On the precipice... shave my legs??

[MarinaKirax]

My SO is supportive, or rather quietly accepting, but does not encourage. She understands it exists, and is OK to allow me some 'private time', but worries incessantly that I might be found out by others, which would hurt us both, and perhaps our kids.

That said, I was noticing recently how many men in our acquaintance shave their legs. Many have so little hair they appear shaved, but many who either are into cycling, or triathlons seem to shave their legs and just walk around with no one making a comment, just assuming its part of their exercise/sport acheivement regimen.

I don't have overly hairy legs, and I would love to experience the feeling of shaved legs. I could probably get away with shaving amongst my male friends, because I do a bit of cycling, and I could just say its part of that. But my family, in-laws, and my kids would certainly notice the change, and would comment on it. It might be more difficult to explain to them, since they know I'm not a pro cyclist, or anything. I might have to retreat to the unspoken, assumed explanation of "I just wanted to feel the smoothness of shaved legs", which is closer to the truth than I want to get with them.

What do you think? Am I just obsessing about this because it's Fall and the Pink Fog is about? If I value secrecy that much (I do) is this a crazy risk? Or will no one care?

[Renee W]

Shave it all off. Regardless of what some people think or say, it is becoming quite common for men to shave their chest, legs and under arms. Take for instance the recent episode of Big Brother (don't know if you get this CBS show up there). One of the guys had the girls use some hair remover he borrowed from one of the other guys to remove the trees he had growing in his armpits. There was mention chest and leg hair management. I also remember one season where one of the guys seemed obsessed with chest hair removal, everytime you saw him he seemed to be dragging a disposable razor across his chest.

[Lorileah]

I started a thread yesterday about someone asking me about if I shave my legs. I have done it for maybe 15 years (started with sugaring and Nair....went to waxing...now I shave or use Nair because I hate to wait for it to grow long enough) and no one has ever said anything until now (except my MIL several years ago but she doesn't really count). When I first started thinking of it I started to notice how many males have so little hair on certain areas. Usually the biggest burliest guy who you would think would be a linebacker had very little leg hair. It is different for everyone. I just decided if people notice my legs shaved, they really need a new hobby.

[MarinaKirax]

I understand the view of not caring what others might think, and just going ahead. My self-esteem would support that. My fear is that others might notice enough to question WHY I would want to shave my legs - particularly inlaws, and kids. Am I just giving them enough to wonder about? Because I don't want them to wonder at all.

[BRANDYJ]

Let them wonder. But what is it that they will wonder about? Unless there are other clues, the last thing they will think is that you are a CD. We sometimes worry to much about being discovered when in fact it takes a whole lot more then just shaved legs to have the average person think you are a CD.
As others have said, many men shave their legs for various reasons. It's not that uncommon anymore. And just what is wrong if anyone asks to say that you wanted to see what it felt like and since you did it, you like the look and feel so much better then being hairy. That's an honest answer to me. No need to explain further. I was once asks about my shaved chest and legs by a nurse while I was in the hospital. I chickened out and said that my sweetheart liked it better that way. I wish I had simply said I like it better that way. They were happy and only commented that they did not have to shave me for the procedure.
As for the atheletes walking around and no one saying anything about it, it's because tjey are not CD's and don't see it as wrong or worry about detection like us CD's do.
The only think I'd suggest is to clear it with your wife. She has to sleep with you and is the only one that matters. Just be sure she won't be upset if you do it and just let her discover it.

[DonnaT]

Just tell them some of your cycling friends recommended it, and now that you've tried it, you find it invigorating while cycling, and even swimming.

No one has ever said anything to me, but that doesn't mean someone won't ask you. Just smile while answering them. No fear.

[bobbimo]

Yes indeed
Let them wonder
I have been shaving for almost 2 years and letting my hair grow too.
My kids just shake their heads and move one.
its just crazy ole dad.
in the mean time i am loving life!!
Bobbi

[Chickhe]

I'm sort of in the same boat... What I'm considering, because I openly dress up every halloween and I've never shaved my legs believe it or not and I want to try it, is to dress up again this year, but go all out. That will include shaving averywhere. But, what I'm counting on, is afterwards, I just keep shaving...because I found out I liked it! So my story would be...one year I dressed up in drag for halloween and I liked the way they felt so I never looked back...and I fit in when I go biking now!

One thing I have been doing in the last few years is to thin my arm and leg hair with electric clippers and I epilate my feet and hands. No one has said anything (except my doctor...because body hair loss is a symptom for somethings), but I like being less ape like and it works with a female or male image. I was considering going too far one day so that my wife would notice the stubble (she would complain about that) and I would make her happy by making them smooth... we will see...

[Beverley Sims]

Start by using a light smear of depilatory cream on your legs, this will remove a percentage of the hair but not all.
Apply lightly and leave for less than a minute and see what the effect is.
If you have slightly less coverage leave it like this for a reasonable time and then do it again.
Having a little less hair may not be noticeable to others and in the summer time when it comes again, try a little bit more at a time.
Now is a good time to experiment as you can cover up and your SO might not even notice the first application.
She may notice later and be accepting with a little bit of hair loss.

[Ressie]

Not much hair on my legs to start with. Shave them when it's no longer too hot to wear long pants. I wear shorts in the summer and there's so little hair on my legs it shouldn't matter. But I'm not ready to make it more obvious that I'm a CD. What next, plucking the eyebrows?

