Shaving

With puberty come many changes, including increased body hair and the development of underarm hair for teens. Enter Shaving hair removal. Shaving is not a means for permanent hair removal and at it's best may last a day or two.

For many people, this is the time that they begin to depilate, or remove body hair. Shaving is the most common body areas depilated are the underarms, legs, pubic area, eyebrows and face for females; and the face, abdomen, back, chest, groin and legs for males. Shaving is the most common method used for the underarms, legs and pubic area.

Pubic shaving actually originated in ancient Egypt and Greece when prostitutes had to shave for both hygienic reasons and as a clear sign of their profession. Although female body shaving was established as the norm between 1915 and 1945, pubic hair removal did not gain a strong foothold until the 1980s.

In part, this was due to a trend in the porn industry where it was common for women to shave the pubic area. As pornography has become more accepted in the general public, more women have mimiced what they have seen. In this way, pubic hair shaving has become mainstream.

Also, bikini bathing suits began to reveal more of the pubic area in the 1970 and 80s. With this trend came increased pressure to avoid revealing pubic hair by removing it.

Shaving the pubic area has become much more common, even desirable, among teenagers.

Although shaving may be becoming the social norm, that does not mean you should do it.

Shaving is a personal choice.There can be health consequences associated with any type of depilation: shaving, waxing, clipping, tweezing, threading or laser treatment. Your pubic area is especially sensitive to these hair-removal techniques.

By far the most common hair removal method. Cheap, quick, minimal side effects for most, but not long-lasting.

Description:

A sharpened metal blade cuts hair off at the skin's surface.

Advantages:

Inexpensive, fast, usually painless, very safe, can be done at home, available almost anywhere.

Disadvantages:

Effect lasts a short time-- anywhere from a few hours to several days. Dark-haired users may have visible "shadow" of dark hair under skin. Often requires daily use. Can cause skin irritation and cuts. For some, it causes ingrown hairs (esp. in women's bikini area and African-American men's facial hair). Blades require frequent replacement.

Clinical data:

Published

Trotter 1928 was the first to prove shaving does not make hair come in thicker or grow faster.

Richards 1990 found shaving the most common and useful method for removing hair.

Costs:

Equipment: From under $1.00 to $25.00 for manual razors and supplies.

Professional shave (barber): Between $5.00 to $30.00, depending on location and type (straight razor is usually more)

Accessories: Shaving creams and gels, replacement blade cartridges, before and after-shave products, usually between $1.00 and $15.00