The Feminine Ideal

[ptgatsby]

Yeah, that would be a definite problem. How would you stop once you started? After all, the hair tends to grow back thicker and longer. What started off as a cosmetic experiment could quickly become a cosmetic necessity.

Just for the record, this isn't true. Shaving doesn't cause hair to grow back thicker (or longer). The only difference is that short hair is more bristly - but that is just a result of it being short, not a change in the hair itself.

[JivinJeffJones]

.

[ptgatsby]

My neck hairs beg to differ.

Be that as it may, it's been measured untold times, and it really doesn't. ( Hair removal: Does shaving make it grow back thicker? - MayoClinic.com )

[meshou]

My neck hairs beg to differ.

Try nairing or waxing em. They'll come back slightly less "thick" feeling.

It's likely you just got older as you were shaving. Testosterone will make your beard thicker.

[Totenkindly]

Be that as it may, it's been measured untold times, and it really doesn't. ( Hair removal: Does shaving make it grow back thicker? - MayoClinic.com )

Yes, that's what I thought as well, having read about it a bit. (But I didn't want to stake a post on it without backup.)

Just wait until you start getting ear hair, Jeff. It's very exciting.

[outmywindow]

The only person I ever knew who shaved her arms was Middle Eastern and was embarrassed about the amount and darkness of the hair she had. Other than that, no, I really don't think a majority of people (men or women) shave their arms.

[JivinJeffJones]

.

[Totenkindly]

FWIW I've always thought earrings are a barbaric, repulsive practice. Aren't there already enough jewelry-wearing options without stabbing a couple of fucking holes into your ears? Surely the ears are already irredeemably unsexy for both men and women?

Considering the other sorts of things that get pierced today, earrings don't really look that bad at all...

It would be interesting to think about why certain damage to the body is acceptable and why other damage is not. For example, many women think that navel ornaments/piercings are beautiful now (with the onset of the mid-riff shirt), but not nearly as many people wear the eyebrow rings, and only a few people make themselves look like lizards or tigers.

[meshou]

FWIW I've always thought earrings are a barbaric, repulsive practice. Aren't there already enough jewelry-wearing options without stabbing a couple of fucking holes into your ears? Surely the ears are already irredeemably unsexy for both men and women?

But dangly earrings so pretty! Especially if you have a round face!

[booyalab]

After all, the hair tends to grow back thicker and longer.

This is the sort of 'knowledge' i'd expect from an ESFx I haven't believed this urban legend since I was 11.
Your hair is dead when it's out of the follicle, so the root has no idea what's happening with the end. How would it know to grow back thicker and longer? What does happen is that the blunt end on the hair tapers out after awhile. So recently cut hair feels sharper than grown out hair.


As for cutting of the arm hair, I've been accused of doing it because mine is so fine and short and light it looks like i have none. I've heard of some women doing it, but I'm pretty sure the vast majority don't. Truthfully I kind of wish more did. It grosses me out when I see a girl with long dark hair extending around half of her arm. You all will probably think that's horribly shallow, but whatever. It's weird to me.