[kimdl93]

Marina, I don't think most people, including family, are all that likely to notice. And if they do, most likely everyone but your kids will keep the questions to themselves. I have been shaved smooth (like you I'm not all that hairy to begin with) for more than a decade. We spend time in the pool with our adult children and in laws as well as a number of friends. So far, not one soul has asked a single question about my lack of hair.

[bridget thronton]

Most people really do not care. It takes only a month or so and people will be surprised if they see body hair

[MarinaKirax]

Just to be clear, I'm not trying to do this without telling my wife. I'm on the verge of asking her permission to try it for the Fall (until it's clear that I'm not cycling). I worry that presenting the request as a possible permanent change might spook her into thinking my dressing is evolving into something else (which it's not).

[DonnaT]

Yeah, getting one's wife to accept this can be tricky. My wife worried, but I explained no one would care, and she soon found that no one else seemed to care. She seemed to be the only person looking around to see if other guys shaved their legs, and again noticed that no one else cared.

[kimdl93]

Just to be clear, I'm not trying to do this without telling my wife. I'm on the verge of asking her permission to try it for the Fall (until it's clear that I'm not cycling). I worry that presenting the request as a possible permanent change might spook her into thinking my dressing is evolving into something else (which it's not).

Sadly, there is nothing permanent about shaving leg hair - or anything else for that matter. Within a matter of weeks, its back just as nasty as ever.

[Amy Fakley]

Just to be clear, I'm not trying to do this without telling my wife. I'm on the verge of asking her permission to try it for the Fall (until it's clear that I'm not cycling). I worry that presenting the request as a possible permanent change might spook her into thinking my dressing is evolving into something else (which it's not).

Well ... I mean it's almost Fall, and you live in Canada ... who'se gonna be seeing your legs the next few months? I can't imagine it's gonna be shorts weather up there in October
If your wife is on board, I couldn't see any reason not to!

[audreyinalbany]

boy does this every sound familiar! I, too and toying with the notion but haven't gotten the nerve yet. I keep dancing around it, but haven't taken the plunge yet.

[kelliT]

I guess it all comes down to your spouse for approval. My wife tried to encourage me to keep them shaved through the summer, but we were around alot of folks close up this summer so I just kept them trimmed. But over the weekend I have committed to keeping them shaved for a while. My wife doesn't seem to bother her as much. I've been running this week were I work, and getting more comfortable as I walk by people I don't know.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Marina, Git yourself an Eppilator and trim the hair to about a quarter inch then eppilate the hair out .

[Jmichelle60]

I have extremely dry skin and the dermatologist prescribed some lotion for it. It's hard to put any kind of lotion on your legs with hair on them, so I'm going to shave them soon.

[Meghan]

After a long tremendous discussion we agreed to try this leg shaving thing.

My wife helped me shave my legs and she LOVED the transformation.

She looked at my legs the other day and told me how relieved she was that she didn't have a harry ape around the house.

My kids, both 18 and 14 respectively, haven't said a word nor has anyone in public.

Only a close colleague noticed and directly asked if I shaved my legs. I told him "yeah" I do it all the time in South Florida. Keeps me dry and makes it easy to cool off.

I don't think people link leg shaving to crossdressers right away at any level. My experience is they just don't care.

Oh, and girl, you will love the way you feel and never go back to drab. STOCKINGS FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. But your legs will fell so good you may not want any stockings at all!

Meghan

[michelle.foster]

I say just do it, with or without anyone else's permission. It's your hair, does your wife ask your permission when she shaves? I think not! And here's your answer to anyone who questions it.....I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS. When my daughter questioned my arm shaving, I told her “it was very European and I like it”. Nothing more was ever said. No one has ever said anything, when I walk along the beach with red toe nails.
I have a hard time understanding why “we” feel we have to ask permission. When I wanted to get my ears pierced the first time, I told my wife I wanted to have it done, she told me why she thought I shouldn't (cuz everyone would know I dressed), I did it anyway. And guess what? Very few said anything about them, it wasn't an announcement that I dressed en femme, and after a couple months, the wife like the way they looked. So a year later I got another set of holes. I posted a while back that I have had more positive comments about my earrings then negative (none).
What things do you do that you don't ask permission, buy a new set of clubs or shave your head? What things does she do without asking your permission, change her hair color or buy another pair of shoes? If she threaten you with divorce -whether she knows you dress or not, because you shaved your legs, or pierced your ears, or got a tattoo, you have some serious problems and need some counseling, like now.
Most people mistakenly believe that society cares what they look like or what they wear. I believe that “they” don’t notice, and those that do, don’t care enough to say anything about it. Again, I say if you want to shave your legs, or your entire body for that matter, JUST DO IT. Don’t worry about trying to explain it to anyone – it feels nice. It feels really, really nice!!

[JohannaSophia]

Unless you are really hairy it is hard to believe anyone would notice unless they were sitting looking at half grown out stubble.

I have already lost a lot of lower leg hair to long time athletic taping but no one has ever noticed and my wife doesn't care. Actually I was the first to go smoothie at the mid body level and she soon followed my lead down/up there.

It is certainly cooler for sport activity and less messy for Sunscreen, good excuses if you need justification, Just Do It!