With the exception of the lips, nipples, palms of hands, soles of feet, part of the penis, and the navel, body hairs grow on every other area of our bodies, regardless of sex or race.

And while it may seem some people have less body hair than others, the fact is that these people just have shorter and thinner body hairs than others. Because the number of follicles, (the skin depression from which body hair grows), is pretty much the same overall for everybody.

Woman Bikini Beach Shaved with no Visible Body Hairs

Body Hairs Have a Regular Growth Cycle

All body hairs have regular growth cycles lasting 3-6 months, and then stop growing. When another growth cycle starts, eventually it pushes the old one out of the follicle from beneath. Hair in the armpit and pubic area has the longest growth cycle.

Body hairs are a natural polymer, (a material constructed of smaller molecules of the same substance that form larger molecules), with about ninety percent of its dry weight being made up of proteins and about ten percent being water, which affects their overall state.

Current Beliefs About Body Hairs

Okay – So now that we have an understanding of what they are, how they grow, and even where they don’t grow – Let’s look at the current beliefs about why we even have them:

1) Body hairs help keep us warm.

2) They protect by providing a cushion to limit friction between the skin and whatever in sensitive areas.

3) They act as a barrier to germs, bacteria, and/or infections.

4) They are a sign of our sex and sexual maturity because different growth patterns tell others who’s what and at about what age.

5) They retain our personal scent, which is designed to attract a potential mate.

Why We Have Body Hair

While these may be the current beliefs about why we have body hairs, it’s based on what went before. Because today, the currents beliefs about them are they’re okay if you’re into them, but most people, both males, and females, prefer a smooth hairless body, for themselves and for others. And here’s why:

1) Because we have clothing and heaters, we don’t need body hairs to keep us warm.

2) Body hairs, especially thick ones, interfere with fully experiencing sensations, especially in sensitive areas.

3) It’s fact that the ancients living in the hot climate of the Middle East removed all of them to prevent infections.

4) This was probably true back in the days of cavemen, but this no longer applies, especially since so many people remove them.

5) If personal scents were such a good thing, why would there be so many products, from colognes to feminine hygiene sprays, being sold. Apparently, there’s still enough of our body scent to go around, even if they are removed.

And there you have the other side of the coin – Why so many people remove their body hairs.