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Everybody sweats, as this is one way that our body regulates our temperature during the hot summer months or when we are performing strenuous activity. Unfortunately, with sweat also comes odor, especially in the area around our armpits. Fortunately, there are ways to control this odor even if you can’t eliminate it. By doing so, you will feel more confident knowing that you smell good and you can take on even the toughest challenges in life. In the following article, we will go over what causes the odor from sweating, how to reduce it, and how to either trim or shave your armpits without causing razor burn or ingrown hairs from growing.
There are different approaches to doing this, and different products on the market that can help you to achieve the desired result. While all have their ups and downs, they have the same end goal in mind: reducing the amount of sweat and odor that is coming from your armpits. The most important part of keeping the odor in check as relates to your armpits is the bacteria that can grow and thrive there, and knowing how to reduce the amount of moisture there is. There are also a few things to keep in mind when you are considering trimming or shaving your armpits, all of which we will go over in the sections below.
Will Shaving My Armpits Reduce Smell?
You may be wondering if shaving your armpits will affect the amount of odor or smell that is coming from that part of your body; and the simple answer is: yes. Shaving your armpits will reduce the amount of smell because of how porous hair is, it can soak up the sweat that is produced by your glands and keep it in the hair which can help to keep us cool during strenuous activity or warmer weather but also traps in the smell of sweat. This also creates an environment that odor-causing bacteria can thrive in, due to the amount of moisture that the hair retains. By shaving your armpits, you are removing the hair that sweat will cling on to, and due to the thickness of the hair that is found in your armpits, bacteria can grow as it creates an environment that is dark, moist, and warm.
By shaving your armpits, you are reducing the number of surfaces that bacteria can grow in, and this will help you to reduce the amount of odor that your armpits have. While you should still practice good hygiene and wear deodorant, shaving your armpits can have a hugely beneficial outcome. Bacteria will still grow, and your glands will still produce sweat, but you will be able to control the amount of bacteria that is multiplying during your daily activities. Additionally, you will be able to have a more clean and polished look, which is attractive by today’s standards.
Not only does shaving reduce the amount of area that bacteria can grow and multiply, but it also makes it easier to clean the skin on your armpit. By shaving, you can clean your armpits while in the shower as there is nothing in between the soap or body wash and your armpit, and the same is true for applying deodorant. By eliminating anything that comes between both of these products, you are ensuring that you are clean there, and the deodorant will stay where it is designed to, doing the job it was designed to do. This is especially true for deodorant or antiperspirant, as it will be able to penetrate deep into the pores where sweat is produced by your glands. Especially with an antiperspirant, this means reduced sweat which can cause bacteria growth as it will be able to get in deep. As relates to a deodorant that is not designed to halt the flow of sweat, you will still sweat but the product will be at the site where the sweat occurs, instead of sitting on top.
Does Armpit Hair Affect Sweat Production?
Although shaving your armpits will reduce the amount of smell that is coming from that part of your body (both from deodorants and your natural scent), the act of shaving will not affect the amount of sweat that is produced by your body; as perspiration is produced by your glands, which shaving will not be able to affect. This is because these sweat-producing glands lay under the skin and are not found present in the hair itself; so while shaving will help with the amount of deodorant that you find you need to use, and the amount of odor that is coming from your armpits, it will not decrease or increase the amount of perspiration that is produced.
Even though shaving does reduce the pour size (especially if you are using an aftershave or astringent), the glands will not be reduced in size as they are found under the skin, and perspiration will continue to pour out of your skin. As mentioned above, hair soaks up and retains the sweat that is produced, and as a result, shaving your armpits may give the false sense of sweating less, but in reality, you are sweating the same amount. Because bacteria grow around our armpits with or without hair, the sweat that is produced will start to accumulate odor over time as well.
Armpit hair itself does not produce sweat, as that is what your glands are designed to do. That said, the hair in your armpit can add to the already moist and damp environment that your armpits have by nature. This is especially true if you are prone to grow thick hair, as this creates more warmth which signals your glands to produce more sweat to regulate your body temperature and keep you cool. By trimming or shaving the hair that grows in your armpit, you are reducing the amount of bacteria that will grow and allowing your armpits to breathe.
