history of hair removal

[sophie_1003]

When did it become common in England for women to remove bodily hair?

[jno]

if you mean pubic hair, quite recently (and still not that common). Underarm hair I think when lighter fashions came in after WW1 - before that underarms were seldom seen. I'm not sure about legs but probably the same as underarms. The ancient Egyptians went in for it, so it's not new.

There are some links here, not necessarily about the UK

http://www.experiencefestival.com/depilation

[sophie_1003]

I meant just body hair in general so thanks for your answer! Was just wondering as remember watching a programme a few years back- 1940s House- where a family lived for a month as if it was WW2 and the lady wasn't allowed any har removal equipment- she got so annoyed with her stubbly legs she tried to exfoliate it off!

[jno]

I think they usually just borrowed hubby's razor in those days but perhaps blades were rationed and hubby needed them for his chin

[sophie_1003]

ah I see! did wonder if rationing had something to do with it

[Lil O'lady]

Sophie, there seem to be gillette-type razors for ladies from the 1920's onwards - but they were far from being mass market. My mother and her generation of northern working class women born in the 1920's seemed to regard anything to do with hair removal or hair colouring as secretive and vaguely sinful. So while I knew she would nick a razor blade from my dad's supply and whisk off underarm hair if she had a sleeveless frock to wear, she never did legs (legs always in thick stockings or tights) or plucked eyebrows, and like all my aunties lied through teeth about dyeing her hair when it started to go grey. I wonder if this was a hangover from a previous era - ie a woman showing off her legs / body would be an 'actress' ie prostitute. I recall my mother's deep disapproval for example of a young neighbours bleach-blonde beehive do - or even of my plucking out the middle bit of my monobrow!
In addition, the local nature of shopping meant everybody knew within hours what you were buying - asking for something off-beat at 'Timothy White's The Chemist' would spread like wildfire........post-war austerity as well as rationing may have had an impact, as well as colder houses and some very cold winters after 1945 - if your legs aren't out and about no point shaving them - and bathrooms were cold, hot water often in short supply - many houses still did not have indoor bathrooms, most people shared bedrooms - all of which made a head-to-toe body waxing less than easy to achieve.

[Lil O'lady]

Just to answer JNO's point about Ancient Egypt, hair hair had ritualistic connotations, and men or women undertaking rituals usually also removed all hair including eyelashes.
Must've been very itchy when it all grew back.
But this was not a normal everyday activity -it was a mark of rank and ritual.

[sophie_1003]

Thankyou LilO'Lady, love the anecdotal evidence, can just imagine ladies in that era being outraged at bleached hair, seems so quaint now though!

[jno]

If it grew back, Lil O'Lady. Bette Davis once shaved her eyebrows for a film role (it might have been Elizabeth I) and they never returned.