Hairless: Breaking the Vicious Circle of Hair Removal, Submission, and Self-Hatred

This overdue intervention in Western society's obsession with regulating women's body hair is thoughtfully written and draws on anecdotal and empirical evidence to make its case. Author Bel Olid begins by enumerating the rigid conventions around hair on women's bodies: long on the head, lush on the eyelashes, not too thick on the eyebrow, and nothing anywhere else. Olid then turns to describe the economy that exists around hair removal - from waxing, to tweezing, to shaving - and demonstrates the social consequences that await women who refuse to abide by these strict rules. Exposing the contradictions and hidden costs of this cultural demand for hairlessness, Olid calls on women to set themselves free from the urge to please everyone and instead try to please themselves. A powerful and empowering read.