"It's safe to shave your legs, bikini area, and armpits every day if necessary," says Francesca Fusco, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. "It's not unhealthy, it just needs to be done properly." So, in short: It comes down to your personal preference and the routine you like to keep.
In general, we recommend shaving every two to three days if you want a clean shave; three to five days if you want to simply style or trim; and if you want to just let your hair grow, then simply stop shaving.
Shaving every day can irritate the skin, especially sensitive skin under the armpits. Stop shaving for about a week and try to remove ingrown hairs.
You probably don't need to shave every day. Razors don't just cut off your hair, they take a layer of skin cells with it every time you run the blade across your skin. Unless you're looking to achieve a completely hairless look, you can skip at least a day or two between shaving sessions to allow your skin to heal.
Less body odor
When you remove hair under the armpits, it reduces trapped odor. A 2016 study involving men found that removing armpit hair by shaving significantly reduced axillary odor for the following 24 hours.
Not shaving reduces skin-on-skin contact friction, which means when you do activities that involve arm movement, like running or walking, your skin is much less likely to get irritated by the friction. This might lead to fewer skin issues like rashes and ingrown hairs.
Because hair holds onto moisture, shaving your armpits may result in less sweating, or at least less noticeable sweating (sweat rings on your shirt sleeves, for example). Shaving may also cut down on the odor associated with sweat.
Your armpit hair has nothing to do with the reason(s) you're sweating. Sweating occurs when your internal body temperature climbs too high, or when you're nervous, stressed or anxious. Your sweat glands just so happen to be located under your pits.
Controlling underarm hair can also help control odor. Hairy pits are more likely to sweat, and once the sweat has started, hair follicles provide an ideal environment to trap that moisture. This encourages the growth of – you guessed it – odor-causing bacteria.
No — shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. Shaving facial or body hair gives the hair a blunt tip. The tip might feel coarse or "stubbly" for a time as it grows out. During this phase, the hair might be more noticeable and perhaps appear darker or thicker.
Shaving or plucking underarm hair too often may cause dark underarms, so moisturizing can be helpful to reduce underarm irritation. Always use a soap or shaving foam before shaving, and choose one for sensitive skin.
Don't use your fingers to clear the blades. Dry the area and use a moisturizer like aloe vera after you shave to soothe your skin and avoid irritation. Clean and dry the blade after every use and store it in a dry location (not in the shower). Moisture can ruin blades and lead to infections if you cut yourself shaving.
*Shaving garners a higher chance of skin irritations like ingrown hairs (not to mention [ugh] nicks). *Waxing not only makes you smooth, but it exfoliates the newly hair-free area. It's just one of the many benefits of waxing. *Hair regrowth becomes thinner and slower over time, provided you wax consistently.
Wait Before Applying Deodorant
After you shave, wait a little bit before putting on antiperspirant. Applying deodorant to freshly shaven skin may cause some discomfort. So, allow your skin time to rest to reduces the chances of irritation from the deodorant.
2.2 Helps reduce friction Armpit hair also helps prevent skin-to-skin contact when you do certain activities, such as walking or jogging. The same goes for pubic hair, as they help reduce friction during sex and other activities.
As with shaving any part of your body, shaving your armpits also opens up the possibility of getting razor burn, ingrown hairs and irritation, and the underarm area is definitely one of the more uncomfortable areas to experience this in.
The best way to prevent smelly armpits is to wash daily and after sweating. Using antiperspirant or deodorant and shaving the armpits can also help. Avoiding alcohol and certain foods, such as onions and garlic, will also help prevent smelly armpits in some cases.
Most armpit hair usually only grows to be two to three inches long, so an inch and a half should do the trick. If you cut it too short, then you'll have armpit stubble in two of the most sensitive parts of your body.
Not so much. A recent study that involved two groups of guys — one with shaved heads and one with hair 3 to 5 inches long — subjected to temperature experiments showed no significant difference in body temperature between both hair lengths.
Armpit Hair Protects Your Skin
In the case of your underarms, it helps reduce skin-on-skin friction when you swing your arms as you walk or run. Armpit hair can save you from unnecessary chafing, irritation, or even heat rash, which can happen when sweat and abrasion mix.
Put simply, armpit hair is being seen for what it is: entirely normal.
Contrary to popular belief, more hair doesn't make you sweat more. However, underarm hair can keep moisture there longer, making it feel like you're sweating more than you are. Armpit hair also traps odor-causing bacteria, so shaving can reduce unpleasant B.O.
Shaving carries the risk of nicks and cuts that may bleed and sting. Shaving can also cause razor burn. Dryness and itching. If you have dry skin, shaving may dry it out further and feel uncomfortable.
In a Brazilian wax, pubic hair is groomed and removed from the front of the pubic bone, around the external genitals, between the upper thighs, and around the anus. Depending on your preferences, you can choose to remove all hair in the area or leave a small strip of hair in the front.