Guest Writer Series April 29, Women's shaving has a long and varied history that spans many cultures and time periods.
While it is often assumed that women have always shaved their legs and underarms, the reality is that the practice has gone in and out of fashion over the centuries, and has been subject to various social and cultural pressures. The earliest evidence of women shaving comes from ancient Egypt, where both men and women shaved their entire bodies for hygienic and aesthetic reasons. Women used a variety of tools for hair removal, including bronze razors, pumice stones, and depilatory creams made from ingredients like resin and beeswax.
In ancient Greece and Rome, hair removal was also a common practice, but it was primarily done by prostitutes and courtesans, who shaved to distinguish themselves from respectable women who were expected to remain unshaven.
Roman women, in particular, were known for their elaborate hairstyles and often used depilatory creams made from a mixture of quicklime and arsenic to remove unwanted hair from their faces and bodies. During the Middle Ages, women's hair removal was largely ignored, as some entities regarded excessive concern with one's appearance as a form of vanity and sin.
However, in the Renaissance period, women once again began to shave their faces and bodies, as the ideal of beauty shifted towards a more youthful and delicate appearance. In the 18th and 19th centuries, women's shaving became more common, but it was primarily limited to the upper classes. The trend for women to wear more revealing clothing, such as short sleeves and shorter hemlines, led to a greater emphasis on smooth, hairless skin.
