Men Shaving Their Armpits

Man who is shaving his armpit
Photo: Jan Schneckenhaus/Shutterstock
Q: Should a man shave his armpits? Is it a good idea for hygienic reasons or is it wrong since shaving your armpits is so feminine??
 
A: Well, I'll address the purported femininity of shaving the armpits by suggesting that some of the most "manly" men in our society shave their armpits for different reasons. Many professional athletes shave off almost all their body hair (Olympic swimmers, bodybuilders, cyclists, wrestlers, some runners, and other competitive athletes) and do so for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons are hygienic.
 
Other reasons are practical, while still others have to do with pure aesthetics. Regardless of the reasons, I doubt that many of these men who choose to shave their armpits consider themselves feminized by doing so.
 
In recent years, underarm grooming has also become much more common among men who aren't athletes. Many simply prefer the cleaner feeling of trimmed or shaved underarms, especially during hot weather or when exercising regularly. Others like the appearance or find that it makes them feel more comfortable.
 
Now to address the hygienic aspect of armpit shaving: Shaving the hair from the armpits does indeed provide certain benefits. Since the odor from sweat is caused primarily by bacteria breaking down perspiration, and those bacteria can more easily proliferate in the warm, damp environment created by dense underarm hair, shaving the armpits can help reduce body odor. With less hair to trap sweat and bacteria, deodorants and antiperspirants may also work more effectively because they come into closer contact with the skin.
 
That said, it's important to understand that shaving itself does not make you cleaner. Good hygiene still depends on regular bathing, thoroughly washing the underarm area with soap and water, and using an appropriate deodorant.
 
The choice to shave or not is typically a matter of personal preference. The act of a man shaving his armpits is more common today than it was a generation ago, although some men still have personal or cultural reservations about it. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer. Whether you prefer completely shaved underarms, neatly trimmed hair, or leaving everything natural is entirely up to you.
 
It also doesn't need to be an "all-or-nothing" proposition. You can reduce the buildup of sweat and the proliferation of odor-causing bacteria simply by reducing the amount of hair in the armpits rather than removing it completely.
 
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See also:
 
Shaving
 
A look at men's hair care