Embracing the Natural: Januhairy Celebrates Body Hair Movement
Januhairy: Embracing body hair and defying societal norms Join the movement on social media to challenge beauty ideals and show solidarity for those who reject hairless standards Let's question the origins of these norms #Januhairy #BodyPositivity
January is typically a time of renewal and commitment, with an increase in gym memberships, job searches, and a trend towards abstaining from alcohol and meat. However, over the last six years, January has also been marked by "Januhairy," an movement where women are encouraged to refrain from shaving for the month. Despite its name, the initiative promotes a year-round message, and its official Instagram account, with over 40,000 followers, shares images of women embracing their body hair to promote normalization.
"According to Januhairy founder Laura Jackson, Januhairy is a liberating experience that prompts individuals to contemplate their treatment of their bodies and the reasons behind it. She expressed hope for a future where people can freely make choices about their body hair without it being a topic of discussion. That would truly be something."
Artist Esther Calixte-Bea said she regularly receives hate and abuse from strangers for letting her body hair grow.
Esther Calixte-Bea
The practice of hair removal dates back to ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Renaissance-era Europeans. However, the modern standard for women in the West, which includes hairless underarms, legs, bikini lines, and upper lips, became more socially acceptable after World War I. This was due to the return of men with disposable safety razors, which women then began to use. Fashion was also changing, with garments revealing more skin, such as sleeveless tops and higher hemlines. Seizing the opportunity, razor manufacturer Gillette launched the "Milady Decolette" in 1915, marketed as the solution for a "well-groomed" woman facing "an embarrassing personal problem."
Gen-Z is already concerned about appearing older. Breanne Fahs, a women and gender studies professor at Arizona State University, stated in a CNN interview that Gillette's deliberate decision to aggressively target women was very intentional.
A powerful norm
The marketing strategy aligned with the emergence of fashion photography in magazines, leading to the rapid dissemination of new beauty ideals. Even now, many still consider female body hair taboo, despite the societal embrace of "natural" elements in other aspects such as cosmetics and food.
In 2021, a YouGov study revealed that 59% of Britons found female armpit hair "unattractive," with both men and women sharing similar views at 57% and 61% respectively. However, the research also showed that attitudes varied by generation, with younger individuals less likely to perceive female body or facial hair as unattractive, especially younger women who were more accepting of female body hair.
British body confidence activist and advocate for polycystic ovaries, Harnaam Kaur, is interviewed by French TV host Antoine de Caunes on the show "L'Emission d'Antoine," in this image by Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images.
Body hair has become more prevalent in mainstream culture, with the hashtag #bodyhairpositivity garnering over 214 million views on TikTok and razor brand Billie featuring body hair on its models. Additionally, a beauty product called Fur Oil is now on the market for those looking to soften their pubic or underarm hair. Despite these advancements, the overall societal perspective on body hair remains largely unchanged.
Fahs stated that the compliance rates for body hair removal are extremely high, with research showing that between 92 and 99 percent of women in various countries regularly remove their leg and underarm hair. She expressed surprise at the fact that such a norm, which has no health benefits, garners such high compliance compared to practices like wearing seatbelts or brushing teeth. Even though body hair activism and movements like Januhairy are gaining visibility, Fahs noted that there is little evidence to support a widespread trend of increased female body hair, and instead, pubic hair removal is on the rise.
Question your beauty ideals
Roxanne Felig, a 27-year-old social psychology PhD student from Tampa, Florida, frequently shares her decision to embrace her natural body hair on social media. She is a prominent figure on the Januhairy Instagram page, where she receives a significant amount of negative feedback from strangers, particularly online.
"A lot of the time it's women who are sending these hateful messages, which seems so contradictory," she revealed to CNN over the phone. "The aggression level is really high. I have people leaving vomit emojis and telling me I'm disgusting."
Student Roxanne Felig is also featured on the Januhairy social media channel and has received hate for her choice to grow out her underarm hair.
Roxanne Felig
Esther Calixte-Bea, a 27-year-old artist from Montreal who is featured on the Januhairy Instagram account, has also experienced similar reactions. She uses her creative practice to document her body, including the chest hair she spent years removing despite it causing her pain, irritation, and even infection.
"I receive hateful and sometimes racist comments, but it's always the same old thing - people always use monkey or gorilla emojis," said Calixte-Bea. "It was offensive at first, but I've grown accustomed to it now."
The most brutal reaction was in person: "The worst I ever had was two men who filmed me."
The queer artist whose controversial street performances are taking on the Russian government
The racialization of female body hair has a long history, with colonial powers using hair removal as a form of control or punishment. Charles Darwin's suggestion in his 1871 book "Descent of Man" that excessive body hair was primitive has led to troubling narratives about respectability and hygiene. Professor Fahs notes that women of color often have much darker body hair, with different implications based on hair color and texture.
With all of this in mind, its easy to see how the stakes of growing out your hair might be higher for women of color.
In 1999, Julia Roberts proudly displayed her natural underarms at the "Notting Hill" London premiere. Reflecting on her choice in 2018, Roberts explained that it was not intended as a feminist statement, but rather a personal statement about being true to herself as a human being on this planet.
Calixte-Bea stated, "Facing external judgment can be intimidating, but in order to normalize something, more people need to witness it. I can't just proclaim that I want to normalize body hair and not show my own." Different regions of the body also have varying levels of acceptability for hair.
Professor Fahs explains that armpit hair is often considered the most difficult or repulsive for people to accept, even more so than other controversial topics she has written about. She notes that the societal perception of armpit hair as a violation of gender norms and traditional femininity causes significant backlash. Meanwhile, Felig acknowledges the mental challenges of growing out body hair, stating that the benefit of shaving is avoiding harassment from others.
Calixte-Bea emphasizes the importance of taking the time to deeply consider the reasons behind our choices, a sentiment echoed by Fahs. She also points out that many women have never truly embraced their natural body and allowing body hair to grow out can challenge societal beauty standards and encourage a true connection with one's own body.
