Amanda Palmer, writer of Coraline and fiancee of Neil Gaiman, has made my day, just by walking down the carpet at the Golden Globes. This is the second time this year that I’ve seen a big old fuck you to the conventional idea of beauty. (The first being V’s “Curves Ahead” photoshoot). Of course, the mainstream media has a huge freakout over the whole thing. How dare a woman sport hair?!

I LOVE it!

Most of the year, I don’t shave my pits. On the very few occasions when I do, I use a set of clippers instead, so I’m not even actually shaving, just taking it really close to the skin.

Why? Wouldn’t it be easier to just shave, like we’re all “supposed” to do?

For a while, when I was younger, yeah. Then I realized that I hated bumps. I hated rashes. I hated ingrown hairs. I hated the fact that I sweated more for some reason when I shaved, requiring me to get more products that only made me rash up even more.

I don’t recall the year that the lightbulb went off in my head that I should just stop shaving altogether, but I do remember that it was nice to not WORRY about my armpits. That’s right, you heard me, I just didn’t think about them at all, and we’ve all done that, men and women both. I didn’t have a single thought about sweat or stains or smell, and why, you ask? Hair meant no stains, and I sweated less. Smell? I have a really good diet and, as weird as some people might find it, I smell kind of nice. Yes, my unshaved pits smell nice, you heard me say it.

So a huge kudos to you, Amanda Palmer. Whether it was something you intended or, as in my case, it was just something you ceased to give a damn about anymore because it’s not that important in the scheme of things, the fact that you didn’t walk down that carpet with your arms clamped to your sides lest someone see a glimpse of hair goes a long way.

And the dress was yummy too :b

Hat tip: Jezebel

More on Amanda Palmer:
http://www.amandapalmer.net/
Wiki page
Dresden Dolls