Editing Hair removal (section)

==Cultural and sexual aspects==
{{See also|Bikini waxing|History of removal of leg and underarm hair in the United States}}
[[File:Mujer afeitando sus piernas.jpg|thumb|[[Leg shaving]] using a [[razor]]]]

Body hair characteristics such as thickness and length vary across human populations, some people have less pronounced [[body hair]] and others have more conspicuous body hair characteristics.

Each [[culture]] of human [[society]] developed [[social norms]] relating to the presence or absence of body hair, which has changed from one time to another. Different standards of [[human physical appearance]] and [[physical attractiveness]] can apply to females and males. People whose hair falls outside a culture's aesthetic [[body image]] standards may experience real or perceived [[Social stigma|social acceptance]] problems, psychological distress and [[social pressure]]. For example, for women in several societies, exposure in public of body hair other than head hair, eyelashes and eyebrows is generally considered to be [[aesthetic|unaesthetic]], unattractive and [[Embarrassment|embarrassing]].<ref name=Embod1>{{cite book | vauthors = Tschachler H, Devine M, Draxlbauer M | title = The EmBodyment of American Culture | pages = 61–62 | publisher = LIT Verlag | location = Berlin-Hamburg-Münster | date = 2003 | isbn = 3-8258-6762-5}}</ref>

With the increased popularity in many countries of women wearing [[fashion]] clothing, [[sportswear]] and [[swimsuits]] during the 20th century and the consequential exposure of parts of the body on which hair is commonly found, there has emerged a popularization for women to remove visible [[body hair]], such as on legs, underarms and elsewhere, or the consequences of [[hirsutism]] and [[hypertrichosis]].<ref name="CNNStyle1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_012.html |title=Who decided women should shave their legs and underarms? |publisher=The Straight Dope |date=1991-02-06 |access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> In most of the [[Western world]], for example, the vast majority of women regularly shave their legs and armpits, while roughly half also shave hair that may become exposed around their [[bikini]] pelvic area (often termed the "bikini line").<ref name="CNNStyle1" />

In Western and Asian cultures, in contrast to most Middle Eastern cultures, a majority of men are accustomed to shaving their facial hair, so only a minority of men reveal a [[beard]], even though fast-growing facial hair must be shaved daily to achieve a [[clean-shaven]] or beardless appearance. Some men shave because they cannot genetically grow a "full" beard (generally defined as an even density from cheeks to neck), their beard color is genetically different from their scalp hair color, or because their facial hair grows in many directions, making a [[Personal grooming|groomed]] or contoured appearance difficult to achieve. Some men shave because their beard growth is excessive, unpleasant, or coarse, causing skin irritation. Some men grow a beard or [[moustache]] from time to time to change their appearance or visual style.

Some men [[tonsure]] or [[head shaving|head shave]], either as a religious practice, a fashion statement, or because they find a shaved head preferable to the appearance of [[male pattern baldness]], or in order to attain enhanced cooling of the skull – particularly for people suffering from [[hyperhidrosis]]. A much smaller number of Western women also shave their heads, often as a fashion or political statement.

Some women also shave their heads for cultural or social reasons. In India, tradition required widows in some sections of the society to shave their heads as part of being [[ostracize]]d (see {{slink|Women in Hinduism|Widowhood and remarriage}}). The outlawed custom is still infrequently encountered mostly in rural areas. Society at large and the government are working to end the practice of ostracizing widows.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/07/05/damon.india.widows/index.html Shunned from society, widows flock to city to die], 2007-07-05, [http://www.cnn.com/ CNN.com], Retrieved 2007-07-05</ref> In addition, it continues to be common practice for men to shave their heads prior to embarking on a pilgrimage.

The [[unibrow]] is considered a sign of beauty and attractiveness for women in [[Oman]] and for both genders in [[Tajikistan]], often emphasized with [[Kohl (cosmetics)|kohl]].<ref name="CNNStyle1" /> In Middle Eastern societies, regular trimming or removal of female and male [[underarm hair]] and pubic hair has been considered proper personal [[hygiene]], necessitated by local customs, for many centuries.<ref name="HSLBP1" /><ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Kutty A | date = 13 September 2005 | url = http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1126012472670 | title = Islamic Ruling on Waxing Unwanted Hair | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080213192038/http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaE&cid=1126012472670 | archive-date=2008-02-13 | access-date = 29 March 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Schick IC | title = Some islamic determinants of dress and personal appearance in southwest Asia. | journal = Khila'-Journal for Dress and Textiles of the Islamic World | date = 2009 |volume = 3 | page = 25 | doi =  10.2143/KH.3.0.2066221 }}</ref> Young girls and unmarried women, however, are expected to retain their body hair until shortly before marriage, when the whole body is depilated from the neck down.<ref name="HSLBP1" />

