Spring Break
Ritual of shaving
Routines depend on preference
Alexa Blatz
Issue date: 11/7/05 Section: Health
Men and women share many hygienic rituals, including shaving; although, they do shave different parts of their bodies.
But there are no health benefits to doing so, said Dr. Joanne Mellema of Student Health Services.
Prescriptions are available for women who have hair growing in places where men grow hair to stop it from doing so, she said, adding they're not available on campus.
The only thing that may be of concern is if a man has a beard and food was getting caught in it, but it's not really a huge problem, she said.
Sophomore Alex Kensgaard said he keeps facial hair for reasons other than his appearance.
"The only reason why I don't shave my beard is because of laziness," he said.
He also said it makes him look a few years older.
"I don't get upset with myself if I don't shave everyday," Kensgaard said. "It's not really a big deal."
But, if there is a special event, he will usually trim up, he said.
Freshman Madeline Duffy said she doesn't think shaving has anything to do with hygiene.
"I don't feel it makes a person unclean if they don't shave," she said. "However, it's my own personal preference to shave everyday."
With the brutal and cold Wisconsin winter approaching, people may opt to change their shaving habits, but leg hair won't keep women any warmer because it's not thick enough, Mellema said.
Besides personal preference, there are other reasons women don't shave.
Junior Vanessa Palmert, who's on the women's swimming team, doesn't shave her legs for a few reasons.
"We usually start to not shave around Halloween or New Year's Eve time," she said. "It's part of our taper."
Hair increases a swimmers' resistance in the water so shaving is supposed to cut seconds off swimmers' times, Palmert said.
"The philosophy is to swim as fast as we can with little resistance as possible," she said. "This really does make us swim faster."
Sometimes it can be frustrating, Palmert said, but in then end, it's definitely worth it.
Sophomore Alia Groth said she prefers to shave everyday, especially under her arms.
"I guess when I'm wearing pants, sometimes it doesn't really matter if I miss a day or so," she said.
Even if she never shaved, it still would be uncomfortable for her, she said, especially when she is wearing a certain kind of pants.
"I like the feel of my legs shaven as opposed to them not," Groth said.
There are however, some disadvantages to shaving,, Mellema said.
Along with shaving can come cuts. Bacteria could get in the small infected area, Mellema said.
"There can be irritation to the skin, she said. "Then the hair follicles can get inflamed."
But there are no health benefits to doing so, said Dr. Joanne Mellema of Student Health Services.
Prescriptions are available for women who have hair growing in places where men grow hair to stop it from doing so, she said, adding they're not available on campus.
The only thing that may be of concern is if a man has a beard and food was getting caught in it, but it's not really a huge problem, she said.
Sophomore Alex Kensgaard said he keeps facial hair for reasons other than his appearance.
"The only reason why I don't shave my beard is because of laziness," he said.
He also said it makes him look a few years older.
"I don't get upset with myself if I don't shave everyday," Kensgaard said. "It's not really a big deal."
But, if there is a special event, he will usually trim up, he said.
Freshman Madeline Duffy said she doesn't think shaving has anything to do with hygiene.
"I don't feel it makes a person unclean if they don't shave," she said. "However, it's my own personal preference to shave everyday."
With the brutal and cold Wisconsin winter approaching, people may opt to change their shaving habits, but leg hair won't keep women any warmer because it's not thick enough, Mellema said.
Besides personal preference, there are other reasons women don't shave.
Junior Vanessa Palmert, who's on the women's swimming team, doesn't shave her legs for a few reasons.
"We usually start to not shave around Halloween or New Year's Eve time," she said. "It's part of our taper."
Hair increases a swimmers' resistance in the water so shaving is supposed to cut seconds off swimmers' times, Palmert said.
"The philosophy is to swim as fast as we can with little resistance as possible," she said. "This really does make us swim faster."
Sometimes it can be frustrating, Palmert said, but in then end, it's definitely worth it.
Sophomore Alia Groth said she prefers to shave everyday, especially under her arms.
"I guess when I'm wearing pants, sometimes it doesn't really matter if I miss a day or so," she said.
Even if she never shaved, it still would be uncomfortable for her, she said, especially when she is wearing a certain kind of pants.
"I like the feel of my legs shaven as opposed to them not," Groth said.
There are however, some disadvantages to shaving,, Mellema said.
Along with shaving can come cuts. Bacteria could get in the small infected area, Mellema said.
"There can be irritation to the skin, she said. "Then the hair follicles can get inflamed."
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