When Armpit Hair Was a Statement: Famous Women Who Didn’t Shave or Care

For over a century, women have been told what their bodies should look like—and just as importantly, what they shouldn’t.

Among the most enduring expectations has been the removal of body hair. While many women still follow this unwritten rule, others have chosen to ignore it altogether, embracing their natural appearance without apology.

That defiance has even extended to some of the world’s most visible public figures, turning body hair into a quiet but powerful form of rebellion.

When Armpit Hair Was a Statement: Famous Women Who Didn’t Shave or Care

Italian actress Sophia Loren, wearing a white embroidered dress, posing for the photographer, a sail on the sea in the background Venice, 1955.

In the early 20th century, the idea of women shaving their bodies was far from common. In fact, a market for female hair removal simply didn’t exist in the United States at the time—it had to be invented.

According to researcher Christine Hope Hansen, “The practice of removing hair from the underarms and legs was practically unheard of.”

She explains further: “In fact, hair removal was such a novel concept when it was first introduced that companies had to persuade women of the benefits of hair removal, and demonstrate how to practice it.”

Georgia O’Keeffe photographed by Alfred Stieglitz, 1918.

The turning point came in 1915, when Gillette released the first razor designed specifically for women.

By capitalizing on shifting fashion trends—sleeveless dresses and shorter hemlines—razor and depilatory companies framed body hair as a problem that needed solving.

Barbra Streisand, 1962.

The campaign was subtle, yet relentless, aligning beauty with smooth, hairless skin. From the mid-1910s into the 1930s, dozens of brands echoed this message, planting the seeds of a standard that still lingers today.

Early advertisements promoting underarm hair removal began appearing as early as 1908, but they grew more frequent after 1914.

One 1915 Harper’s Bazaar ad for a depilatory powder named X Bazin featured a woman in a sleeveless gown lifting her arm confidently, paired with the caption: “Summer Dress and Modern Dancing combine to make necessary the removal of objectionable hair.”

The message was clear—body hair had no place in the modern woman’s life.

Grace Jones.

To soften the stigma of grooming, advertisers carefully selected language that sounded more refined. Terms like “smoothing” were used in place of “shaving,” and “limbs” replaced “legs.”

These campaigns weren’t just selling products—they were teaching an entirely new standard of female beauty.

Ads from the 1920s described underarm hair as “objectionable,” “unsightly,” and “unclean,” and portrayed its removal as a sign of femininity, grace, and social refinement.

Being hair-free wasn’t just about hygiene or comfort—it was about being “modest,” “dainty,” and “perfectly groomed.”

Leonardo DiCaprio and his parents, 1976.

Over time, this manufactured norm became deeply ingrained. A century later, the overwhelming majority of American women—estimated at 80 to 99 percent—regularly remove hair from their bodies.

In many circles, choosing not to shave is still seen as a bold, even controversial, decision. That perception became especially visible when celebrities challenged it.

In 1999, actress Julia Roberts made headlines simply for appearing at the Notting Hill premiere with unshaven underarms.