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Lama Hajj

Why I Could Never Imagine Lebanese Girls Following This New Hair Trend

Have you heard of the latest trend? Ladies around the world growing out their armpit hair and taking selfies in all their hairy glory; Miley Cyrus, Madonna, and Jemima Kirke are just some of the celebrities that have joined the ranks and proudly bared their hairy pits in order to support being comfortable in your own skin and to reject conforming to gender expectations.

But this is one trend women in Lebanon will never partake in. Why? Firstly, many of them probably can’t, since a staggering number of Lebanese women have opted for the masochist-inspired practice of having tiny lasers zap away at their underarms until they’re as smooth as a baby’s bottom. And secondly, because most of them simply won’t.


(Image via Daily Mail)

Though most Lebanese women are down with feminism, they’re also down with looking really hot 100% of the time. Selfies are sculpted to perfection, and they’re not about to allow some stray armpit hairs ruin the hours of face contouring and hair straightening, even if it is for a solid cause they believe in. Hair is a big deal in Lebanon, especially for women. For decades it has been internalized as something disgusting and unnatural – something that should never be revealed, which is why women in Lebanon tend to pluck, shave, wax, and laser themselves to perfection on a regular basis.

It is important to note that hair trends and upkeep have changed throughout the times. Vintage porn teaches us that sporting a huge beehive looking bush was the look during the sixties and seventies, until the millennium came around and took our hopes and all our pubes. More often than not, hygiene gets cited as one of the main reasons for women to practice rigorous hair-removal, while men continue to sport caveman-esque underarms.

Though baring your natural and hairy armpits won’t put an end to women’s rights violations, it may serve as a challenge to the patriarchy. It may just shake the system and announce a rejection for gender norms and expectations.

What do you think about this trend? If growing out your armpits becomes a socially acceptable, would you conform? Comment below and let us know what you think!