Woman who stopped shaving body hair two years ago is ‘finally’ comfortable in own skin
A woman who stopped shaving her body hair two years ago says she “finally” feels comfortable in her own skin – and that she has saved 208 hours of her time by quitting shaving.
Rosie Hewett, 27, says she began waxing and shaving when she was just 10 years old as she felt insecure about her natural body hair.
At primary school, she says she would win competitions against the boys for having the hairiest arms, but as she got older her male peers began to point out her “moustache”.
Read more: Helen Flanagan 'couldn't be happier' with implants after breastfeeding changed her figure
“Body hair was something I was so insecure about,” Hewett, from Reading, explains. “Boys loved pointing out my moustache when I was 12. It's such a shame – it's such a broad experience for so many women.
“I just felt really ugly compared to other girls and I read all these teenage magazine articles which sold laser hair removal products – as if being hairy was the worst and most horrifying thing you could be.”
Hewett decided to start growing out her body hair in 2021 when she was inspired by a woman on her local tag rugby team who embraced their natural body hair.
“I joined a local tag rugby team and a teammate had shorts on and hairy legs – it gave me the strength to commit to it,” she adds.
“I started following hairy models [on Instagram] who looked amazing with their armpits out and their bikini lines.”
Read more: Fearne Cotton calls out trolls for 'judging' her body in mirror pic
Hewett describes the process as “exposure therapy”. “I did the thing that scared me,” she continues.
“Because of my experiences in school I expected people to see it and say, 'You are disgusting, go back inside and shave'. Of course, I didn't get that.”
While she says she’s had a few comments and looks, she hasn’t had many negative experiences.
“If someone confronts me about it, most of the time I say I don't want to talk about it as I don't need to explain my body to anyone,” she adds.
“I like how it's a contradiction because I'm quite feminine. People are shocked when they see my hairy legs, but it's showing you can be feminine and enjoy yourself how you want to.
Read more: GBBO's Laura Adlington reveals struggle to love body in a 'world full of Kardashians'
"Now I feel like I'm comfortable in my skin, I've come home to myself. I'm not perfect I still have insecurities and sometimes I struggle with my leg hair, but we all have bad days.
"I feel closer to myself and women should be able to do what they want, if someone wants to shave that is also completely fine."
Additional reporting by SWNS.
