The idea of a razor revolt has me jumping up and down with glee. While skimming the headlines in Mozilla, I came across a Guardian article that made me sit up and take notice. Phoebe Bridgers appeared at the Venice International Film Festival with unshaven legs.

Phoebe, I don’t know who you are, but you are my heroine. (For those of you who are squeamish, please stop reading now. You may find what I am about to say TMI [Too Much Information]). Because I am aging and wore pants instead of skirts for much of my adult life, the hair on my legs and armpits has declined significantly. That’s the good news. However, because my skin is so dry, I dread the time when I need to pull out the razor and get to work. And, no, I’m not going to the doctor to complain that my leg hair isn’t growing. I have enough doctor’s appointments as it is.

THE RAZOR AND ANCIENT CIVILIZATION

The Egyptians were fond of shaving as early as 3000 to 2500 BC. Men and women in the upper classes removed body hair (including on their heads). Hair removal helped eliminate parasites such as lice.

The Greeks stuck to manly beards until the time of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). It is said that he ordered Macedonian soldiers to shave before a battle, as grabbing chin hair gave their opponents an upper hand.

The Romans soon followed suit in the first century BC. Barber shops were social hubs for gossip and news. Around age 21, a young man would get his first shave in a ceremony, often offering the hair to a god.

WHEN DID THE RAZOR BECOME A CULTURAL NORM FOR AMERICAN WOMEN?

No woman in the United States bothered to shave until the early 20^th century. At that point, a number of things occurred:

• Clean-shaven became associated with basic hygiene. Removing body hair helped combat lice and other parasites for those with limited access to bathing who lived in close quarters. Additionally, hair traps perspiration and can produce bacteria and odors.
• King Camp Gillette patented the modern safety razor with disposable blades in 1904. This innovation flooded the market with inexpensive razors.
• Advances in printing, railroad transportation, and increased literacy rates gave rise to magazines for women (Ladies’ Home Journal, Town and Country, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan, to name a few). This gave Gillette and others championing “smooth” legs an advertising platform. Did you know that advertisers deemed underarm hair as unsightly and unfeminine?
• The fashion industry began to promote rising hemlines as well as sleeveless evening gowns.
• WWII curtailed the manufacture of silk and nylon stockings in the U.S., increasing the number of women who succumbed to the lure of the razor.

WHAT DO YOUNG WOMEN THINK ABOUT USING A RAZOR TODAY?

Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore, and Miley Cyrus have challenged thoughts on shaving in the past. Even Vogue commented on Phoebe’s hairy legs: Her legs were left visibly unshaven beneath the abbreviated hemline—and rather than undermining the femininity of the look, unapologetic hair sharpened it.

According to Vogue, a 2016 study found that nearly one in four females under 25 had tossed away the razor.

LAST THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RAZOR

I stopped dying my hair when I exited the 9-to-5 rat race. Now I have a wonderful excuse to stop using a razor. As one of the younger women pointed out, I’ve got too many other important things to do than to shave. As soon as the murderous Texas heat disappears and I can go from shorts to long pants, I’ll join the razor rebellion!

I’d love it if you’d join me!

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