Body acceptance and shaving?

[Ottergirl77]

Hi All,

It's been awhile since I've posted (actually, it's been awhile since I've visited the site), but I was wondering...

I have been reading over several posts, and the topic of shaving (various locations) seems to be a popular one. My question is, for those that believe social nudism is a matter of body acceptance, why do so many find it necessary to shave? Wouldn't accepting the amount of body hair God gave you also be part of body acceptance?

Just curious how those of you who shave view this.

-Ottergirl

[Ottergirl77]

Hi All,

It's been awhile since I've posted (actually, it's been awhile since I've visited the site), but I was wondering...

I have been reading over several posts, and the topic of shaving (various locations) seems to be a popular one. My question is, for those that believe social nudism is a matter of body acceptance, why do so many find it necessary to shave? Wouldn't accepting the amount of body hair God gave you also be part of body acceptance?

Just curious how those of you who shave view this.

-Ottergirl

[Dunsunnin]

Yes, obviously for most shaving is not accepting your body for what it is. But also you could argue that guys should also all have moustaches and beards for the same reason, and women not shave their armpits and legs.
You either want hair where it grows, or you don't. It's just a matter of personal preference.
Also, hair grows back so whatever you do isn't forever - if you should ever have a change of heart. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Dunsunnin]

Just an after thought....
the shaving topic sometimes triggers off a lot of heated debate. So be prepared for some fireworks.
To me, body acceptance is about accepting the body in unclothed form without shame, and needn't necessarily get overcomplicated by what we might choose to personally add or take away from what we have. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[barelybob]

Body acceptance is not being ashamed of what you have. We modify many things according to personal tastes. Such as hairstyle or even the color of our house. We may workout for health and to try for that elusive "perfect" physique. As time passes our tastes may change, and we alter what we can to conform. It is perfectly natural for us to try to "improve" on those things which we can. Others may not approve, but they just have different tastes. In short, it's your body! Do what you want! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

P.S.: As naturists we are by nature nonconformist. Personally, I do things for my pleasure, not to please everybody else. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[NakedShayne]

HI, We're both smoothies and Luv it. To us it's alot cleaner look and we both have been doing it since we were both old enough to grow hair. Even our kids don't mind us shaving. To us it's what the person wants to do and what they feel comphy doing. We have noticed tho that alot more are doing this now.

[Trailscout]

Hey Ottergirl,

If you can put your hands on books about the history of nudism, you will see that until recent years, most nudists did not shave their bodies for the very reason you gave.
There are a lot of us to this day who insist that shaving is not necessary to look good or look "clean".

I hope you don't feel any pressure to do one thing or the other.

[Evernude]

Bottom line: I just don't like being hairy. Being smooth and hair free makes me feel better both nude and (unfrotunately) clothed. My wife likes it too. I don't care what other people think about it, or that they are hairy. But I do tell them "try it, you'll like it." It's all about freedom and acceptance for ourselves and others.

[Nude in the North]

I just got tired of people snapping my picture everytime I went for a walk in the woods.
Sasquatch (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dtrapp/patty1.jpg)

Steve

[shãybare]

Nude in the North, I wouldn't have recognized you. You look so different without your glasses.

Say Nude in the North..is it really true what they say..."Big feet.. big....." not that size matters of course...just couldnt quite tell from the picture...maybe its the length of the hair?... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Odb

[NakedGary]

Can't any male be a smoothie? Not on this site!

A site just for smoothies and only circumcised or cut males [strange requirement when 85% of the world is intact, and most from UK are also!

http://www.snupie164northwood.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

http://www.164northwood.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

[aunaturelone]

I have shaved myself a couple of times but it was long ago when I was a lad. The why is the interesting part.

I was an early developer. Puberty and the accompanying acne, hair and sex drive first hit me at 10. Within a couple years I looked like I was in high school.

I think the first time around it was because I didn't want to grow up. Most boys loved the development of body hair as it was a signal of physical maturity. I disliked the arrival of body hair for the very same reason. Childhood had been very rough and adolescence was getting even rougher.

And I hated the way the hair looked. I was an early developer and had hairy legs before anyone else. A smooth hairless body looked aesthetically more pleasing and very sexy. I wanted to look sexy to myself. After a while I decided that a small dense patch of pubic hair was even more sexy as long as it was the only body hair.

Of course a 12 year old who shaved could get away with it and look like a normal 12 year old. Bu I still only shaved a couple of times in the summer. A sudden change in the amount of body hair would be obvious in the locker room.

