Does Shaving Your Armpits Make You Sweat Less?
Many people shave their armpits for the aesthetic appeal, but there may be another reason to pull out your razor more often. According to Healthline, people who sweat a lot may find some relief when they shave their armpits regularly. Armpit hair can cling to moisture and make your underarm sweat more noticeable through clothing. While shaving your armpits may not make you sweat less overall, it can make it look like you are sweating less, which might be a good enough reason to go for it.
If you really want to sweat less, there are other products and lifestyle changes that can help you stay dry. Applying an antiperspirant to your underarms is the easiest way as this blocks your sweat ducts and prevents sweat from reaching the surface of your skin (via Healthline). You can also prevent sweating by wearing breathable fabrics, avoiding spicy foods, and staying cool when possible. If sweating becomes a real issue, there are some medications you can take to control your sweat levels.
How to safely shave your armpits
If you shave your armpits frequently, you'll want to adopt good shaving practices to help you avoid irritation and razor burn. Razor burn is a painful form of irritation on the skin that can leave you with a rash, bumps, and tenderness under your arms. When you shave and what products you use can help you prevent razor burn and other forms of irritation (via Glamour). Exfoliating your skin before shaving will remove dead skin that can get caught by your razor and cause an uneven shave.
You should also wait to begin the process until you have been in a hot shower for a few minutes, which will allow the steam to soften your skin and hair. "After only three minutes of hydration from the water in the shower, the force required to cut through hair is significantly reduced," Caitlin Orszulak, research and development scientist for Gillette Venus, told Glamour. Use a fresh razor whenever you can and be sure to switch out your razor or razor blade heads every 10 uses (via Allure). Shaving with a dull razor can pull on your skin and cause irritation.