Acceptance is all the rage these days. Everywhere you look, social norms and ‘taboos’ are being challenged, especially in regards to body image and cultural expectations about the ways women present themselves in public.
“It’s about time too,” I hear many of you say. After all, we live in a free, individualistic society and there should be no pressure to conform to unnatural or unrealistic ‘standards’ that were consolidated under an outdated patriarchal system. However, for the more conservative among us, these changes and challenges are happening so quickly that it can become disorienting. Perhaps there are more pressing issues we should all be focusing on?
The latest example of breaking down barriers comes, naturally, in the form of a pithily-named month. From ‘Veganuary’ to ‘Decembeard,’ any movement worth its salt seems to be couched in a punny and easily achievable 30-day package, and ‘Januhairy’ is no different. “This isn’t an angry campaign for people who don’t see how normal body hair is, but more an empowering project for everyone to understand more about their views on themselves and others,” British student Laura Jackson, the gal behind Januhairy, wrote. The campaign’s aim is for women to grow out body hair for one month to support Body Gossip’s education program, which encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves and “to rock their own brand of gorgeous!” A week into the month, women are already posting progress pics. You can scroll down below to check them out yourself, and let us know your own thoughts on the initiative in the comments!
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“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.”~Steve Maraboli
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@i_am_morgie~ “…Imagine if everyone just decided that today was the day they loved themselves and embraced every part of them selves. Accepting and loving your body and your “flaws” because you know they are what makes you who you are. If you are focused on being true to yourself in every moment, you are less concerned what others think, which will lead to peace of mind. When you have nothing to hide and you can freely be yourself, there is a profound peace/confidence you will emanate to the world that will inspire others.”
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All the girls joining in januhairy are shaving off their body hair on New Year’s Eve (Monday 31st) ready to kick start the new year with a new challenge!
We have many women who have signed up for this charity project so far, from the age range of 16-60! 
Sign up and join in while you can!
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Hi I’m Laura, the gal behind Januhairy! I thought I would write a little about my experiences and how Januhairy came about… I grew out my body hair for a performance as part of my drama degree in May 2018. There had been some parts that were challenging for me, and others that really opened my eyes to the taboo of body hair on a woman. After a few weeks of getting used to it, I started to like my natural hair. I also started to like the lack of uncomfortable episodes of shaving. Though I felt liberated and more confident in myself, some people around me didn’t understand why I didn’t shave/didn’t agree with it. I realised that there is still so much more for us to do to be able to accept one another fully and truly. Then I thought of Januhairy and thought I would try it out. It’s a start at least . . .I have had a lot of support from my friends and family! Even though I had to explain why I was doing it to a lot of them which was surprising, and again, the reason why this is important to do! When I first started growing my body hair my mum asked me “Is it you just being lazy or are you trying to prove a point?” . . . why should we be called lazy if we don’t want to shave? And why do we have to be proving a point? After talking to her about it and helping her understand, she saw how weird it was that she asked those questions. If we do something/see the same things, over and over again it becomes normal. She is now going to join in with Januhairy and grow out her own body hair which is a big challenge for her as well as many women who are getting involved. Of course a good challenge! This isn’t an angry campaign for people who don’t see how normal body hair is, but more an empowering project for everyone to understand more about their views on themselves and others.This picture was taken a few months ago. Now I am joining in with Januhairy, starting the growing process again along with the other wonderful women who have signed up! Progress pictures/descriptions from our gals will be posted throughout the month. Lets get hairy
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eeeeek i’ve just learnt about januhairy!! it’s always so exciting for me to see new waves of this movement of body nonconformity. it’s gaining a lot of attention from the media which is EXACTLY what is needed. people need to be reminded over and over that what women choose to do with their bodies is THEIR OWN DAMN CHOICE. people need to see women who do not care to change themselves to fit our society’s bullshit beauty standards until seeing that becomes the norm. that is the only way we can change the standards
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shave or don’t, i don’t care or judge you either way, it’s your choice! but i do encourage all women to think about the changes they make to their bodies and think about why they do it. who they do it for
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personally, there are so many reasons i don’t shave my armpits and very few reasons why i would. but one of my biggest motivators not to is knowing that by not shaving i am actively choosing not to give money to companies, and the people who run them, that think that women’s bodies aren’t good enough the way they naturally are
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Great time with Freya a few weeks ago, during a brief parting in the stormy clouds in Plymouth
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Guys have noshavenovember girls have januhairy
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believe In the #januhairy #hairyjanuary initiative because I believe women should feel #free to love their bodies and not feel embarrassed by their #natural #hair. A woman can be #sexy with#hairyarmpits #hairylegs As a man still looks masculine without #bodyhair Stop the stigma please ! I do not feel disgusting nor dirty for being a #human being.
