7 Bizarre Facts About Body Hair That Might Make You Rethink Shaving

We spent a lot of hard-earned money shaving, waxing, and lasering our body hair. And while we aren’t recommending showing off your hairy armpits, you may want to take a moment to consider the major role body hair plays in every aspect of your life.

1. It regulates body temperature.

Our body hair is meant to protect us. It can help to regulate our body temperature, whether that means wicking away sweat when we’re hot or helping to keep us comfortably warm when it’s cold.

2. Less hair means less of a sex drive.

“Thick, coarse, copious pubic hair — the kind you go get waxed monthly and grows back like the eternal sunshine of the spotless pubes — can indicate higher levels of testosterone and androgen sensitivity.

This can mean you might have issues with a regular period and definitely means you will have a higher than average sex drive,” says Alisa Vitti, functional nutritionist, and founder and CEO of FLOLiving.com.

Of the same account, thin, sparse pubic hair can in some cases (especially if the hair was previously more lush) indicate mineral deficiencies and hormonal imbalances. You may have severe PMS, for example, says Vitti. This easily leads to a decreased libido.

3. It dies young.

And that’s a good thing. Even if you totally fail at shaving or waxing, there’s no chance of you becoming a bear. Body hair has a way shorter lifespan than the hair on our head, and has a life of about six months, so it will never get too long.

4. Tiny bugs live in your eyelashes.

They’re called mites, and this is a real thing. You can go vomit now. We’ll wait.

5. Hair loss isn’t forever.

Technically, when someone loses their hair, it’s not permanent — but dormant. Not the same thing, and at some point, if they live long enough, it could reverse!

6. People without hair don’t live as long.

Blondes often have more estrogen, and redheads feel pain more deeply. Bald people, it seems, have shorter life spans.

7. It determines intelligence level.

It’s crazy, but true. A study revealed that the more body hair you have, the smarter you usually are. Or, maybe if you’re very smart, you’re so busy with smart people things you just don’t have as much time to shave? Whatever, it’s interesting.