I just can't say it enough, you guys: Sophia Loren was ALL ABOUT armpit hair.

Me this morning. (Day 10) In the immortal words of Gossip, I'd love to stay and party but I gotta go to work.

it shouldn't be inevitable

but it felt that way, when it happened. I've been posting Februhairy pics to my Instagram account, along with tumblr. I've gotten some nice comments and connected with lots of other ladies who are also enjoying growing out their armpit hair. I've been laughing a lot. And then this happened:

(His Instagram handle is blurred at the thoughtful suggestion of my favorite editor. I'll refer to him as This Young Man)

Prior to this exchange, I'd had no contact with This Young Man, so I can only imagine he found me through one of my hashtags. So curious, This Young Man. So eager to see what is going on in the world. Or perhaps just eager to troll feminists. It was very easy to find out that, among other things, he is a high school sophomore. I looked at his face: It is smiling a wide and likable smile. He looks young, but not younger than his age. He looks like someone who gives a lot of hi-fives. He's a member of the student council. It's amazing to see how early it starts, the male belief that they have the right to police women and our bodies, to expect demand things from us. (In this case, I suppose, shaven armpits?) Since he's a sophomore, he's probably fifteen. Which means I'm double his age. How am I going to call myself a woman, he wants to know. I wrote This Young Man a short piece of advice (and no, it wasn't GFY), blocked him on Instagram, and contacted his school via Instagram as well. My greatest hope, of course, is that he eventually grows into a person who is able to recognize the humanity of other people. I know it is not always an easy journey. It's another reminder (to anyone who's looking for one?) of how much we still need smart, feminist media. As a counterpoint, as a correction, as the vanguard, as hope. I warmly, enthusiastically encourage you to donate to Bitch Media.

Like Februhairy, but in January. Januhairy!

2 1/2 week progress

     Every year, I write down 3 resolutions. This year, My resolutions were:

1. Yoga/fitness. At least once a week.

2. Write more.

3. Live only for myself. 

     I realized this past December that I wasn’t doing a lot of things that I wanted to do because I had developed a slight almost-obsession with what others thought of me…whether those others were my friends, family, acquaintances, boyfriends, etc…This was not the sort of person I’d always been, and more importantly, the type of person i’d ever wanted to be. What does “living for yourself” even mean?? It sounds like such a cliche thing to say. I’m sure we would all like to believe that we do things only because we want to, regardless of what others think. But this is easier said than done. Sometimes we unconsciously compare ourselves to others, at least I know that this is a battle I have fought countless times.

     One of those things that i’d been wanting to do was grow out my underarm hair and dye it whatever color I saw fit. But there was a little voice in my head that said “your family will think it’s gross” “your friends will think you’re gross” and most disturbingly: “boys will think it’s disgusting”. And with these thoughts, the little voice won and my stubble became a slave to the razor when I hopped in the shower. 

     When I wrote my resolutions, it occurred to me that my first step in living only for myself could be to finally grow out the hair. I decided to start the new year off with shaved pits, and after that, no more. Today is January 17th, 2015 and this is my progress. 

     I know it may seem silly to others (oh well) but this is one of the most liberating things I’ve done in my 19 years of living. Every time I see my pit hair, I feel proud. I feel proud of myself for ignoring that stupid little voice and i’m proud of my progress. I have never felt more empowered and I have never felt more beautiful. Cheers to loving and living for yourself, and yourself only.

xo,

C

Sophia Loren would have killed at Februhairy.

Totally enjoying this dyed pits thing. Still working on basic growing!!

Love my fuzzy blue pits! Inspired by eartheld of course 💙☺️

DAY FIVE. THE PROGRESS IS SLOW BUT STEADY. MAYBE STRETCHING WILL HELP.

grow your own

Are you late to the party? Are you thinking to yourself, damn! I wish I could grow out my own sweet, sweet armpit hair, but I didn't start on Feb 1? Don't even sweat: Just start now! It's never too late for Februhairy!

Close-up of Day Four. Comin' in strong!

reader submission

goin’ strong for 3 years now!

I. Will not. Be getting. This sexy. But just to say: There's a lot of inspiration out there.

DAY TWO: Can you see it? A faint shadow? A pleasant contrast to the yellow of my shirt? (I don't own that many tank tops, y'all. You're gonna see all these shirts again, I predict.)

a little love letter: well, a little letter, a big love

Much like Movember, Februhairy is not only about growing hair but also about raising funds. Unlike Movember, I'm hoping that Februhairy will raise the dolla$ for feminism. There are a lot of hella hardworking feminist nonprofits out there, but I've specifically got my eye on one: Every month I contribute $15 to Bitch Media, the darlings behind dearly beloved quarterly print publication Bitch Magazine. They also run a kick-ass website, which collects a Daily Feminist News Roundup Monday-Friday, and produces awesome original content, such as this killer interview with Janet Mock. They are also way scrappy, and so small donations are a big deal! If you can give $5, $10, or $15, that matters a lot to them! I will be hugely thrilled if you donate and/or treat yourself to a one- (or more!) year subscription. Mention Februhairy when you donate and my little heart will skip a beat.

DAY ONE. Not much hair yet.

Februhairy Day One

Happy Februhairy! This month I am growing out my armpit hair and raising funds for feminism. You might be thinking why? but I am thinking, why not?! Maybe you remember Movember? Like that, but with armpit hair and bitch media instead of mustaches and cancer. You can join me!

Grow out your own armpit hair & send me pics, I'll put 'em up!

Already have rockin' armpit hair and not interested in starting over? Send me pics for inspiration! 

Seriously, get yourself a subscription to Bitch Magazine or just give them $5. You'll thank me later.