There was one boy who grew quite dense chest shoulder and back hair early in high school. He was also quite muscular so nobody said anything to his face but behind his back guys and girls called him names; gorilla, ape, shaggy, wolfman and so on. Seeing how they reacted to him reinforced my own feelings.

And to this day, that is the most popular image of the beautiful body. Hairless except for the scalp and a limited thatch of pubes, although a man can still be considered "sexy" with a beard as long as his chest and leg hair isn't too thick or grow on his shoulders or back.

The second fit of shaving took place when I was in my middle teens and no longer had a gymn class, so I had no reason to hide anything. Aside from liking the look and feeling sexy, the main reason was the additional sensations it provided for masturbation. Bare skin is vastly more sensitive and sensual than thick curly hair.

But that was a brief fling and I soon decided that I found girls to be more interesting than myself as a sexual partner, so I let it grow. If I did get lucky enough to "score", I figured being shaved would really wierd any girl out and I didn't want that. Fortunately it only takes a month to get a minimally "normal" looking growth back. (Kind of got to liking combing it out into a little afro.)

Since then I haven't bothered to go smooth. I've become more confident in my appearance and developed a broader sense of what is aesthetically pleasing. I have hairy legs, average pubes, some stomach hair and some on my chest and I am quite happy with it. A sexy body has more to do with how you carry yourself, your underlying musculature and your attitude than your body hair or your genitalia.

I did have my pubes trimmed into a heart shape and dyed florescent red for Valentines day once but that hardly counts. As I get older I find that my pubic hair is getting both thinner and grayer. I'm starting to miss having that thick, dark patch.

[Macanudist]

I suppose my other post requesting advice on techniques for shaving ones back stirred up this thread. Like I said in the other message thread, I am a hair monster. I've lived with it most of my life but more so as I went through my 30's. And though I like the look of totally smooth, hairless skin, I don't think that's the route for me. I am happy with myself as a person and am very comfortable with my body image. But wanting to return to a happy medium prompted me to rid my back of its annoying outgrowth.

I like to think of shaving as "hair management." This extends to shaving my face every day and getting a hair cut every few weeks. As for the rest of my body I have chosen to shorten each region of hair to my own liking balanced against some acceptable convention for males, i.e. I don't shave my armpits or legs. My chest hair I've decided to trim slightly shorter than normal as well as my pubic hair. The back is either do it or don't do it (hard to trim short) so it is GONE!

I'm still experimenting with techniques (razors, trimmers and depilitories) and am homing in on a solution that works well and makes me feel good with my appearance. You may say that as a nudist those things shouldn't be important. Believe me, hair management is not at the top of my list of important things in life, but even as nudists we still function in a larger society and are judged (perhaps wrongly) by our appearance. Shaving a little here and there is fine folks and by-golly, I just love the feel of smooth skin for a change!

[aunaturelone]

Everybody changes their natural state of hair, even if it's just a hair styling or a beard trim.

A completely smooth body is uncommon. That's why it grabs so much attention. And grabbing attention is one of many reasons why some people do it. Just like why some people wear jewelry down there. It focuses the attention and makes a statement. (A completely smoothshaven, shiny bald head is a textiled analogy.)

During the Bay to Breakers, some of the nude participants are smooth. Spectators have been known to question whether or not the smoothies are suffering from some kind of dermatological disorder. You don't always know how your "statement" will be interpreted! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Shaving the pubic hair to get attention may be why SOME people do it, but I did it because I like the look and feel of it shaved. Considering my small penis, I have no desire to draw anyone's attention to it. If I wanted to draw someone's attention to my penis, I could always get it pierced and hang a big ring on it. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[OZJames]

Ottergirl asked about body hair - all you lot immediatly started talking about genital hair - do you all have sex fixations ? I thought nudity was not about sex.

I have shaved my BEARD almost every day since it first grew. The reason now - well, I must admit is because a beard gets in the way. gets in the way of what ? Hair itches and can accumulate dirt and I hesitate to suggest, bugs. Its cleaner/easier to eat, blow your nose, wash your face AND (I must admit) I find it more sensuous to kiss my wife with a shaven face and I think my wife prefers to kiss skin than a stubbley or hairy face.

What do you all think about kissing skin or hair ?

JAMES

Ottergirl didn't specify any particular area of the body. She asked, "why do so many find it necessary to shave?" Shave what? Everyone probably assumed she meant areas that aren't usually shown to the public but kept covered. Some people shave everything, and others shave certain areas. Shaving the pubic area seems to be a favorite subject among nudists who are split on whether or not it's something nudists should do.

