I stopped shaving my armpits

It wasn't an experiment. It wasn't a feminist act. It was just laziness. I haven't shaved my armpits in a month - and it happened.

For as long as I can remember I had No way Armpit hair - so at least none that exceeded a length of 0, 0005 millimeters. I shaved my armpits even before hair growth really started. As a precaution. Better safe than sorry. I can also remember that I was always embarrassed by my hippie mom with her long hair under her arms at the lake. The cool mommies of my friends didn't have them. In short: Removing my armpit hair has been just as much a part of me as brushing my teeth every day for the last 15 years.

Today, a good 20 years later, I would like to have the coolness of my mother, which I misunderstood. Although it is now also armpit hair-free, armpit hair was no longer in vogue even in the nineties. The fact is: According to current beauty standards, the female beings of this earth have to get rid of their armpit hair. (So in 2017 the model Gigi Hadid caused a serious shit storm because she showed herself with unshaven armpits.) And even if my motto in life could be broken down to "Anyone as he wants" in general, I never have questioned whether it is also part of my personal beauty standard to have bare armpits.

I haven't shaved my armpits in a month - and it happened

But now I've been to Bali for three weeks and have completely embraced this whole Eso spirit there, then the weeks afterwards were hectic in terms of work, my friend outside of the country. There was simply no circumstance that reminded me even once to shave my armpits. I just didn't notice. It just happened. So it was neither a feminist act nor a real experiment that led me to abandon the razor as a razor. It was laziness … and apparently just not a priority

I actually noticed it in the gym. After the thirtieth push press, I noticed the shadow under my arms, which was quite present. It was a little uncomfortable for me for a moment. Are the others in the gym just as disgusted as I was with my mom? The (actually not so) astonishing: Everyone in the course didn't care that a small garden sprout under my arms. My colleague Anne, who deliberately refrained from shaving her armpits, has had similar experiences: "At first it was weird to stroll through the streets sleeveless and hairy, but in the end everyone didn't give a shit what it looked like under my armpits. " She also said that it actually made her feel more confident, stronger and more feminist than ever.

More confident, stronger, more feminist? Just because of the couple of armpit hairs?

On the other hand, I have not been able to notice any changes either mentally or physically and have only recently epilated them again - even for no particular reason. I just like the feel of a smooth armpit. I really don't care what my friends, those around me or the Mitzi on Kärntner Straße think about it. For Anne, however, there was a very special key moment when she became weak - she paid a visit to her hometown Graz: "Sure, that can only be the subjective experience of my hometown, but in Graz the 'seeing and being seen' has Still a high value. The people here still dress up for shopping on Saturdays in Herrengasse. In addition, you always run into someone you know at least by sight. Austria's second largest city back and forth. In the end, I have mental plans Graz surrenders and shaved off all my armpit hair. " For her it was a sad moment that showed her and me how strongly the conventions and social guidelines are anchored in us.

Will I still refrain from shaving?

No. Because now I can actually say that I prefer the feeling of clean shaven armpits. I don't have to shave. But I want it. However, I've learned once more that every now and then you should just - sorry - shit less. So general. If I ever forget to shave again, it won't stop me from showing my tank top or bikini in public. All. People. Have. Body hair. All over. In fact, that shouldn't shock anyone anymore. And if it does: kiss! And whether Anne will try again next spring … "You don't give up! The attempt will be restarted, because in the end I hope for a world in which you can do whatever you want with your armpit and other body hair, without for being rated by other people. " Amen!