Armpit hair is often seen as completely useless and many people find it primarily a nuisance. However, there are a number of reasons why we grow armpit hair, ranging from biological reasons to social factors. People have been growing armpit hair for ages, which has a lot of significance.
This article explains why we have armpit hair and if it does not match your personal preferences, then there are the 5 best suggestions to get rid of it without any problems.
Table of contents:- Part 1: Why do we have hair under our armpits?
- Part 2: The 5 Best Methods to Get Rid of Armpit Hair
- Part 3: Conclusion
Why do we have hair under our armpits?
This section explains why people grow hair under their armpits.
For natural insulation
Armpit hair can retain body heat and provide natural insulation against the cold. This natural insulation is an advantage in cold regions or cold weather. It also allows the body to maintain and regulate body temperature.
To absorb sweat
The hair under the armpits can act as an absorbent that absorbs sweat and keeps the skin fresh. The hair can retain enough moisture overall. This function helps cool the armpits in warm weather because when the hair absorbs the sweat, it cools down and the skin becomes dry.
To combat odors
Unpleasant odor is caused by odor-causing bacteria. Armpit hair traps these bacteria inside and prevents them from interacting with the skin to produce a foul odor. Although hair cannot completely prevent the transfer of bacteria to the skin, it is very effective in limiting the number of bacteria that reach the skin, interact with the moist environment and cause a bad odor.
Armpit hair has a historical connection
Human ancestors had more body hair than people today, and armpit hair was one of them. Survival conditions were very tough in the past, and armpit hair was very helpful in protecting the body to some extent.
The armpit hair not only served as an insulating layer, but also protected the ancestors to a certain extent from dust, dirt and microorganisms that can get on the skin.
Armpit hair helps with sexual signaling
Armpit hair helps distribute pheromones. Pheromones are chemical compounds that have the potential to influence a person's sexual mood and behavior. Only the sweat glands in the armpit produce these compounds, and armpit hair further aids in production.
Once the pheromones are produced, the armpit hairs can absorb and store them and later release them with the movement of the arms.
When the pheromones are dispersed in the air, they reach the potential mates and signal that the person is suitable for mating and reproduction. Although this is unacceptable today, it is believed that this process was very helpful in the earlier times of human evolution.
The perception of armpit hair in different cultures
Cultural norms and practices of personal hygiene vary greatly around the world. Here's how it looks:
- Western culture prefers to trim or shave armpit hair, especially for women, to make the armpit look smooth and soft. This trend has emerged due to local beauty standards.
- In many Asian cultures, cutting, trimming or shaving armpit hair is not expected.
- In European cultures, it is common to trim and cut armpit hair as desired.
- In some Latin American cultures, women are expected to shave or trim their armpit hair, while in others they are not.
- African cultures value natural body hair and prefer styling and maintenance. This trend has evolved over time based on traditional beliefs.
How does society associate armpit hair with gender?
Here are society's expectations regarding armpit hair for men and women:
Men
Men have more flexible choices when it comes to grooming and styling their armpit hair. Apart from traditional beliefs and practices, men can trim, cut or shave their armpit hair as they want and society accepts all of it.
Women
For women, societal norms are harsh and rigid when it comes to armpit hair. Traditions say that women should shave their armpit hair to maintain a clean, smooth, radiant and soft appearance. A hairless appearance has always been considered more feminine and shaving the armpits would give women a more feminine and attractive appearance.
Additionally, with the evolution of beauty standards driven by fashion and the media, women tend to groom or shave their armpit hair more closely than before.
The 5 Best Methods to Get Rid of Armpit Hair
Regardless of gender, here are 5 great unisex ways to get rid of armpit hair.
Shave
It is the fastest and easiest way to completely remove underarm hair from the skin . The tools needed include a sharp razor, a first aid kit (in case of emergency), moisturizer and aftershave (optional).
- Clean and dry the armpit area thoroughly with soapy water and a dry towel. Use a hairdryer if the hair is very long.
- Use a sharp razor to get the best cutting experience without shaving the same area repeatedly. Start from the top and shave to the bottom of the armpit.
- Once you have done both armpits, wipe off all the hair and visually check for any hair left. Shave it if there is any.
- Apply moisturizer and aftershave for the best aftercare.
Trim
Instead of removing all the hair, trimming helps reduce the length.
- Wash and dry the armpit area with warm water and a dry towel.
- Adjust the length setting of the trimmer and start trimming from top to bottom.
- If the hair is long, you should clean the trimmer when it fills up with the cut hair.
- Visually check for long hair and trim if necessary.
- Wipe your armpits with a dry towel.
salon laser hair removal treatment
Laser hair removal in salon may take a few months, but once the treatment is complete, no more hair will grow in the armpits for a very long time. This treatment removes unwanted hair using laser light beams that are directed at the hair follicles using a laser device.
- Find the best laser hair removal salons in Germany near you and search for their reviews online.
- Look out for special offers, deals, discounts, etc. and book an appointment online or offline.
- On the day of the treatment, make sure your armpits are washed before going to the salon.
- The beautician performs the laser treatment in 15 to 20 minutes and books an appointment for the next treatment session.
- You may experience temporary rashes and skin irritation, so try to keep your armpits hydrated and free of sweat.
Laser treatment should consist of 6 to 8 sessions with an interval of 15 days between each session. After the treatment, the armpits are soft, supple, radiant, silky and hair-free for several weeks.
IPL hair removal for home
Salon hair removal treatments are quite expensive, especially for people on a budget in Germany, which can cost hundreds or thousands of euros each year.
Ulike's IPL home hair removal uses intense pulsed beams instead of laser beams to remove unwanted hair. The light beams penetrate the skin and reach the hair follicles. The melanin in the hair follicles absorbs the light and the light energy is converted into heat energy. This conversion damages the hair follicle and makes it unable to regrow hair.
Expected results include:
- Reduced hair growth rate.
- The regrowing hair density will be finer and less than the last time.
- Shiny, soft, supple and attractive finish to the underarms.
- The results are very long lasting.
Reasons to choose IPL treatment over anything else:
- The IPL device is very user-friendly, easy to operate and portable.
- It takes no more than 10 minutes per session and you can do these sessions anytime and anywhere you want.
- It is a one-time purchase, while salon treatments have recurring costs.
- IPL devices are quite affordable and only cost a few hundred euros.
- It is almost painless and leaves long-lasting results.
waxing
Waxing is a painful method that involves pulling hair out of the skin using cold or hot wax. For underarm hair, you can use cold wax strips that you can buy in any department store. It takes about 20 minutes to remove underarm hair and leaves your skin smooth and soft. However, there is no guarantee that all the hair will be removed at once.
Conclusion
Since the beginning of human evolution, humans have had armpit hair and it has always played an important role in people's lives. However, with modern advancements, the presence of armpit hair is no longer so important, which is why so many hair removal techniques have evolved.
To remove armpit hair for a long time in the comfort of your own home, Ulike IPL hair removal devices offer the best solution in every way. But it is important to figure out whether you want to remove armpit hair completely or keep the hair length short.