Everything we do in life is a matter of choice or preference, religious beliefs or lack thereof. In most cases there is no right or wrong. It's just a matter of what's right for each individual. People--including nudists or naturists, which ever word you prefer--tend to be too judgemental and expect everyone to do everthing the way they do it. Any diviation from their way is considered to be wrong. However, it's just a matter of one's point of view.

[Sundance36]

John-marc shaving makes your penis look larger why hide it. besides it feels good. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[johny]

RE: Ottergirl
""Wouldn't accepting the amount of body hair God gave you also be part of body acceptance""

I think those are nothing comparable. Rephrasing, Wouldn't accepting the amount of head hair or finger nails God gave you also be part of body acceptance? Yet I cant believe You as a woman ought agitate for never cut the nails and never go to barber shop. Hippie style is something provocating and surely far from body acceptance, I would say sooner the "body ignorance". Especially if one has rare and pale hairs there down, I cant truly find it highly aesthetic.

Of course body acceptance IS little about ignorance but about INEVITABLE things ignorance, while everything what are easy available for aesthetic~isation, should of course be made as possible nice for the same reasons why women use lipsticks and deodorants, or men cuts a moustage.

Yet my understanding perhaps may be bit declined from "ultimate truth" (if any exists) for myself I dont like the body hair there down for hygienic and aesthetic reasons (and dosens of years long so)??

Yet shaving with razor as a technique really isn`t the best, but chemicals are far worser.

[RalphVa]

God also gave me lots of ear and nose hair. Am I supposed to not touch it and let it entwine around my nose and ears?

I'm sorry this "God gave us" doesn't work. Same way it doesn't work in arguing about homosexuality. I could say that God made Jeffrey Dahlmer (serial killer), using the same argument.

God gave us the technology to modify our appearance easily to make us look better to others and to ourselves. Thank God for the knowhow.

Sundance,

I shave my pubic area completely because I like the look and feel of it shaved. I used to shave everything except my head, face, arms and legs, but it got to be too much trouble, although I'm fortunately not a very hairy person.

I shaved off my beard because I got tired of the itching, and the hassle of having to keep it trimmed.

[aunaturelone]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Wouldn't accepting the amount of body hair God gave you also be part of body acceptance? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That isn't what body acceptance is to me.

IMHO, body acceptance is merely acceptance that there is nothing wrong with the body. Since there is nothing wrong with the body you don't need to hide or conceal it. There is no shame in seeing nudity or being seen nude. And you can do with it as you please.

I accept people for being what they are. Fat skinny, hairy, hairless, young, old, circ'ed uncirc'ed, crippled, athletic, scarred, pierced, tatooed, painted, tanned, untanned, caucasion, black, nude, scantily clad or even fully clothed. I don't make any moral judgements because to me none of these are moral issues.

Does this lack of moral judgements mean I don't make aesthetic judgements? No. Does it mean I find all body types equally sexually appealing? Again, no.

The sight of a beautiful young woman (clothed or nude) always fills my mind with libidinous thoughts. I'm programmed for it. (The sight of a beautiful young man pleases me too, but in a slightly different way. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ) Does it mean older women or women who don't fit my personal aesthetic preferences aren't attractive? Of course they are but it isn't a matter of looks, it's a matter of how they behave, what they say and do, the pleasure of their company. If the pretty girl is an airhead then she'll turn me off and there is no amount of "looks" that will overcome it.

We are programmed in our deepest core to make judgements based on body type. The most obvious is sexual attraction but there are others. I cannot look at a child without feeling a warm paternal love, a desire to protect and nurture. The younger the person the greater the feeling and seeing an infant or toddler can turn me into mush.

There are a host of other judgements we make based on body type or the presence or absence of clotihing, too numerous to mention. The point is that for me none of them are moral. Being fat or hairy or bald or female or naked or clothed or scarred doesn't put you at any disadvantage in being my friend or my employee. I won't tell you you need to change. Anyone who does will merit my disapproval.

Acceptance of people for who they are and acceptance of who you are doesn't mean that you can't improve yourself and that you don't have aesthetic preferences. I mow my lawn, I prune my hedge and I trim my trees. I do temporary decorations for special events like parties and holidays. I may decide to remodel the house. It doesn't mean I don't accept wilderness as being beautiful, it means that's not how want my yard to look.

