Quick note: I’m finally back from vacation, plus various other strong distractions, and I’ve finally had time to fix the blog. It should operate quite a bit faster. I’ll be taking a couple of steps to limit the hordes of comment spam I was getting before, including requiring comment previews again (sorry) and, if necessary, closing comments in older posts. If you notice other problems please let me know. Hopefully in comments. Finally, I’ve got a hella backlog of emails for the last two weeks or so. I’ll be trying to catch up this week.
The question for the Wise Guys advice feature on Em & Lo last week was says
What is the appeal (or not) of a woman who’s completely bare down there?
Read three answers from the Wise Guys, and at least 55 other answers in comments, here.
Yes, yes, I’ve already beaten the point to death but for immediately personal reasons related to my having not shaved while on vacation I’m going to give it one more whack.
I’m sitting here contemplating a rare but very irritated razor-burn rash under my chin, thanks in part to a razor blade I forgot to change, thanks in even more part to the fact that I had about a week’s worth of stubble and it’s really hard to see under my chin when I shave (always in the shower) and the surfaces are really hard to navigate a razor around safely anyway. Anyway, the irritated skin and hair follicles remind me once again how shaving is unnatural no matter who does it. Or where.
That said, my bare face is definitely more sensitive when my partner touches me there. It’s definitely easier to keep my face clean when shave regularly. I should also say that most of my partners have preferred to kissing and being kissed without a beard rather than with one. Personally I think I just tend to look better clean-shaven than with a beard or mustache. And of course some employers have been very strict about how my head and facial hair should be groomed.
Even without considering visual or partner or public preferences I think most people shave various parts of their bodies for the same reason I shave mine: occasional razor burn notwithstanding it’s more practical and the sensations are nicer for me.
But yikes! If you’re going to shave anything it’s a very good idea to keep your $#*@ razor blades sharp.
I’ve heard the opinion that
Submitted by svollga (not verified) on Tue, 2010-02-23 15:00.I’ve heard the opinion that it makes people more sesitive down there, and thus, the process more pleasant. Personally, I’ve never fucked a shaved guy, and I fucked girls both shaved and unshaved. I shave entirely or partially or not at all, depending on the mood (mostly partially, because I like the visuals to be clean in lines, but am too lazy to shave entirely and then care about it). I never felt much of a difference. I like both clean-shaved skin, and the hair (really, body hair are niiice if you know how to play with them, whehever they grow).
I think it all comes down to personal preferences and to the agreement between the couple (or more participants of the relationship). What I don’t like is the notion that women must shave, and men must not, because it’s not masculine enough, or whatever. WTF? If you want someone to do something that pleasures you (whether it pleasures the person or not, doesn’t matter), be ready to do the same, or shut up and deal with it.
I like how James Marsters talks about it:
I like them shaved. But I do it myself. I give that back. I said I like my girls to shave. But I give the same thing to them. I shave myself too.
[Thanks, svollga. —fl]
Thought of you when I read
Submitted by chingona (not verified) on Tue, 2010-02-23 23:06.Thought of you when I read this.
Even without considering visual or partner or public preferences I think most people shave various parts of their bodies for the same reason I shave mine: occasional razor burn notwithstanding it’s more practical and the sensations are nicer for me.
Well, I don’t know about most people, but I shave my legs and armpits because I like to wear skirts and dresses and tank tops, and it takes too much psychological energy to make myself be okay with exposing my hairy legs and pits to the world. I need that psychological energy for other aspects of being female in public. Which is, I suppose, a form of practicality.
And while I know it’s not really your point, for whatever it’s worth, I think my husband looks great in a beard, and I don’t find it scratchy or unpleasant when kissing him. A few day’s worth of stubble can be irritating, but not a full beard.