Life Lessons From My Hairy Armpits

Yes, I am divorced. And middle aged. And I still submit to the patriarchy by shaving all the things.

Got in the shower today. Decided to shave my armpits. Raised my arm… and What?!  Who glued the tiny gorillas under there?

I was totally confused, I remember shaving pretty recently. I go to the gym a couple of times a week and I try to keep it tidy for my squad. Like many women, I step in the shower, hit autopilot and zone out for fifteen minutes. But this time I looked closely at my razor.  The blade had been installed backwards, and instead of shaving, I was just giving my armpits a nice comb out. 

 Awesome.

After flipping the blade around and spending extra time clearing the nature preserve under my arms, I thought about intentions. For instance, I had intended to shave my armpit hair, but really I could have added some sparkly beads, braided it and made Bo Derek jealous. 

Consider the following a PSA originating from my shaving fail:

• Don’t assume. Yes, it is still true; “assume makes an ass out of you and me” (Thank you Oscar Wilde). Especially when you are at the gym, sitting in spin class, stretching your arms over your head during cool down. You assume you had shaved your armpits, but you are totally wrong. And hairy.
• Look closely. I have been showering and shaving for decades. Pretty much thought I had that task nailed, could do it with my eyes closed (and I probably have). Apparently not. There are times in life when a visual inspection is a must. 
• Maintain your tools. I had no idea the blade was backwards on my razor. Combing your pit hair feels a lot like shaving it, except you’re not shaving it. You’re.Combing. It. Tools are only effective when they are used properly. Examine your gear. Operator error can happen to you.

If you like your pits natural, then be free my sister! Skip my suggestions. But if tidy armpits are part of your lifestyle, the next time you are in the shower, shaving cream poised and razor in hand, keep my advice in mind.

A quick discussion on hygiene products

And now, let us have a brief chat about the topic of armpit care and maintenance. I quit using traditional deodorant decades ago. It has been almost twenty years since I made efforts to eliminate extra chemicals from my lifestyle. I had gone through a mini health crisis and emerged with an understanding of my responsibility to know what I was absorbing in my daily creams, deodorant and shampoo. I have done my best to find affordable and effective options for my skin. I don’t see it any as different than the choice to eat whole/organic foods regularly .

Like so many midlife people, I grew up in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Convenience reigned, in every category of household life. Food, cleaning supplies and hygiene products were often marketed and made popular by the promise of shortcuts and ease of use. After having my own two children in the early 1990’s, I grew concerned about chemicals and unnecessary additives in their growing bodies. I truly believe the saying “know better, do better.” For me it applies to every area of life, know better = do better is a simple summary statement for creating an intentional life.

So, I choose to switch to a natural deodorant product out of concern for my body. I also began to use unbleached feminine products for the same reason. Once I began looking for simple ways to switch to potentially safer products, it became easy to identify where to spend the extra dollars for my peace of mind.

Lighten Your Chemical Load

I would encourage you to find ways to lighten the load of chemicals and additives in your daily life. Each woman has the right to choose what that looks like for her physical needs and her budget. I remember my Mom commenting on my choice to buy unbleached chemical free tampons. In her mind it was a waste of money, and she told me so. I listened to her and spent my money on the products that I choose for my values.

Shaving vs not shaving. Synthetic vs naturally sourced ingredients. Tampons vs pads. Who cares? In the end, choose what works for you body, your lifestyle and your finances. And the next time you are in the gym, check your armpits to make sure you like what you see in the mirror.

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