If I take the position that my body is my canvas, then what I do with my body can be considered my art. It can be considered a mode of communication that says something about who I am. While I am a child, I am pretty much stuck with what my genes gave to me and decisions my parents made for me. As an adult I can grow my hair long or short or wear it in a green mohawk. I can grow a beard or not, pierce myself wherever I please, shave my body, get tatoos, body paint, get circumcised or try to restore my foreskin, get a sex change operation or whatever. All these things are part of a message I send out about who I am.

Your body is not who you are. It is a container. If I have truly accepted who I am, then there is nothing wrong in decorating myself to match my self image.

[Luketor]

In many ways personal preference comes into this. I like to see someone trimmed neatly I must admit. Just as I like people to look after the hair on their head ... including beard and moustache as well ... to keep it neat and kempt in terms of general expectations of neatness, so do I think we have a responsibility to keep our pubic regions neat and kempt. There's something to be said, I think, for a good clean line!

[florida-david]

luketor - i think there is a big difference in an aesthetic appearance for the general public, and an aesthetic appearance for our private lives (which for us here on this site, happens to be nude). for instance, due to public perception, i need to keep my hair and face trimmed neatly, but that does not mean that i can not have a tattoo on my butt, shaved pubes, go commando or whatever else i want in areas that the general public does not see. i think that is what makes nudity so special is our ability to show our true aesthetic self to those who do not judge us. now when i retire and no longer need to impress clients, i will probably have hair down to my butt and never shave again, but only to dream of this now.....

[Jochanaan]

Just found this topic, Ottergirl. The great majority of people think that keeping clean and groomed involves removal of hair at certain places on one's body. I don't understand it either.

johny: Hey, wait a minute! I like hippie style! If I ever post a photo here you'll see how much I like it! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Luketor]

Deciding upon what is aesthetic or not is indeed something very personal. It's true, too, that we should not judge any one because they happen to be shaved, unshaved, tattooed, pierced ... or however else they want to express themselves! Being able to each express our personal nakedness is a beautiful thing and worthy of celebration! We all have personal prefernces about how we look, how we express our bodies etc, and that's wonderful!That's what I love about being nude and about being among others who are nude - that I can BE more myself and confident in myself as I see and marvel at others around me doing the same thing. There is indeed such beauty in celebrating, respecting and loving our diversity.

[maxx]

I have a hairy chest that my wife adoirs, and would not ever think of shaving it. I shave down there because my wife likes it that way and me likes her that way. As long as it feels that good she is BOSS. Naked is natural but primping for thy partner is priority.
Maxx

[BikeRacer]

I agree with earlier posts in that it's a personal preference and not a big deal weather someone is smooth or not. I am a 'smoothie' and have been for about 4 years. I simply like the feel. Now that more and more men are going this way is wonderful. Admittedly when my girlfriend at that time initially shaved me, I was concerned about the 'acceptance' issue. Sure enough, back then I received a lot of looks (or was it me being self-conscious?), but was reassured by my partner. That's what mattered most. Now, being single, I've continued to be smooth and can't see going 'hirsute again!

[David77]

My wife had a lot of bright red pubic hair on a backgroud of exceptionally light (Irish) skin, and it was gorgeous!

[bravebare]

Shaving is a personal preference. But society does dictate certain rules. An actress was chastised for not shaving her under arms by the press. I myself am shaved from neck to down there.
My wife prefers me that way and she rules.

[nudeinfl]

I simply do not like hair. I keep my head crewcut style. I also shve my pubs as a matter of preference. No statement, rebillion, or conformity involved.

I do find it interesting the how cultural norms change over time. You look at photos in the 60's and 70's and realize that the natural look was the nrom. View photos in the last 10 years,and rarely will a person have pubic hair. Similarly, notice the difference among cultures. As was pointed out, Europeans keep hair in areas where Americans shave. We think its gross not to shave and the press reflects that. However, couldn't the reverse also be true? Perhaps they hink we're sick for shaving different areas of our body.

[Rex]

I don't give a damn what the fashion is supposed to be.
I grew my [head] hair long when I was 16 [1950].
I've never had a beard, or moustache, but like long sideburns.
Apart from my two years in the Royal Navy, [called up at the time of the Korean War], I've had my hair long, or longish, ever since.
I've never shaved, or otherwise removed, hair from anywhere, other than my face.
None of the ladies I've been close to have removed their pubic hair, and I've never wanted them to.
I don't think my present lady friend has ever thought about it, one way or the other, but I tell her I like the way she is.
I don't care what anyone else does, but I really do wonder why so many people see it as necessary.