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This ones for all you haters. Love me or hate me, either way I’m on your mind. 
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New Year’s resolution for 2019:1. I’m not going to shave my legs.Why? Because I don’t know why I started to begin with. My 6yo felt my prickles on my legs the other day & I didn’t know how to explain that I needed to shave & I actually found myself not wanting to explain. It’s stupid that women do this. Trust me, this is a big deal. I’ve been so conditioned my entire life to care about how I look. Western culture puts way too much emphasis on image & I am trying to break that cycle for myself & my family. This is a start to being comfortable in my own skin, err hair. 
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This post is gonna be bold, and transparent. Cause that’s what I’m all about.
For those who know me, you know I’m kinda a wild little hippie chic. 
I’m not afraid to speak my truth, and that is that I love myself so fucking much, and I dont care who knows it.
Which leads me to this post..
In honor of #januhairy, I am sharing my why.
I grew up in an incredibly materialistic, ego minded family. Where you had to spend an hour minimum doing your face and getting dolled up to leave the house.
Walmart in PJs was just unacceptable..
Which leads me to my next point.
BODY HAIR.
The naturally growing stuff that sprouts from our pores. That was totally not okay. I was shamed from a very young age.. especially since I had undiagnosed Endocrine and hormonal disorders that I wouldn’t learn about til my early 20’s. I had hair on my chin, on my belly, even on my back and butt.
And because of my family’s shame, I went to extreme lengths to remove it… trying Nair, bleach powder.. and mind you, I was about 13 at this point in my life.
Fast forward to today.
IDGAF what anyone thinks of my body, because I LOVE HER and that’s all that matters.
I stopped shaving regularly around the time I had kids. At that point, my husband had seen it all, so what the hell?! My family would say things like, “OMG, what does your husband think?? Eww!”
First of all, why do you care what my husband thinks?
And second, I’ll tell you. He worships me like the Queen Goddess I am.
Body hair does not define a woman. It doesn’t make her lazy, it doesn’t make her gross. We’ve had this stigma for far too long that women need to uphold this fantasy image and it’s just not realistic.. I’m here to break the cycle and stand up for all you ladies in the back who had someone shame you for how your body looks, thus unknowingly creating an unhealthy self image within you.
It ends here.
Be proud of who you are! There’s no one like you and you are beautiful! Dont ever let anyone make you think otherwise!!
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Do you reckon Goldilocks armpits were bear or bare? 
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I suddenly realised that I’ve never – not even once – seen my armpits in all their natural hairy glory. Isn’t that astounding when you think about it? That’s my entire life since I first picked up a razor in Form 1 – admittedly I started on my legs first – and you should’ve heard a few of my mates all up in arms, because you shouldn’t shave ‘til you’re Form 2 (apparently). I was cutting edge. Ready to embrace the hair free life. And not once did I question it. Because it was what you did right? I grew up with Dolly and Girlfriend magazines and no one was waving the “freedom of choice flag” in there. And thus the removal ritual began.
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here is a fantastic body positive campaign happening right now called #januhairy which I’m totally loving! There is nothing gross or unhygienic about body hair whatever your gender happens to be. So here’s me in my #bluesun #firefly shirt laughing at my own lil gingery tuft. Check out the hashtag or add your own post to the feed and be part of the conversation that changes the perception of femme body hair!
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’ve actually been slowly giving up body hair removal for quite some time now but here’s a post to mark #januhairy ….Has anyone noticed that the longer you leave body hair alone, the less course and unattractive it becomes?
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I’m so down for #januhairy – let’s make 2019 the year that women are no longer shamed for their natural body hair. Let me be clear, if my pit kitty offends you, that problem is not mine, it’s yours and you should go away and do some unpacking on that. Think it’s gross on me but fine on men then you need to go check your sexism stat. According to a 2017 study women who shave spend £6,500 and eight weeks of their life managing unwanted hair. The expenditure figure more than trebles if you wax. Think of all the better things we could be doing/spending our money on? That’s a load of holidays you could have gone on, dinners and drinks with friends, spa days etc. Is it really worth it?!
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