Shaving: The New Black

There used to be a time when everyone truly was au naturel when they were living au naturel. Times have changed, though, and people from vast and varying walks of life are using shears, scissors, razors, and wax as much as they use clothes, tattoos, and make-up to infuse their personalities and self-image. This phenomena does not know a singular group nor gender and it is not confined to just one part of the body. There are many people that support shaving and just as many others that disparage it, but most of these points of view are based upon ones aesthetic sensibilities. Is there more to this new trend for shaving? Is it just a fad or is it a new way of living. With the fact that personal grooming machines are so widely available these days, it is almost certain that hair removal -- in it's myriad forms -- is not just a fad or passing trend. In fact, if utility, hygiene, ones comfort and aesthetic appeal are taken into account one will realize that shaving will probably be around for a while. For those people that naturally have little or no hair, it may be mysterious as to why someone would want to remove those hard earned whiskers and follicles. The truth of the matter is that as a body grows more hair and longer hair, certain actions may become more cumbersome. Hair becomes knotted and is easily pulled. No one likes when their hair is pulled out and it feels no matter where that hair is located. Genetics also play a role in the abrasiveness of ones hair. There are many people out there that have received hair or stubble burns from that extremely robust hair. Through sheer utility, these people may choose to trim or shave to remove the uncomfortable and offending parts of their life. While it may be cumbersome, depending on the quantities, it does have it's added benefits when it comes to drying off since hair holds moisture. And then there is the matter of hygiene. Who likes to get a piece of hair in their food? It is a highly offensive occurrence which can only be heightened depending on what "type" of hair you find. Some would use this example as a good reason to fully shave the body, but there are additional items to also be considered. As humans, not only do we all have hair in varying degrees but we also sweat in varying degrees. Sweat is not a bad thing. It is a natural action of ones body. The odors that follow the sweating are what can eventually become offensive. Hair acts as a wick for sweat. The more surface area sweat has to cover, the more odor that will be present on any given body. Those that shave or trim will have dramatically less odor in relation to their unshaved state. For those people that produce a lot of sweat or tend to effuse more odor than normal, hair removal as a means of odor control is understandable. Odor and vanity aside, though, ones self image is very important. Everyone has to be able to look at themselves in the mirror and not only feel comfortable with how they look but also find themselves aesthetically appealing. Do not confuse aesthetics with vanity. Aesthetics are ingrained into our mind for very important reasons. Symmetry, as an aesthetic, is very common throughout nature. With most living beings, you will see a full bi-lateral symmetry with several other species have certain greater levels of symmetry. This symmetry shows that you are normal, it shows that you are healthy. This is not to say that someone should be looked down on if they are missing an arm or one leg is short than the other. Through the centuries, though, this biological memory has remained to influence us in determining those that are most fit as partners. Uneven hair placement on a man's chest, legs or face can have a detrimental affect on self-esteem. Think about when most of us see uneven tufts of hair on someone...they are usually sick or undergoing some sort of radiation therapy. Yes, there are those with the fortitude of mind to see past that and to slough off the negative comments; but shaving as a means to boost comfort with ones own body through aesthetics is amazing. Personally, I do not adhere to the fully natural and hairy appearance. While I am only uneven due to past surgeries, I find that I am much more comfortable removing large quantities of hair on my body. In Florida, it is very humid and the hair tends to hold the moisture. This makes my life very miserable. I do not shave, but I do reduce the length of the hair on my body. I like the hair on my body. I earned the hair on my body. I just don't like feeling muggy and miserable due to the moisture. Have you ever thought about the reasons that you may or may not perform hair removal on your own body?