For those who haven't heard, a powerful new movement is gaining traction: embracing natural body hair. Women everywhere are letting pubic, armpit, and leg hair grow freely. To stay ahead of the curve, skip the razor—hair removal is out. Get Hairy February serves as the women's equivalent to Movember, where men grow mustaches for awareness, but it carries even deeper significance.
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This initiative encourages women to grow their body hair for two compelling reasons.
Get Hairy February shines a spotlight on abuse and violence against women while fundraising to support survivors. As someone who's followed body positivity trends for years, I've seen how such campaigns drive real change.
The movement also pushes back against the Western obsession with smooth, hairless skin, often viewed as the pinnacle of beauty and hygiene. Around 95% of women conform to this standard, routinely shaving legs, armpits, and even pubic areas out of societal pressure. In my previous article, I shared my discomfort with fully bald pubic regions—a trend that's become normalized.
Read also: Pubic hair and armpit hair: How far do you go?
Beyond personal views, science supports pubic hair's role: it acts as a protective barrier against STDs and infections, contrary to popular myths. Shaving increases vulnerability.
It all traces back to a 1915 advertising campaign by a major company that branded women's leg and armpit hair as unattractive, sparking a cultural shift.
Read also: Shaving legs? 6 tips for smoother results
Today, even 10-year-old girls feel pressured to shave due to shame over natural hair growth. Reflecting on my own experience, I started later than that age—thankfully. Get Hairy February aims to reverse this extreme pressure.
Recently on RTL Late Night with Humberto Tan, sexologist Goedele Liekens unpacked the campaign. She highlighted how teens today know only hairless bodies, with girls removing hair so young that boys aged 12-18 rarely see natural growth—except perhaps from non-conforming moms. Goedele pointed to porn's influence, where hairless pubic areas have long been standard.
Inspiring figures are paving the way: Georgina Verbaan, Grace Jones, Miley Cyrus, Julia Roberts, Madonna, and Lady Gaga have proudly shown armpit hair. Georgina called it sexy, praising the confidence of women who defy norms. She struggled during her own experiment but admired others' lush growth.
This push for natural body hair offers liberation from impossible ideals. Personally, armpit hair isn't my preference yet—it's a matter of adjustment.
Why February? It aligns with covered-up season, when legs and arms stay hidden under layers. The challenge: no shaving or removal for a full month across legs, armpits, and pubic areas. Tempting for authenticity—but can women sustain it beyond February like true trailblazers? I'm not there yet.
Advocates claim it brings freedom, though I wonder: won't visible fuzz limit outfits or spark judgment? Or raise odor concerns? Society's influence runs deep—even I shave to avoid stubble or sandpaper legs that kill the mood better than any excuse.
What's your take? As a long-time observer of beauty trends, I'm eager to see Get Hairy February's impact. Ideally, it empowers the next generation—like my daughter—to embrace their natural selves, wax or not. What about you?
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