The human body has about 5 million hair follicles. This seems like a huge number, maybe even excessive or useless, but actually, we should give more credit to our hair. You might not know this, but hair has a purpose: it helps regulate body temperature and protect the body from external elements like dirt. Hair is a natural thing to have, and on top of that, it’s very useful. So why continue to invest money and time in removing it, either by pulling it out or using substances and other modern techniques to remove it?

Well, the answer is simple. You don’t have to do this. And to prove it, Bright Side did some research online about the importance of hair and the consequences of modern beauty standards that keep causing us to do things to our body that aren’t necessary.

1. Hair prevents the transmission of bacteria and other pathogens.

According to a study by the American Society for Photobiology, hair provides a barrier against 2 types of rays that we’re in constant contact with and that can prove to be very harmful to our skin. Ultraviolet rays, also known as UVA, and the invisible rays that are part of the energy we receive from the sun, or UVB.

Depending on the density of hair you have, its thickness, and how much melanin you produce, hair will protect you differently. The more dense, thick, and/or dark it is, the more protection you have. That’s why researchers cannot stress enough that human body hair is an important natural defense mechanism against the sun that helps prevent different types of UV-induced skin cancers. However, please keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that if you don’t shave, you don’t have to use sunscreen anymore.

3. You can avoid ingrown hairs.

To avoid all the problems that come with hair removal, it’s just better to stop doing it. The acceptance of hair on women’s bodies is still, unfortunately, a taboo in many societies, and so not shaving seems like an unorthodox thing to do when it’s actually just natural. Luckily, there are people who have shown their commitment to a new approach by exposing their unshaved armpits, legs, and other parts of their bodies. On the list of celebrities who have done this, we can find huge stars like Sophia Loren, Grace Jones, Julia Roberts, and Madonna, among others.

Today, thanks to social media, body-positive movements have gained momentum. An example of that would be #JanuHairy. These movements are here to vindicate women’s body hair. More and more followers have joined these types of campaigns, because, far from criticizing those who like to use razors, waxes, or other products, they just invite women to experience what it feels like to be comfortable in their own skin regardless of how much hair grows there.

Little by little, waxing or not waxing are both becoming options that people can choose, regardless of the opinion of others. Hopefully, sooner or later body hair will no longer be a cause for shame or social pressure. The creator of the JanuHairy hashtag and official account, in which proud women share their photographs, said during an interview that to stop waxing “is so liberating because it really gets you thinking about the way you treat your body, why you do it, and who you do it for.”

And you, do you think that stopping hair removal can be liberating? Have you said goodbye to razors or creams? Are you seriously thinking of doing it?