[BikeRacer]

Hi Rex, Thanks for the great post! A far as I see it, shaving one's pubic hair isn't a matter of it being necessary or not. Rather, it's simply a matter of preference. I prefer to and you and your partner don't. Diversity is what makes the world go 'round. Just think how boring it would be if we all had the same viewpoints, etc...!

[melissastarr]

Pubic and other body hair style/ existance is a matter of preference. I've recently decided that such a thing can actually be fun. When I first became a nudist in October I trimmed my pubic hair slightly for the first time so it didn't look completely wild. Since then I've tried very short to mostly natural, with just a trim around the opening part. Thus far, I think I like a fairly full bush but with the opening part trimmed down a bit so I don't have a big poof of hair in the middle (too much information???) I've not tried shaving as I fear I'd feel like a little girl again... I'm not saying no one should do it, I'm just expressing that this might not be the best choice for me with my background. So, in short, have a little fun, do some experimenting, and find what works for you.

Melissa

[Elery]

You know Mellisa, I just went to your home page and reread what you went through and you are simply amazing. You've come so far and deserve every bit of comfort, joy and peace that you can manage to gather to you...

[aunaturelone]

Hey, I once had my pubic hair waxed into a heart shape and dyed bright red for Valentines day. Even combed it up into a little afro and used hairspray, glitter and a little body paint to make it perfect. My GF at the time thought it was really cute, but it sure looked wierd growing back in.

[cdg-fr]

Having read through the post I would like to add something. I recently came across Baxendall's book on Nude Beaches and Recreation from around the World. It was published in 1990 and I would say 99% of all pictures are of nudists that did not shave. Sure, there were some shaved or trimmed women, in some cases men that may have shaved their chests and legs and left the pubic region hairy and no real smooth pictures of men. So my question is when did the idea of smooth look start to gain momentum? What about a trimmed look? What do you think prompted it? I'd be interested in thoughts.

[Naturist Mark]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cdg-fr:
So my question is when did the idea of smooth look start to gain momentum? What about a trimmed look? What do you think prompted it? I'd be interested in thoughts. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>In my corner of the American midwest it turned two summers ago. At the beginning of the summer the vast majority of women were 'natural', by the end of the summer about half were shaved. Last summer a similar shift happened among the men, but not to as great an extent, the majority don't shave, but it is pretty common.

I don't know why. Did it filter down from porn fashion? The one thing I hear over and over is that people like the way it feels to be smooth, but how do they know beforehand?

-Mark

[Trailscout]

It's a fad. My advise is to remain hairy and then wait to be applauded for being ahead of the curve when the hippie look comes back in vogue.

[nekidprof]

I have shaved before, although currently not. I found that it itched from the moment I shaved. More power to whatever others prefer, but I found it more uncomfortable. Anyone else have this experience?

[nekidprof]

[ now when i retire and no longer need to impress clients, i will probably have hair down to my butt and never shave again, but only to dream of this now..... [/QB][/QUOTE]

Dave,

I agree, if I actually have any hair left by the time I retire.

[cdg-fr]

Naturist Mark - thanks for your comment - I will be interested to see what happens here on local beach this summer - smooth was rare but over the summer more and more women were trimmed and some of the men were trimmed or smooth - some with piercings as well(but a real minority on this latter aspect). I am thinking of heading to Florida in a couple of weeks - will be interested to see how prevalent smoothness is there. Yes, it may be a fad - but how long will it last/

[pacouple]

I shave because it feels much better and I feel more clean. I f you looked at it form the point of view of body acceptance that would mean no one would exercise either because God made their body untoned and wanted them to be unhealthy.

[Craignude]

My wife talked me into shaving my chest and pubs. Big mistake. Red bumps everywhere. Hey I would like to be smooth but gosh this just doesn't work for me.

[nudebynature]

I shave from time to time and mostly just tidy things up a bit. I really don't care what other people choose to do.

My question is how can this subject stir up such controversy among a group of people that prides itself as being accepting and open-minded?

If we are accepting, it shouldn't even be questioned or am I off base on this one? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

I'm as confused as a baby in a topless bar!

[Jochanaan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nudebynature:
I'm as confused as a baby in a topless bar! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>LOL Great line, nudebynature!

