Question for the women

Please explain what hygiene has to do with shaving your legs? One can be clean and hygienic and still not shave.

In Germany, all young women shave unless they are living an alternative lifestyle.Think hand knit clothing, organic farming, cloth diapers, etc. Older women will be varied, but just looking around, I would say anyone under 50 will probably shave. If they don't, it has more to do with the fact that they feel there isn't a need for it, and as stated above, it has nothing to do with hygiene. Occasionally, I will see a woman on the subway, all dressed up, with hose on and matted hair under the hose. Looks quite odd. My son, said one of his teachers refused to shave her armpits and was quite proud of it.

If you shave all the rest of the year, I don't know why you wouldn't want to on vacation. Wearing summer dresses, capris, shorts, bathing suits, or if you are traveling with your partner, I guess one would want smooth legs.

Using deoderants in Germany is as normal and common as in the states. Don't know about the other countries.

Although I didn't really pay too close attention, I'm pretty sure women in UK and Ireland shaved their legs (but shorts/dress weather wasn't exactly abundant most of the time). My German relatives, however, aren't very likely to shave or use deodorant... When visiting over here, they wash their feet each night because they wear sandals most of the time. As for me, while on vacation, I shave my legs whether I'm wearing shorts or not, but if I can't for some reason I don't feel as weird about it. :)

Frankly I have not noticed. Women do not wear shorts as they do in America. I take a razor and zip across my calves since that part shows with capri/cropped pants. It is not a big thing.

My close female friends in Spain all look as perfectly shaved/waxed as Americans (and they all shower daily, too). As for me, I shave my legs everyday of my life, regardless of the season. So of course I am very smooth in Europe!

I shave only those parts that would show. In the winter I do not shave unless I have to go to the doctor, or I begin to feel like a chimp :-)

I did not notice too many hairy legs, but the ones I saw did not freak me out. Sometimes I think we are too obsessed with perfection. Who cares if there is a bit of stubble on the legs?

I was scarred for life when as a college student, I sprained my ankle and my then boyfriend,now husband, carried me to his dorm. There, I was surrounded by a huge crowd of boys who all tried to assist with my little medical crisis. I was horrified that all those cute guys got to see that I hadn't shaved in weeks! So now I figure that you never know what may happen to you and it's always best to be prepared.

In my experience, it depends on age. The younger girls/women will be about what you would see in the US, but the older women that I saw usually didn't shave. As others have said, shorts aren't common, so I am speaking mostly about underarms - but I would assume that if they are or aren't shaving one part, they are or aren't the other, too.

I would just do whatever you do at home. You are going to be pegged as a tourist no matter what.

We have a lot of earth mother, hippie types in Oregon. These ladies are lovely, too, looking perfectly clean, but preferring a more natural, organic style. Jo is right. Shaving has nothing to do with cleanliness. Look at men! (although with all the bikers in Bend, I see countless men with silky smooth shaved legs!)

Mmmk, there's no need to infer anything negative about the question. Good or bad results, shaving does fall under the realm of hygiene. I just don't write posts like a 5th grade date note: "Do women in Europe shave? Please circle one Y/N"

It's very uncommon to see women (of all ages) in the UK walking around with hairy 'pits and legs on show. I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw a woman walking around with hairy legs.

Goodness, who cares what the locals do,, do what you normally do.

I know people here that do not shave, and I know people in Europe who do,, I know we say there is no such thing as a silly question,, but...

The shaveless live everywhere. Here in teh land of Boulder, Colorado, where all the hippy feminists came to retire, I see a lot more unshaved legs in summer than I have in Europe.

PS: I am NOT one of them! I'm originally from southern California. Not shaving is probably against the law there. lol.

I just bring a disposable razor with me on vacation.

Men have it so easy. At least the guys who are not into shaving their legs!

Just wanted to clarify that I wasn't implying that my German relatives didn't practice good hygiene. But all of the ones I knew growing up, and those who still visit, are not friends of deodorant. Some are farmers, some are businesspeople, etc., but pretty much all of them smell like Fa Soap and b.o. But then we probably have a weird smell to them. Sorry if I offended.

Just a little FYI for your summer time trips, maybe something to try while "living like a local"... for whatever reason it is way cheaper to get waxed in Italy than in America. For example, one solarium here charges 20 euro for leg+bikini+underarms.

Corey,
shaving does fall under the realm of hygiene.

Shaving your legs doesn't prevent diseases, so it does not fall under "hygiene." It belongs clearly into the realm of "cosmetics."

Tina,
it is quite dangerous to make blanket statements, but I would agree with you that the German perception of B.O. (i.e. the point where "normal odor" turns into "unwashed") is a little bit different than the American one.