Some say, in order to understand ourselves today, we must first know and understand our history. At a recent completely bare meeting, we decided to come up with fun facts and statistics about hair removal (please choose your words carefully when Googling “vaginal hair removal”). I started to come across a ton of information about where Brazilian waxing originated- though strangely enough, not in Brazil. It seems these trends sort of appear out of no where, take us all by storm, and then we wonder how we ever survived before. I look back on the time when I groomed merely for the sake of appearances in a bathing suit, as such a naïve and pedestrian time in my life, excused only by the innocence of youth.
B.C.B (Before Completely Bare), the thought of removing everything below had never even crossed my mind. Suddenly, Carrie Bradshaw felt like “walking sex”, Gweneth Paltrow’s life was changed, and Plum Sykes was writing about letting men “go to Brazil”. What we now consider basic grooming did not begin with Cosmo’s and Manolo’s (though a glance at any Playboy from the 70s might beg to differ).
In ancient civilizations, the practice of removing body hair began mostly for hygienic reasons, mainly to prevent infestation from lice and fleas (I have already showered four times after reading this). The most common methods used were primitive razors made from flint blades, as well as home-made depilatories using ingredients like arsenic and quicklime. The Egyptian’s adopted it with a more vain approach, where a hair-free body became the standard of beauty. They came up with a mixture of honey and oil to pull the hair out – a practice now known as waxing.
In Ancient Greece, the female hairless body was the very picture of youth and beauty – a view reflected in their art. Many Greek statues of men clearly show pubic hair, whereas female sculptures are universally hair-free. They considered an overgrown bikini to be ugly, and a sign of wealth and class was to be completely bare. In ancient Islamic culture, they took it one step further by actually designating rooms in their bathhouses where women could go to have their pubic hair removed.
During the Crusades, a surge of Christianity, and the belief all things sex related to be sinful, pubic hair was sent into the Dark Ages. Leave it to fashion, however, to bring us back into the light. In the 1940s, when bathing suits became smaller, the need (and common curtsey) for below the belt hair removal was re-discovered. As swimsuits, and eventually bikinis, started showing more and more skin, hair removal became more and more mainstream. Let’s now take the time to thank the porn industry. As pornography became more acceptable in polite society, women began to emulate the grooming habits of its stars, bringing us to bikini grooming as we know it today.
To my great disappointment, the term “Brazilian ” waxing did not originate with the genetically blessed (seriously, is there something in the water?) women of Brazil. It is thought to have been given the name only because it sounded exotic.
Whatever the root, I could not be happier to be out of the dark ages of B.C.B., armed with the freedom to be confident and hair-free!
xo cindy
12 Jun 2010 - 18:13
I have to say I disagree with this and am even a bit offended. I am a shaver and a waxer but there was a point in my life where I let it all grow. I have also been in relationships with women who did not shave. So what? People should feel beautiful the way they want to feel beautiful. And if it is via waxing, then awesome, this Salon is here for you. But if not, they should not be made to feel less than or unhygenic in any way.
13 Jun 2010 - 23:52
I have to agree — this is completely offensive and downright bitchy. I’m a fan of Completely Bare, but don’t belittle and bully your customers into feeling monstrous for being human.
14 Jun 2010 - 20:40
Lesson learned, don’t post in haste… I apologize for my anti-hair tirade as the subway can make any woman feisty. This was by no means meant to be a judgment upon those who prefer to go a little au natural. However, when I am nose-to-pit with another girl on the subway who is less than groomed, my inner bare girl kicks in. Although I know everyone has their own style and I am a true believer in embracing your individuality.Thank you for your comments Cindy
15 Jun 2010 - 10:49
I agree with you, Cindy. Although I do think women should feel comfortable in their own skin- personally it’s much nicer when things are super smooth and bare as possible. I don’t think this post was pigeon-holing the unshaven as Unhygienic, nor did it make me feel like a monster for my going on 2 weeks of what I’ve been trying to convince myself was just a light stubble on my legs bc I’ve been too lazy to shave. Will my boyfriend dump me bc of this? Of course not. Should I lock myself inside for daring to not be bare? Don’t be ridiculous. But I for one think there is nothing sexier then when I’m lying next to my dude and I know my legs are silky smooth. Taking care of myself makes me feel empowered- and for me that includes a clean shave.
I think it’s a matter of opinion, and I don’t think feelings should be hurt over a hair removal spa promoting just that- hair removal. Whether you shave or don’t- you shouldn’t take yourselves so seriously…after all, it’s just hair!
15 Jun 2010 - 13:33
Thanks Eve :-)