her demands. Guess it's o.k. for men to show their "forest" but not women? :rolleyes:

[Rawcstacy]

I prefer to be comfortable. Shaving equals comfort.

Until it grows back. Why put yourself on the treadmill?


Not to mention it starts to itch/be uncomfortable growing back in some areas.


Then it's much more uncomfortable than if left alone in the place.


Anything I do is because I choose to not because of society.

OK, your choice. I merely am presenting a simpler alternative. My threads are about natural living, which this activity is definitely not.

[Rawcstacy]

Guess it's o.k. for men to show their "forest" but not women? :rolleyes:

I also find it annoying that men "ask" forcefully to their girlfriends for this, they can't accept what is a real natural women. But I DO.:D

[KathleenL]

Ok..I am all for natural living and its taking me a good amount to time to really embrace a natural lifestyle and think twice before buying those paper towels or a chemical filled face lotion. Its a desire I notice is becoming much more stronger the more time passes!

BUT..shaving? Well simply put, it makes me feel like a girly girl! There is nothing better than soaking in a hot bath..shaving every last hair on my body (lol) and piling on the coconut oil afterwards. Its a luxury to feel that good. And its a great treat for your man! :D My husband has never asked that I shave. But he is definetly happy when I do. haha. Its just one of those things that makes women feel good. So why stop if it makes you feel good?

[Dimond]

Yep. :) Like I said on the other thread, I enjoy having silky smooth parts.

[ReneeH]

I think there has to be a balance. If not shaving is what YOU want, go for it!

Everyone are running the RAW race at different speeds. Some on this forum choose to also use natural soaps and, instead of driving, walk everwhere because driving is not a "natural" thing...

Whatever you find that your "balance" is...good for you! I kinda get a headache when I examine every single aspect of my life with a fine-toothed comb and try to adjust every single thing to the most "natural"...but that's ME... Maybe I'm not "there" yet. But, I'm happy with the balance I've chosen for the moment and that's focusing on RAW food.

Bottom line...do what works for you and be happy with the balance you choose. To you shaving is a waste of time and money but to someone else it's time and money well spent...for THEM... :) Good thing Alissa doesn't require us to be so ridged and still be a part of the forum... :)

[katchmoleen]

I have pale skin and dark body hair. So all winter when it is covered I let it go. But once summer comes I do shave. Hubster likes it that way too, though once it grows past the prickly stage, he actually can't even really tell the difference because one of the advantages of being an old lady is your body hair gets finer!

[Revvell]

Its a luxury to feel that good.

Feeling good isn't a luxury for me. It's a daily ocurrence.




And its a great treat for your man!

YOUR man.



Its just one of those things that makes women feel good. So why stop if it makes you feel good?

Doesn't make me feel good yet, if it works for you, that's all that matters, yes? And, it doesn't make ALL women feel good... all that itching when it grows back; the feeling that I HAVE to do this... I'll pass. :)

[Revvell]

Yep. :) Like I said on the other thread, I enjoy having silky smooth parts.

HAH! I like having silky smoothie fur parts. :D

[JennaHoneyBear]

/shrug
not sure why men armpit hair is sexy and women armpit hair is "gross" to me lol:D
brainwashed by society no doubt! :p:D:rolleyes:

[joya]

To each her own.

Personally, I love the feeling after I shave. My legs feel like glass. :)

But I do use organic/natural products!

cheerio.

[RawHeaven]

i like for myself to shave and don't really need to as the hair is not too much, but i like the feeling anyway. usually the guys i'm with are impartial.

i'm just thinking now...hmmm....as i've evolved so much over the years with

everything else

including the way i eat, live, breathe, what i bring into my home etc etc etc

perhaps one day that may change.

but today,

i'm a hair plucker and i own it...i luv my smooth legs and *ahem*...lovely

trimmed flower. :p

[RawHeaven]

Whatever you find that your "balance" is...good for you! I kinda get a headache when I examine every single aspect of my life with a fine-toothed comb and try to adjust every single thing to the most "natural"...but that's ME... Maybe I'm not "there" yet. But, I'm happy with the balance I've chosen for the moment and that's focusing on RAW food.


