It seems many Americans may secretly be pining for their beloved to pick up a razor and shave a little more often. The YouGov Body Image Study 2021 asked Americans what they thought of different grooming styles for men and women.
When it comes to underarm hair, 53% think that women should get rid of their armpit hair, and 57% say it is unattractive for a women to have underarm hair. Women (60%) are slightly more likely than men (54%) to say that they think it is unattractive for women to have armpit hair. They’re also a little bit more likely to say that women should get rid of armpit hair (56% of women and 50% of men).
Just over one-third (35%) of Americans – 34% of women and 35% of men – say they have no preference on whether women should get rid of armpit hair.
Younger Americans between 16 and 34 years old are especially likely (46%) to say that they have no preference on whether women should get rid of armpit hair. Only one-third (34%) say they think women should get rid of armpit hair, far less than the percentages of 35-to 54-year-olds (54%) or those who are 55 and older (66%) who believe women should do this.
When it comes to men and underarm hair, 47% of US adults say they have no preference. Slightly over one-third (35%) say that they think men should not get rid of armpit hair, while fewer (13%) think that men should get rid of it.
Do Americans think it’s attractive or unattractive when people have hair on their legs?
Most Americans (59%) say that it’s unattractive for a woman to have hair on her legs. About three in 10 (31%) say it is neither attractive nor unattractive, and just 5% believe it’s attractive.
People are less inclined to have strong opinions on men’s leg hair. The majority (57%) say it is neither attractive nor unattractive for a man to have hair on his legs. Fewer (27%) say it is attractive, and 8% say it is unattractive.
Most Americans don’t appreciate a hairy back on a man, but chest hair is more acceptable
Three in 10 (29%) Americans say they think men look better when they have somewhat or very hairy chests, but 25% think they look best when they have “not very hairy” chests. Don’t reach for the wax strips just yet, though: only 13% think men look best when they have no chest hair at all.Women are especially likely to say they think men look best when they have not very hairy chests (28% vs 21% of men), or somewhat hairy chests (27% vs 23% of men).
A hairy back is a different story. Two-thirds of Americans (64%) think it’s unattractive for men to have hairy backs. Women (70%) are more likely than men (59%) to say this is the case.
What pubic hair styles do Americans like and dislike?
The most-liked style of women’s pubic hair is trimmed, with 52% saying they like this style. Men (59%) are more likely than women (45%) to say they like this style. Bikini style, where a woman removes only the pubic hair that would show if she were wearing a bikini, is the next most-liked, with 41% saying they like this style. Once again, men (51%) are more likely than women (32%) to like this style.
The completely shaved look is popular with 38% of Americans. Men (50%) are nearly twice as likely as women (27%) to say they like this style. About two in five women (38%) say they dislike this style.
The natural look, where a woman doesn’t remove any of her pubic hair, is liked by 36%. Men (42%) are more likely than women (30%) to say they like this. About one in five men (22%) and just as many women (22%) say they dislike this look.
As far as men’s pubic hair is concerned, 42% of Americans say they prefer for it to be trimmed. Women (50%) are more likely than men (34%) to say this is their preference. The natural look is enjoyed by 36% of Americans, while fewer say they like for a man’s pubic hair to be completely shaved (21%) or in a bikini style (14%).
See full results here.
Related: How Americans feel about their bodies
Methodology: Total sample size was 1,212 US respondents 16+. Fieldwork was undertaken between April 26 - 27, 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of US respondents ages 16+. Note: Questions about pubic hair preferences were only shown to respondents who are 18+.
Image: Getty
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