Underarm hair is the composition of hair in the underarm area. This hair normally starts to appear between mid and late puberty, and many times even earlier. The physiological purpose of this hair is yet to be explained, but it has been suggested that it serves to collect pheromones and to lessen the effects of friction on the skin during locomotion.

Today, in, many Western countries, it is normal for women to wax or shave off their underarm hair regularly for aesthetic reasons if it is likely to be in view, although the prevalence of this varies widely. Such hair removal must be performed more frequently than leg shaving, as underarm hair grows faster than leg hair. ^*

Some hold the belief that, once shaving commences, the underarm hair will grow out more thickly. However, this is a myth. The resulting stubble only makes the hairs seem to be thicker, but the growth rate is unchanged. ^*

Before the 1970s, it was considered normal for women to keep their underarm hair in most Western and Far Eastern countries. The practice of hair removal became widespread when a magazine showed a woman in a dress with shaved underarms . It happened first in the USA, then much later in Europe. For example, in Germany, female underarm hair removal became popular in mid-1980s and today, nearly all women under 40 have their underarm hair removed. As with most forms of sex-specific grooming, this practice has led to the establishment of sexual fetishes.

While it is believed that most men do not shave their armpits, many from different parts of the world do so for personal hygiene (and sometimes aesthetics). The main reason being that bacteria cannot grow as well if there is no hair, hence less smell.

In the Western World, male underarm hair removal was mostly identified with the gay community and/or BDSM subculture until metrosexual fashion has introduced it as a more common practice.

See also

• Body hair

Hair | Secondary sexual characteristics

Achselhaar