Well said. I agree.

[carlitos1980]

I think hair is necessary if you live outdoors to help maintain body heat. Otherwise, it's a personal choice. I don't think it makes you natural or unnatural. Cavemen probably shaved with sharpened stone. If the industry of shaving products bothers you, then why don't you buy one of those barber razor blades so you can keep reusing them? I personally would not like a partner that let forests take place everywhere. I guess I would not mind some maintained sprouting lol

[xPIXIEx]

To each their own. It's definitely not for me. I feel so much better when I shave. If not, I feel gross. I don't see it as a waste of time or money.

[Thick]

I don't want to look like a prepubescent girl- I'm a woman, and I look like one. To each his own, but I'm glad my own likes me the way nature made me=)

[D'vorah]

Its just one of those things that makes women feel good.

Not *all* women.

Not this woman.

:)

Deborah

[margoss]

I groom all over daily..works for me. I've let my armpits grow but I sweat so much more so I smell more. As for men...I do not like armpit hair or hairy chest/back men. Every guy I have dated has closely clipped if not shaved his armpits...Chest & back were closely clipped. Once they started doing it..they enjoyed it. My late H was the only one who refused yet he liked me groomed..so, I let it all grow out. It was so hard for me but he started doing his aps...then enjoyed it. He was bald on top and wanted some hair!
Now, if I lived someplace where razors were not available and had to let it go..I could.

[streetsurfer]

I thought this might be interesting reading for some of you.
Some history on shaving:
http://www.quikshave.com/timeline.htm

[Revvell]

I groom all over daily..

I don't have that much time in my life. wow!

[Rawcstacy]

Its just one of those things that makes women feel good.


Not *all* women.

Not this woman.

:)

Deborah



REAL Natural Women - Its just one of those things that makes me feel good.:D You Rock Deborah ;)


I do not like hairy chest/back men.


Well, I guess our paths won't be crossing anytime soon!:p

[rawlight]

REAL Natural Women

There is so little 'natural' about the way we live in the 21st century. You have to define natural!

What I love about this thread, though, is this idea that to be a 'real woman' implies not changing something that is 'natural', in this case body hair. But women and some men all through the millennia have changed aspects of their so called natural selves by tattooing, hairstyles, scarification, body piercing, some sort of body paint, dress, elongating their necks/earlobes/lips and the list goes on. We look to more rural, older, "less developed" cultures as somehow 'more natural' but it's not really so. No one culture, period or peoples has ever been content with leaving themselves alone, we all want to manipulate something about our 'natural selves!'

[Rawcstacy]

There is so little 'natural' about the way we live in the 21st century.

Tell me about it.:( Hopefully these threads will get some neurons firing.



What I love about this thread, though, is this idea that to be a 'real woman' implies not changing, something that is 'natural', in this case body hair.

Me too, keep watching for more threads with this theme on the weekend.


You have to define natural!


You already have, thanks for that!;)

Now then rawlight, what about YOU... according to your definition above... natural or not??... we're waiting...

[rawlight]

Now then rawlight, what about YOU... according to your definition above... natural or not??... we're waiting...

Well, Rawcstacy, if you understood my post, NOT, of course! Just as we all aren't!

[happyvegan]

I find body hair to be attractive on both men and women, but I don't let my own grow free.

I use an epilator every 3-4 weeks in the off-season, more often in the summer. Only on my pits and legs to just above the knee (nothing else has been "groomed" in a decade). And even then, I only run the epilator long enough to get the hair down to a less obvious level. I haven't been "smooth" anywhere in ages.

I live in southern Oklahoma, and having less hair in general makes me feel more comfortable during the summer. I generally chop the hair on my head as well when it starts getting hot. I never turn on my A/C unless it's at least 85 degrees in the house, so I appreciate anything that makes me feel cooler.

[margoss]

Well, Rawcstacy, if you understood my post, NOT, of course! Just as we all aren't!
Quote:
Originally Posted by margoss
I do not like hairy chest/back men.

Well, I guess our paths won't be crossing anytime soon!

You live too far!!

