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Earlier this week, Ethan Trex taught us the history of shaving. Several readers left comments inquiring about when women started shaving their legs and underarms, so we cracked open the mental_floss book In the Beginning: The Origins of Everything. Here’s what we learned:
Underarms
American women had no need to shave their underarms before about 1915 – after all, who ever saw them? Even the word “underarm” was considered scandalous, what with it being so near certain other interesting body parts. Then came the sleeveless dress. An ad in the fashion mag Harper’s Bazaar decreed that to wear it (and certainly to wear it while participating in “Modern Dancing”), women would need to first see to “the removal of objectionable hair.” They didn’t need much convincing, and by the early ’20s, hairy underarms were so last decade, at least in America.
Legs
The ’20s fashion was risqué on the bottom half, too, but most women of the era didn’t seem to feel the need to shave their legs, and when hemlines dropped again in the ’30s, the point became moot. The ’40s, however, brought even shorter skirts, sheerer stockings, and the rise of leggy pin-ups such as Betty Grable. “The removal of objectionable hair” suddenly applied to a lot more surface area.
Naughty Bits
Was it porn actresses who started this one? GIs concerned about disease? The Brazilians? Nah. For hundreds of years, the bikini wax has been a common practice among a group more often associated with extreme modesty: Muslim women. In much of the Middle East and North Africa, brides-to-be remove all their body hair before the wedding night. Yes, all of it. Frequently, they stick with the aesthetic after marriage – and some men do likewise.
You can pick up a copy of ‘In the Beginning’ in the mental_floss store.
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Comments (13)
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Okay, nothing to do with this post but wanted to comment that had I been the contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire last night (12AUG09) I could have answered the $250,000 question thanks to Mental Floss. The question asked who died from a nosebleed on their wedding night (something like that anyway), and I knew it was Atilla the Hun! Thanks, Mental_Floss for making me look so darn smart!
posted by Hyacinth on 8-13-2009 at 9:27 am
Oh Hyacinth – you are the best!
your facebook hating buddy, Ian
posted by Ian on 8-13-2009 at 12:31 pm
Brazilian ZING!
I think it’s funny that men don’t have much “objectionable” hair, but we expose Just as much skin as women (at least on the beach). I’ve noticed that male grooming is on the rise, but isn’t as common or a mainstay as say, a bikini wax for women. (Say George, have you been to that new waxing place over on 2nd street? I gave them a shot, and they cleaned me up real nice! You should check them out! I know how much you’ve been wanting to wear your new low-riding bathing suit.)
I’m constantly hearing of women wanting their men to control their hair more, or they want the Hugh Jackson Wolverine thing. Either way, I’m surprised that men haven’t been put under the spotlight as much as women with hair control.
and @Hyacinth, congrats! If you ever happen to find yourself on the show, feel free to phone me if you need to.
posted by Steven on 8-13-2009 at 12:56 pm
I had always heard that armpit shaving became all the rage because of the Ziegfield Follies and their revealing costumes. Thanks for the scoop!
posted by PJMoore on 8-13-2009 at 1:35 pm
I’m severely tempted to find out whoever patented that waxing after my entire national identity and give them a little piece of my mind.
And by “Little Piece of My Mind” I mean “Big Capoeira Kick”.
Ahem, anyway, beauty history is a favorite topic of mine, so thanks for the info.
posted by Angry Brazilian Lass on 8-13-2009 at 2:07 pm
As a woman who recently stopped removing any body hair at all, I find this article to be very timely and informative. I frequently have wondered why women started shaving in the first place, especially since I find it no less comfortable than when I was shaving (and often more comfortable, as I no longer have any razor burn to deal with.)
posted by Karen on 8-13-2009 at 2:46 pm
I have to go through a lot of explaining to my German students when they realize that many German women don’t shave (the pits are usually what gets asked about) as much as Americans. I always just pick a boy who gets grossed out by the idea and ask him how hairy his armpits are and why doesn’t he shave them? That usually shuts them up enough for me to explain that they’re dealing with the concept of a different culture with different cultural practices.
posted by Fruppi on 8-13-2009 at 2:51 pm
Been missing you too, Ian! See you around Facebook!
Thanks, Steven! You must spend as much time on Mental_Floss as I do. (Probably too much!)
posted by Hyacinth on 8-13-2009 at 3:21 pm
Great post. I dated someone for a while who worked for a UK company that marketed hair removal products – he said his biggest market was the Middle East. Now I know why.
posted by Logan on 8-13-2009 at 7:14 pm
SHH!! my boss will hear you!
posted by Steven on 8-13-2009 at 10:46 pm
Well, I have to admit I first started shaving just because it was what women are supposed to do, or at least I believed that growing up. I’ve stuck with it because I’m more comfortable without some “objectionable body hair” being pinched and pulled by my clothes!
‘I’m severely tempted to find out whoever patented that waxing after my entire national identity and give them a little piece of my mind.
And by “Little Piece of My Mind” I mean “Big Capoeira Kick”.’
Hehe. I LOL’ed!
posted by dooflotchie on 8-14-2009 at 12:27 am
i must admit, i’m not surprised it’s popular in the middle east to remove body hair- the egyptians were doing that for thousands of years.
posted by em on 8-17-2009 at 3:24 am
I knew it was fashion. How lame. I hope this fad dies as suddenly as it started. Women’s body hair is no more unsightly than men’s. All just more ways to make us feel bad about ourselves so we spend more money on their products. Slaves to fashion, indeed. All bow to the smooth skinned masters.
posted by T. Sunshine Love on 8-21-2009 at 9:56 pm