Our Great Hair Debate
How is it that, in our western society, the concept of a good body doesn't just come from a well-toned physique, good skin, and maybe a suntan? Oh, no! Particularly if you're a woman, it all means absolutely nothing if you're not fuzz free.
Remember the lovely Julia Roberts at the premier of "Notting Hill"? Everyone thought she looked just stunning in that sexy scarlet dress! But, when she lifted her hand to wave to the crowd the world was shocked! Could that really be hair under her arm? Men groaned in disappointment and disgust. Women gasped in horror and disbelief. And the media went into a flash frenzy.
Oddly, we seem to have an ambivalent attitude toward our hair, pampering and preening the stuff on top of our heads while shaving, waxing, zapping, and plucking it from every other part of our bodies.
I was at the spa the other day, yep—you guessed it, having my legs waxed. The therapist told me waxing is the most popular of all the treatments they offer. Even more interesting, she also told me, many men are now succumbing to body depilation. But wait, before you determine to bravely de-fuzz your entire body, how is it that we find hair on certain parts of the body so unattractive? Is it because we perceive our bodies to be more attractive and desirable in a hairless and innocent state? Ok, but then, how many of us have partners who are actually sexually attracted to a prepubescent? Since body hair is a product of testosterone, maybe that's why it's often considered masculine? So, when a woman removes her body hair maybe it serves to exaggerate the differences between the sexes? But then, bearing that in mind, surely a beard is the ultimate symbol of masculinity. So, why do so many men shave their faces? Of course facial hair on women is the biggest no-no of them all. We all know that. Yet, Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo's husband, Diego, loved her moustache. In fact once, after one of their many fierce and fiery arguments, she shaved it off just to spite him!
More women have excessive facial hair, or think they do, than you might think. Approximately 20 million American women remove facial hair at least once a week, according to research done by Bristol-Myers, a manufacturer of health and grooming products.
What about when a man removes hair from his body? Why does he do it? Is he perhaps, subliminally, trying to distance himself from his ape ancestors? (I tell, you I see a few missing links down at the beach each summer.) Ok, but then, why is hair on a man's chest considered sexy, and hair on his back and neck not?
I guess body hair has its roots (honestly, no pun intended) from the days when a club was something to hit dinosaurs over the head with, rather than somewhere to spent a Saturday night, and men used a woman's hair to drag her off the to nearest cave. Though we no longer need it for warmth and protection, it's going to be a while before we evolve to be hairless—at least a few millions years. So, maybe all these oddities are something we just need to learn to live with?I leave you to ponder.
Footnote: Ok, and if any of you men out there have ever had back, crack and sack wax, I would love to hear all about it—in detail, please.