If you do it daily, it becomes very quick and takes less time.
__________________

[rkk]

I'm really glad to find this thread. The issue of shaving is something I personally struggle with. I prefer not to shave (for reasons I'll mention below), but since I like to wear sleeveless tops and occasionally dresses... I really feel pressured socially to do so.

I am very involved with yoga (not the studio kind - what I mean is that I have a guru from India who's teachings I follow). In yoga, hair is very important. It helps move our energies around through our bodies. I remember one yogi talking about how women shaving their legs can develop back problems. The body is all inter-connected. I think we live in a completely idiotic and ridiculous society where sexuality gets placed over one's well-being, especially for women. For example, wearing heels is considered sexy for women, even though it causes significant problems for our feet, knees, hips, and back. I'm not saying that I am immune to it... as I often still shave and wear heels on occasion because I want to look good too. But it's such an idiotic way to live, as we are worth so much more than that, and have so much more potential as human beings that to reduce ourselves to sexual objects at the expense of our health and spirituality. That's how I feel, even though I'm still in the same trap... not wanting to feel isolated by breaking social norms. If it was just me in the world, I would definitely not shave nor wear heels or make-up... but because I want to look good and attractive for other people, I also sacrifice my well-being in the process.

I have light Asian skin and very dark hair, and growing up I had hormonal issues that make me grow extra hair. (Maybe having more hair was a spiritual blessing... but to me as a teenager, it was very distressing.) To compensate, I had a lot of my hair lasered off. I have no idea what kind of damage it ended up doing to me, since we don't have much medical research out there on the way hair affects our health. But if what the yogis say is true, then I have definitely harmed myself in the process... to what extent, I have no idea. If body hair has acupuncture-type affects on us (as they are inserted into our skin the way acupuncture needles are), then removing those hairs would certainly affect the way our energies flow.

I think I'm just sharing my frustration, as I'd totally like to live as naturally as I can... but I don't have the courage yet to break away from social norms. I met a man some years ago who I was in a quasi-relationship with, who not only didn't mind women with body hair, but encouraged me to embrace it. He was quite unique in that regard, as I've rarely encountered such men since that time who like women with hair. As a single person, I do think about this. But actually I do find women are actually the ones who give other women more distress about things like body hair. It's the same double standard of how people call women's body hair gross, but don't see men's body hair as gross. Why would there be any difference? People make the mistake to associate body hair with men... that's why in attempt to hypersexualize the genders, we expect women to be hairless (except for their head and eyes). But hair isn't a male thing... it's a mammal thing, and as mammals, both male and female, we all have hair. It's normal and natural. Awk... this issue frustrates me. :(

[Green_Woman]

This got me to thinking... why DO I shave?

I started growing thick, darkish body hair when I was around eleven years old. My mother was anti-shaving... she said body hair (legs, underarms and pubic hair included) was natural, healthy and God-given for a reason and it should stay put!

I was not allowed to begin shaving (legs and underarms ONLY) until my fourteenth birthday.

I did not shave my pubic hair until I was 21 years old, and then only because I was curious what exactly I looked like down there and my natural womanly wildness was hiding it from my view. ;)

I did not shave because a man told me to.
I did not shave because my community told me to (the women in my community were all au naturale, actually).
I did not shave because I watched TV commercials saying smooth was sexy (we did not own TV, nor did I have any desire to watch it even after leaving home in my teens - it simply bored me).
I did not shave because I felt pressured by anyone, anywhere.

I shaved because I wanted to.

I shave because I want to.

Some days/weeks, I DON'T shave because I DON'T want to.

It's that simple.

[somelikeitraw]

I shave my pits because the hair seems to hold body odor. I usually shave them less during the winter. I haven't shaved my legs in years. Many years ago I used some wax strips purchased at a drugstore. I liked the result much better than shaving, but it did hurt like a son-of-a-nutcracker!

I think that when I was on my teens I was influenced by society. I wish I had never started shaving my legs, because I was never very hairy and the hair that was there was light and fine. Now it is coarser and dark, although the waxing phase did seem to tame it quite a bit.

I spoze that I would probably shave my pits and wax my legs if there were some seriously special event I was attending, so I guess I still care what society thinks.