I am reminded of the controversy regarding men's long hair and beards back in the '60s and '70s. Long-haired men were accused of being effeminate and worse, and lots of scorn was poured on bearded ones. As late as 1982, my conservative Christian alma mater still refused to allow men to have hair longer than their ears and collar, or to have beards at all. (Now it's more likely to be the professors who have beards and ponytails, while the students are clean-shaven and short-haired. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif )

"This, too, will pass."

[Trailscout]

Yeah, long sideburns have been fashionable twice in my lifetime so far.

Remember when goatees were all the thing in the mid-nineties?

What about ponytails for guys in 1990?

And greasy moussed hair was the thing for guys and all the gals wore big frizzed-out hair in 1986? How else could you walk like an Egyptian?

The older folks can probably remember girls with four-foot-long straight stringy hair in 1970.
And Afros for white guys in 1973?

What about the goth girls with black hair with orange highlights in the mid-eighties?

Or corn rows for all the gals after the movie "10" came out?

Remember punk rockers with multi-colored porcupine spiky hair in the late seventies?

Shaved heads may have started with the neoNazis white supremacists, but it seems to have caught on with black guys. Weird?

[stlphun]

I shave every day and have since I was a teenager. I just feel more clean, I guess. Wife shaves every day, except for her bikini area- which she just keeps very trim. To each his/her own.

[Naturist Mark]

Thanks to the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pubic_hair) we have some stats on pubic shaving: <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
<h3><a name="Regions">Regions</a></h3>
Females between 15 and 40 years of age keep their pubic hair according to this table:<table border=1><tr ><th >Region</th ><th >not modified
[%]</th ><th >trimmed
[%]</th >
<th >fully shaved
[%]</th ><tr ><td >USA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA)/Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada)</td ><td >&lt;10</td ><td >60</td ><td >30</td ><tr ><td >Europe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe)</td ><td >&gt; 75</td ><td >&lt; 15</td ><td >&lt; 10</td ><tr ><td >South/Latin America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America)</td ><td colspan=3>no information</td ><tr ><td >Africa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa) (w/o Arab countries)</td ><td colspan=3>no information</td ><tr ><td >Arab world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab)</td ><td >&lt;20</td ><td colspan=2>80</td ><tr ><td >Australia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia)</td ><td colspan=3>no information</td ><tr ><td >South-East Asia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South-East_Asia)</td ><td >85</td ><td >5</td ><td >10</td ><tr ><td >Indian subcontinent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India)</td ><td >20</td ><td >10</td ><td >70</td ><tr ><td >Chinas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China)/Koreas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea)</td ><td >85</td ><td >5</td ><td >10</td ><tr ><td >Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan)</td ><td >85</td ><td >5</td ><td >10</td ><tr ><td >Nudists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudist)</td ><td >25</td ><td >10</td ><td >65</td ><tr ><td >BDSM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM) cultures</td ><td >15</td ><td >5</td ><td >&gt;80</td >

</table >
<h3><a name="Men">Men</a></h3>
Since the 1990s more and more men also trim or remove their pubic hair. Alltogether it is seen much more rarely than in females. It is fashionable in BDSM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM) cultures (approx. 30% shaved) or nudist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudist) cultures (approx. 10% shaved). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That statisitics for nudists pretty much agree with my midwestern observations.

It is interesting to note that among women, nudists are both far more likely to be 'natural', or completely shaved as compared to North American women overall.

-Mark

[shãybare]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nudebynature:
I shave from time to time and mostly just tidy things up a bit. I really don't care what other people choose to do.

My question is how can this subject stir up such controversy among a group of people that prides itself as being accepting and open-minded?

If we are accepting, it shouldn't even be questioned or am I off base on this one? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

I'm as confused as a baby in a topless bar! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Nudebynature, It does seem a little idiotic doesn't it? Who shaves and who doesn't, who is circumcised and who isn't, who is what color, who is gay, who is fat, who is single, who is pierced or tattooed, who is religious and the list goes on and on and on.

You are quite right about nudist claiming to be accepting and open minded. I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but it just isn't true. There are some who are very accepting and open minded. It seems to be one of the goals of many naturists but we are all at different levels of acceptance.

We may be nudists/naturists, but we are not immune to human nature. People seek others like them and shun and even fear those that are not like them. We learn our prejudices at home, in school, our friends and relatives, and the media. It is easy to say, "Just don't be prejudice.", but it is very different to change instilled feelings. It can be as silly as where the mashed potatoes are placed on the plate in relation to the location of the meat. Don't laugh, there have been many marriages broken up over food placement. One or both in the marriage was too immature to have gotten married or even have left the mothers apron strings.

