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Hair, Choice, and the Politics in Between

We want to talk about body hair. Specifically, women’s body hair. Why something so natural somehow became such a loaded topic.

Historically, women haven’t always been expected to be hairless. If you go way back, hair removal existed in ancient civilizations like Egypt and Rome, but it wasn’t this universal “must-do” for every woman. The big shift came much later—around the early 20th century. As sleeveless dresses and shorter hemlines became fashionable, companies saw an opportunity. Brands like Gillette began marketing directly to women, pushing the idea that visible body hair was “unhygienic” or “unfeminine” (Herzig, 2015; Smithsonian Magazine, n.d.). And just like that, a beauty norm was born—not from nature, but from advertising.

Fast forward to today, and we’re still dealing with the aftermath of that messaging. The debate now isn’t really about hair itself—it’s about choice.

Pop culture has played a huge role in shaping—and challenging—these expectations. Celebrities like Julia Roberts made headlines years ago simply for showing underarm hair on a red carpet, sparking global conversation (BBC, 1999; The Guardian, 1999). More recently, people like Amandla Stenberg and Lizzo have openly embraced body hair, framing it as part of self-acceptance rather than something to hide (Vogue, n.d.; Teen Vogue, n.d.). Even on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, you’ll find entire communities normalizing body hair—whether that’s showing unshaved legs or questioning why the expectation exists in the first place (Pew Research Center, 2021; The New York Times, n.d.).

On one side of the debate, some argue that the expectation to remove body hair is rooted in societal pressure. If you feel like you have to shave to be accepted—whether that’s at the beach, at work, or even on a date—is it really a choice? That’s a fair question. Beauty standards don’t come out of nowhere, and they absolutely shape how we see ourselves (Herzig, 2015).

But at Rest we believe that feminism, at its core, is about autonomy. It’s about having the freedom to decide what you do with your own body—without judgment either way.

Shaving your legs doesn’t make you less empowered. Not shaving them doesn’t automatically make you more empowered either. The power lies in choosing what feels right for you, not in following (or rejecting) a rule just because it exists.

The real goal? Moving toward a world where no one feels pressured to explain their body hair choices. Whether you’re smooth, fuzzy, or somewhere in between, it shouldn’t be a statement—it should just be normal.

Because at the end of the day, it’s just hair. The meaning we attach to it? That’s the part we get to change. At Rest we support women having control over how they look and how they feel about their body whether that is with body hair or without. We just want you to be you!

Rest offers waxing treatments from £15 and eyebrow threading for £15. If you'd like to book an appointment visit here. We hope to see you soon.

Reference List

• Herzig, R.M. (2015) Plucked: A History of Hair Removal. New York: NYU Press.

• Smithsonian Magazine (n.d.) ‘The History of Women’s Body Hair Removal’.

• BBC (1999) Coverage of Julia Roberts’ Notting Hill premiere appearance.

• The Guardian (1999) Coverage of Julia Roberts and body hair debate.

• Vogue (n.d.) Articles and interviews on body positivity and beauty norms.

• Teen Vogue (n.d.) Articles on feminism, identity, and body image.

• Pew Research Center (2021) Social media and body image studies.

• The New York Times (n.d.) Coverage of social media trends and beauty standards.