I must have been about 13 or 14 when I first witnessed my friend, Isabella shaving her legs with a shaving stick. Prior to that, I don’t think I knew that people even do stuff like that. I was a late bloomer in every sense of the word. After the first time I witnessed Isabella doing it, I witnessed her doing it a few more times. I distinctly remember she got cut by the blade at least once. Being of mixed race and very light, the spot and trickle of blood seemed to be the only thing I could notice on her leg. But when I curiously rubbed her legs, I did admire its smoothness and freshness.
But it would take me several years before I came to own a pair of hairless legs myself. It happened in America. And I, too, started with a shaving stick. But the day I cut the skin on my Achilles heel, that was the day I put an end to the hairless legs routine — until I discovered the wonder of Nair Hair Remover. I have since moved on to Veet Hair Remover. Needless to say, I don’t understand why people use blades when hair removers are 100% painless.
On that note, my mother and grandma, naturally, were not happy when they found out about my hairless-legs sacrilege. Men, according to my grandma, just love women with hairy legs. She pointed to my aunt’s very yellow legs, filled with dense strands of long, black hair, saying they were beautiful, that men admired them, and that I should try to be more like her. It feels just lovely, I suppose, smoothing one’s arms over a pair of legs that feel like dry grass straws. But since I am not a man, I cannot personally confirm or deny grandma’s theory.
Thankfully, however, Ray can. So come Saturday, April 17th (at 10am U.S. EST/ 3pm Nigerian time) Ray, Caramel, and JuiceeGal will tell us what kind of hair men and women should keep — or not keep, why women shave their arm pits, and why men don’t shave their legs. It should be fun.
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And, of course …. vote in this week’s poll!
My first experience shaving resulted in a slicing some skin away…very gross! I still have the scar.
In the end, it turns out I'm not really that hairy and I shave now only a couple of times a year.
Hmmmm luckily, I am a hairless wonder!
And my hairy legs will remain for now, lol. I look forward to the show.
now why cant i listen in
cos am in naija thats why
am so jealous of those dat get to participate
hmmph
Dang, oh well,i'm 5th!
N i'm with BBB. Discrimation against us bold ones who came back home!
I can't wait! It's the double standards that kill me LOL! How come guys are allowed to have forests under their arms? It's not pretty!!
PS My childhood nanny said that hairy legs were needed in Nigeria so that you could tell when mosquitoes were coming to bite you !
I prefer waxing or epilation. Shaving is too temporary 🙂
Vera there are some disturbing people on your blog oh! Who voted for keeping hair on: face, chin, and chest? Personally I think a woman should keep all the hair on her head (but if u wanna shave that its cool too). I say no hair on the other options.
I dont want to be the vulgar one here, but is someone going to ask WHY it is okay for men to NOT shave pubic hair? Just asking.
Good Naija Girl: Ugh! I know the feeling of slicing skin off. Ouch. *shudder* I'm not really hairy either, and let's face it, shaving hairs (especially leg hairs) should be saved for his birthday. LOL.
Mamuje: Nooooo! That's so not fair!! Well, I'm not totally jealous, but still…
Myne Whitman: Hahahaha at your hairy legs. I don't think I quite understand. Can you take a picture and send it, please? Thank you.
BBB: This is not the time to be jealous. This is the time to act. If I were you, I'd ehm… okay, fine. Perhaps, this is the time to be jealous. LOL.
T. Notes: Well, sweetheart, you can always – at least – send in a comment, if you have one, and I'll read it on air.
Caramel: Hahahahahahahaha at needing leg hairs for mosquitoes. Okay, this is the first time I have heard that. LOL!
Kellie: Epi what now? What is that? Goodness, I have never even heard of that. Waxing, yes, and the closest I've come to that is my eyebrows. And even at that, it stings, so I won't bother waxing my you-know-what.
EDJ: Hahahahahaha. Gerrout! What do you mean, there are some disturbing people on my blog? My friend, don't insult my readers! LOL. One man's meet is another man's poison na, abi you haven't heard that before? Perhaps, they like face, chin, and chest hairs. And per your question (which is not vulgar at all), we shall address it on Saturday. Ray should be able to tell us, I suppose. LOL.
I tried all the Hair removing creams but they either burn my skin or don't remove the hair.
I'm so hairy so I have to shave every couple of days.
I have quite a few scars that still plague me..
Nice post.Share same thoughts with BBB.
Oh JES (in a calabar accent)
I can't wait for Ray to tell us where hair should and should not be.
As for me, right now i cant be bothered to shave my lags, until i have an event that requires a hot dress and plenty photo calls.
Underarms are a must tho.
Ehen, i have to say now Vera, you must not allow the show to deteriorate into a natural vs relaxed hair war oh! Please, biko.
The underarm is a must.
Am hairless, so never had to deal with leg shaving.
I remember when I went home to naija my mother and aunt were very upset that I shaved my legs…they kept looking at it and saying, "it will grow back abi?"
you know why I love winter? cos I don't have to shave since I'll be all decked up in pants and body covered all over. I am hairy and have to shave every other week at least.
some people love the hair sha cos it's fine and lies down. hubby doesn't mind it, but I just think it's gross especially if I'm wearing a hot dress. Wish I was hairless (on my body, though). I love it on my head.
Vera, how do you come up with these topics? I must tune it to the show tomorrow.
Lol @ Mizchif. I am sure some natural hair lovin' human being will say that black women hate themselves and that is why they go for weaves/relaxed hair. I hope they don't but I have a feeling someone will show up to shout about "afro power" and "natural beauty".
I am sooo jealous of all these people that barely have to shave. Me I am naturally very hairy so I have to shave every couple of days. Hair on my body irritates me idk y but it does. but sometimes I get lazy in the winter and don't shave my legs as often. Maybe I'll try waxing but is just looks too painful. I don't think men should have to shave unless they're really hairy.
lol..Vera your grandma´s theory is certainly not entirely wrong. I once watched a documentary about guys that were turned on by hairy women hehe.
I don't know where that 'men like hairy legs' story came from o…
I must confess that I use a blade because hair removing cream is too expensive and messy and time consuming to apply as mush as I'd need to apply it… Using remover cream I can pretty much feel stubble in two days. I guess if your hair doesnt grow as fast or thick then it can work out better using the cream!