When one becomes a nudist, they are "immature" and need to be educated about what that entails. Anybody can get naked or nude if you prefer since that too has at one time been a big controversy among nudists/naturists. We may have taken a step from mainstream society but we are still apart of that society that teaches prejudices every day, especially in body appearance. And isn't that what this whole argument is about? Body Appearance?

It would be nice if the ones that take this thread so serious would realize, "What difference does it really make if someone is shaved or not. How does that change anything?" The person is still a person and should be treated respectfully. We all do somethings differently. We have different likes and dislikes and as long as we are not harming ouselves or others, we should be accepted for who we are as a person.

Going back to what I said about people seeking out others like them, they also want everyone to like what they like because they then feel validated about their choices in life. They are stroked for making good choices.

Before this turns into a dissertation, I had better end this. I hope I have helped and encourage you to help raise the limit on body acceptance. I, too, like your ending line.

SFGIDLIF...QB

[TAP]

I have shaved for 8 years now and probably will for the rest of my life. The feeling is great between my wife and I. It seems so much cleaner than before also. To me, it is no different than keeping a beard trimmed, or a woman shaving her legs and underarms.

[ncognito66]

I just shaved my pubic area yesterday for one reason, my wife asked me to (use your imagination why). Personally, I couldn't care one way or the other.

[nig59]

Hi We're two smothies in our 40's. We have been shaven for 5yrs and would not go back to having pubes. We respect others choice to shave or not shave. At ou club thers is a mix of smothies & non smoothies, it does not appear to be an issue for anyone.

[shãybare]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nig59:
Hi We're two smothies in our 40's. We have been shaven for 5yrs and would not go back to having pubes. We respect others choice to shave or not shave. At ou club thers is a mix of smothies & non smoothies, it does not appear to be an issue for anyone. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>nig59, thanks for posting. It's nice to know there are still some sane people in the world.

[blindmanin99]

I have to shave my beard every day which is okay but sometimes the razor burn really hurts. I've been putting lotion on my face afterwards for the past several months and that really helps. I don't shave my pubic area, because I'm afraid of the razor burn, but I have hair remover, like Nair, a few times and that works really well. DO NOT leave it on more than 8 minutes though, I lost track of time. Just try it and you'll see. Well anyhow, it is a lot more comfortable without all the hair that I normally have down there and I just use a little lotion to keep the skin healthy and everything is fine. It's just a matter of personal preference.

[Dawg]

I shave my head with a hair pair of clippers you would see in a barber shop. It is very usefull "down there" as well. No razor bumps, but it still looks "cleaner". My fiancee likes me smoother and I like her smoother. But as it has been said, you should do it how you like it!

[olderguy]

It just dawned on me that I have been shaving my pubic area on and off for about 10 years. I first started shaving as a private protest to an extended family situation where I "didn't want to be the daddy anymore".It was a way for me to return to "childhood". How messed up is that? Since then I found that I like the feel and look of being smooth. I also have noticed that as I get older I get less hairy, except in the ears.I tried Nair but it burned me so I normally use clippers or a razor.

[Zorro]

I'm a little too hairy to shave my pubic area, especially considering I have black hair. Personally, I think it would look pretty strange on me to have one smooth, hairless area when there's so much black hair everywhere else.

[valalanm]

Hi i,m looking for females in los angeles for naturist modeling no exp necessary and shaved if possible.

[no tan line]

I am male and I shave my genitals at least once a year.When I get tired of all the hair down there I put on some nair all over my crotch and ten minutes later I am smooth. I like change. I have shaved my entire body once or twice (not my head).Try it , you might like it.at least your genitals.

[Shavedinohio]

My wife and I have been shaved for most of our lives, we are in our late 50's, and love it. We have noticed that shaving is becoming more common at nude resorts & beaches. Sometimes someone that is interested in shaving will ask us questions about it and we are always happy to answer them. We have also noticed that body jewelry (piercings) are becoming more common and we are considering getting one but have not decided on what type yet.

[BrianP]

I just shaved all my pubic hair off. I do it about every 6 months or so. I do keep it trimmed shot in between shaving it. I keep my testicals shaved all the time though.

[steve53]

There are some practical arguements for shaving (i think).