In China, body hair has long been regarded as normal, and even today women are confronted with far less [[social pressure]] to remove body hair.<ref name="CNNStyle1" /> The same attitude exists in other countries in Asia. While hair removal has become routine for many of the continent's younger women, trimming or removing pubic hair, for instance, is not as common or popular as in the [[Western world]],<ref name="CNNStyle1" /> where both women and men may trim or remove all their pubic hair for [[aesthetic]] or [[Sexual attraction|sexual reasons]]. This custom can be motivated by reasons of potentially increased personal cleanliness or hygiene, heightened sensitivity during [[sexual activity]], or the desire to take on a more exposed appearance or visual appeal, or to boost [[self-esteem]] when affected by excessive hair. In Korea, pubic hair has long been considered a sign of fertility and sexual health, and it has been reported in the mid-2010s that some Korean women were undergoing pubic hair transplants, to add extra hair,<ref name="CNNStyle1" /> especially when affected by the condition of pubic atrichosis (or [[Hair loss#Hypotrichosis|hypotrichosis]]), which is thought to affect a small percentage of Korean women.<ref name="NLOM1">{{cite journal | vauthors = Lee YR, Lee SJ, Kim JC, Ogawa H | title = Hair restoration surgery in patients with pubic atrichosis or hypotrichosis: review of technique and clinical consideration of 507 cases | journal = Dermatologic Surgery | volume = 32 | issue = 11 | pages = 1327–1335 | date = November 2006 | pmid = 17083584 | doi = 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2006.32302.x | s2cid = 12823424 }}</ref>

Unwanted or excessive hair is often removed in preparatory situations by both sexes, in order to avoid any perceived [[social stigma]] or prejudice. For example, unwanted or excessive hair may be removed in preparation for an intimate encounter, or before visiting a public beach or swimming pool.

Though traditionally in Western culture women remove body hair and men do not, some women choose not to remove hair from their bodies, either as a non-necessity or as an act of rejection against [[social stigma]], while some men remove or trim their body hair, a practice that is referred to in modern society as being a part of "manscaping" (a [[portmanteau word|portmanteau expression]] for [[Male grooming|male-specific grooming]]).

===Fashions===
The term "[[glabrousness]]" also has been applied to human fashions, wherein some participate in culturally motivated hair removal by depilation (surface removal by [[shaving]], [[chemical depilatory|dissolving]]), or [[wikt:epilation|epilation]] (removal of the entire hair, such as [[waxing]] or [[plucking (hair removal)|plucking]]).

Although the appearance of secondary hair on parts of the human body commonly occurs during [[puberty]], and therefore, is often seen as a symbol of adulthood, removal of this and other hair may become fashionable in some cultures and subcultures. In many modern [[Western culture]]s, men are encouraged to shave their beards, and women are encouraged to remove hair growth in various areas. Commonly depilated areas for women are the underarms, legs, and pubic hair. Some individuals depilate the forearms. In recent years, bodily depilation in men has increased in popularity among some subcultures of Western males.{{cn|date=March 2021}}

For men, the practice of depilating the pubic area is common, especially for aesthetic reasons. Most men will use a razor to shave this area, however, as best practice, it is recommended to use a body trimmer to shorten the length of the hair before shaving it off completely.

===Cultural and other influences===
In ancient Egypt, depilation was commonly practiced, with [[pumice]] and [[razor]]s used to shave.<ref>{{cite journal| vauthors = Boroughs M, Cafri G, Thompson JK |title=Male Body Depilation: Prevalence and Associated Features of Body Hair Removal|journal=Sex Roles|volume=52|issue=9–10|pages=637–644|doi=10.1007/s11199-005-3731-9|year=2005|s2cid=143990623}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Manniche L |title=Sacred luxuries : fragrance, aromatherapy, and cosmetics in Ancient Egypt |date=1999 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=New York |isbn=9780801437205 |page=[https://archive.org/details/sacredluxuriesfr0000mann/page/131 131]}}</ref> In both [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Ancient Rome]], the removal of body and pubic hair may have been practiced among both men and women. It is represented in some artistic depictions of male and female nudity,{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} examples of which may be seen in [[red figure pottery]] and sculptures like the [[Kouros]] of Ancient Greece in which both men and women were depicted without body or pubic hair. Emperor [[Augustus]] was said, by Suetonius, to have applied "hot nutshells" on his legs as a form of depilation.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Twelve Caesars, Aug. 68.}}</ref>

In the [[Naturism|clothes free movement]], the term "smoothie" refers to an individual who has removed their body hair. In the past, such practices were frowned upon and in some cases,  forbidden: violators could face exclusion from the club. Enthusiasts grouped together and formed societies of their own that catered to that fashion, and smoothies became a major percentage at some nudist venues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euronaturist.com/smooth.htm |publisher=Euro Naturist |title=smooth naturists & nudists - Smoothies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050508073900/http://www.euronaturist.com/smooth.htm |archive-date=2005-05-08 }}</ref> The first Smoothie club (TSC) was founded by a British couple in 1991.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wnn.nu/UK/welcome.html | title = World of the Nudest Nudist, beauty of the shaved body | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070814204219/http://www.wnn.nu/UK/welcome.html | archive-date=August 14, 2007 }}</ref> A Dutch branch was founded in 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnn.nu/ |title=World of the Nudest Nudist - home of the barest naturists |publisher=Wnn.nu |access-date=2012-05-21}}</ref> in order to give the idea of a hairless body greater publicity in the [[Netherlands]]. Being a Smoothie is described by its supporters as exceptionally comfortable and liberating. The Smoothy-Club is also a branch of the World of the Nudest Nudist (WNN) and organizes nudist ship cruises and regular nudist events.