We've all heard of Dry January and Veganuary - but have you ever tried Januhairy?
If you're unfamiliar with Januhairy, it's a month-long campaign encouraging women not to shave and instead to 'love and accept' their natural body hair.
That's right, each year women around the world put down their razors and let their hair grow freely.
Laura Jackson, who founded the movement, told Metro in 2021: “Januhairy is liberating because it gets you thinking about the way you treat your body and why.
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"I want body hair to just be normal, so we don’t need a movement like this. The conversation is being had more among millennials than previous generations."
She added: "Maybe soon we’ll be at a point where people can just do what they want in relation to body hair and we won’t even need to talk about it. That would be something."
In case you're planning on giving it a go, here are all the benefits of stopping shaving, ahem, down there.
Avoiding skin irritation
We all know the annoying bumps and cuts that can come with shaving, never mind the ingrown hairs and razor burns. Not shaving your pubic hair is a sure way to avoid dealing with any of that.
Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, explained to Prevention: "When you pull out a hair, it can recoil and start to grow downward instead of up. That can lead to inflammation, redness, itching, and sometimes even cysts."
Saving time and money
Secondly, although it might seem obvious, you will save time and money by avoiding shaving for a month. Razors aren't exactly cheap, so not having to fork out for them for 31 days is a big win money-wise.
You'll also save heaps of time by opting not to shave down there, as we know just how quickly it can grow back.
Protecting against infections
As per Healthline, pubic hair actually serves a similar function to eyelashes or nose hair - trapping dirt, debris, and potentially harmful microorganisms.
Hair follicles also produce sebum, which is an oil that prevents bacteria from reproducing, protecting you from infections.
Keeping your pubic hair may help protect you against infections such as cellulitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), vaginitis and yeast infections.
Less hyperpigmentation
For some women, consistent hair removal can even lead to skin discolouration, so going natural can prevent this.
Cosmetologist Kevin Mendelson told Prevention: "The friction from short hairs rubbing against skin or clothing can lead to inflammation, and in an effort to protect itself, the skin will produce extra melanin, thereby darkening the area.
"And laying out in the sun in a bathing suit only makes things worse. UV exposure increases melanin production, which can cause the discolored area to darken even more."
Less friction and better sex life
Pubic hair can also improve things in the bedroom for you as it can reduce friction and help maintain warmth, both of which play a role in sexual arousal and comfort during intimacy.
You might also feel more confident in the sheets, empowered by your choice, simply loving the skin you're in, and embracing your natural body hair.
Pubic hair may also help trap and diffuse pheromones, which are the natural chemical signals linked to attraction, so keeping your hair might even subtly enhance your natural scent and chemistry.
And finally, it helps reduce friction during sex as it adds a barrier between your bare skin, with some experts even describing it as a 'dry lubricant', as hair rubbing against hair is gentler than skin rubbing against skin.
Odour
Last but not least, a common misconception about pubic hair is that it's unhygienic or causes an unpleasant odour.
This is simply not the case, as pubic hair helps manage odour more effectively.
By absorbing sweat and reducing direct skin contact, the hair limits the buildup of bacteria that produce unpleasant smells.
Topics: Hair, Health, Women's Health, Life, Real Life
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Madison Burgess