I don't know what others think of it but, I never cared to see loose pubic hair lying about in public places. It seems to me shaving pubic areas is a excellent way to avoid this scenario. And on a very personal point, shaving reduces the need for extra toilet paper since there's no hair there to interfere with the paperwork when the task is completed. No job's done till the paperwork is done.

Whether it's standing at a urinal or anywhere else, seeing pubs there is unpleasant.

I also have a sit down job, drive many miles each week, and when the hair gets a little long it tends get pulled and that makes sitting uncomfortable.

I like the look and feel of shaved, but mostly I trim or shave for the practical purposes.

If it's your choice to do so and you're at a resort where the only place to maintain your smooth preference is a public shower, there should be no problem, unless you fail to tidy up after yourself.

[BrianRI]

I agree that shaving is a personal choice.

I chave my back, pubic area, and butt. I have found that after shaving my butt, biking does not hurt as much. I am not seen nude by many people, so I do it because I like the way it makes me look and feel.

[str8nudeguy]

i usually shave every week as i like it that way

[tdstorm]

Accepting out body would also mean, not doing anything to our hair, no makeup, no shaving beards or any of that, even cutting your nails would be considered against body acceptance. Cutting your nails is also a hygienic and practical choice as well. Therefore is not removing body hair, less hair, leaves less room for bacteria to fester and stink. That old school mantra of nudism is something I don't agree with, that real nudists don't shave their pubes or whatever. If anything people who shave are displaying more of their body, and genitals, so I fail to see how that constitutes shame, when the genitals are much more visible. I was even asked about why I shaved my chest in a sauna at a 'regular gym' by a man who said he was a nudist.

I just like being naked, and I want to look good whilst in a state of undress or clothed. To me that means removing/trimming hair.

[WGANude]

At a nudist resort this past weekend, I noticed many men and women were shaved or had very little pubic hair. During a discussion on this topic in a hot tub with several couples (all smooth), one woman said if a man wants to attract and keep a women he needs to shave his genitals.

After looking at myself getting out of the hot tub, I decided to give myself a trim that night. I don't think I'm ready to shave yet, but I'm happy with my new look.

[MJ_KC]

I shave off most of my body hair because I prefer it that way. Nobody else has a say in this. I do not see any reason to care at all what anyone else thinks about what I do in regards to personal grooming.

[HabaneroSting]

Honestly, I think completely shaved pubic hair on adults looks strange, much like if you shaved off your eyebrows, but I do prefer neatly trimmed hair.

[solarsid]

I have shaved my torso for some years now because I prefer it that way, I like the smooth look. At first my wife was not to keen saying she preferred soft hair to stubble! Now I am retired I have the time to shave more often and avoid the stubble. There seems to be a lot more smoothies about these days but it is a personal thing and wouldn't appeal to everyone.
Sid

[Running Bear]

Solarsid. Greetings. I note you have achieved the rank of junior member. Since when has the term junior ever applied to you?
Shaved because it makes me swim and run faster and I need all the help I can get! I also like the look it looks much neater.

[paoolos]

I think its just a personally preference to be hairless... personally I dont care what anyone thinks of me doing it.

[tiger79]

thanxxxxxxxx !!
What exactly does that mean? You've posted lots of replies recently saying just "thanxxxxxxx". If you don't have any meaningful input, it might be better if you just didn't post.

[baregreg]

What exactly does that mean? You've posted lots of replies recently saying just "thanxxxxxxx". If you don't have any meaningful input, it might be better if you just didn't post.
I was thinking the same. I think it's because you need at least 10 posts to see pics and links in sigs. So I'm sure that's why he/she did it. :rolleyes:

[MrJeff]

I keep the testies shaved all the time and the rest trimmed, sometimes I shave all of my body hair. I do not like body hair, but it is to much trouble to shave all the time.

[Being-veggie-being]

It is a job to shave. If it makes you more comfortable then do it.

I trim and sometimes shave depending on the weather.

[FatKat_Tx]

I used to feel the same way about it being the way God made me....however, i really think its just a matter of preference..my wife and i like the look and feel, and i personally enjoy the time i can spend doing it with my wife!

[the-natural-one]

I have been shaving it off down there for a year or so now. I like the way it feels, though I still don't like the stubbles, I do enjoy how it feels after shaving and no more hair to get in the way. (I also get a more even tan) My wife does not really get it but she at least is more excepting to it now then before. The last few months I let it grow back and had to shave it back off. It is kind of like having a beard that drives you nuts. Just a personal thing I think. Some people shave their head. Some shave their face some? Really what is the big deal?