How to Reduce Armpit Odor
While shaving is a great way to reduce armpit odor and to some, be more visually appealing, there are other methods available and products on the market that will also work in decreasing the amount of odor that our armpits produce. Unfortunately, it is not possible to eliminate odor from armpits, with all we have available to us in this day and age we don’t have to suffer from bad body odor.
The cause of the odor that we experience coming from our armpits is due to the bacteria that can grow in this environment. Because armpits are dark, moist, and warm this provides the perfect area for bacteria, and this bacteria is what causes an odor that we experience; as such, this odor does not get better over time but will continue to worsen until the area is clean and dry. In addition to shaving or trimming your armpits regularly and wearing deodorant or antiperspirant, there are other ways that you can reduce the amount of odor that is emanating from your armpits.
- Practice good hygiene: by showering regularly and having good hygiene routines, you are limiting the number of bacteria that can grow in your armpit thus reducing the displeasing odor. For best results, you will want to use an antibacterial soap or body wash and make sure that you dry off well, to reduce the amount of moisture that bacteria can grow in.
- Always use a deodorant or antiperspirant: this should go without saying and should be part of your daily routine after you shower and before you get ready for the day. Applying a good deodorant or antiperspirant will help to reduce the amount of odor that is coming from your armpits.
- Change and wash your clothes: While you can get away with wearing the same dress shirt or blouse for 2 days before tossing it in the wash, you should always wear a clean undershirt. This is because it will be near your armpits, and will pick up the sweat that your armpit hair can’t grab.
How to Trim Armpit Hair Without Itching
It is important to note that the hair that grows around your armpits is course and sometimes thick, while the skin of your armpit is delicate and can be prone to ingrown hair as well as razor burn. By taking the appropriate precautions before shaving or trimming, you can reduce the amount of redness or swelling that you can occur.
Before trimming or shaving your armpit hair, it is important to note that it will be much easier and you will have far less irritation and risk of ingrown hair if you relax the hair first with warm water (such as a shower). The heat from the steam and the added moisture will relax the hair follicles and make them much easier to work with. You will also want to trim or clip your armpits before shaving, as this will make your job much easier and less time-consuming.
Additionally, working with an area that is free of debris via exfoliation will help as well; this can be done by simply using a loofah in the shower on the areas that you want to shave. Lubrication is also important, and good high-quality shaving cream will go a long way in protecting your skin and getting a close shave. As with shaving any part of your body, remember to pull the skin tight to get a close shave; for your armpit, this can be done by stretching your head high in the air and bending at the elbow, placing your hand behind your back.
Alternatively, trimming instead of shaving is another option that will further decrease the risk of razor burn or painful ingrown hair growing. The method to do so remains the same except actual shaving; you will still want to use steam or a heat compress to relax the hair follicles before trimming. Taking a shower is the best method to do so, as the moisture will also help. Using a high-quality trimmer or clippers, you will want to start at the bottom of your hair growth and slowly move upwards until you reach the center. From here, you can start at the top and work your way down until all of the hair has been trimmed at the length you are wanting.
Products like shaving creams (when shaving), good quality razors, and astringents or aftershave will help reduce the risk of redness, irritation, razor burn, and ingrown hair growth which all contribute to itching after shaving or trimming. Taking your time and going slow will not only ensure that the hair is removed or trimmed completely, and will also reduce redness that can occur after removing or trimming hair. Other products will burn the hair by using a cream that is left on for some time and then either wiped or washed off, and the use of these products further reduce the risk of redness and razor burns, if used correctly.
We hope that this article was helpful and that you can take the information listed above with the tips provided to safely trim or shave your armpits to reduce the amount of odor that is present during your day to day activities. It is important to know what causes the odor that we experience, as well as what steps you can take to reduce it. While the decision to trim or shave is up to you, knowing the facts and the benefits will be able to help you in making an informed decision before shaving or trimming any part of your body.
By following the steps and tips listed above, you won’t need to feel embarrassed by the smell that is coming from your armpits and can feel sexy and confident knowing that you smell great.
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