I generally feel bad for celebrities when they get criticized for some crappy editorial decisions made by magazines. While celebrities and their teams work with the magazines so that no one looks like a thirsty famewhore (usually), the celebrities usually don’t have a say in how those images are manipulated or Photoshopped. Take this Maxim India cover of Priyanka Chopra. Maxim India decided to name Priyanka “the Hottest Woman in the World.” Her team agreed to that, and agreed to a photoshoot. The photos were probably sexy and beautiful. But the magazine’s editors decided to Photoshop the crap out of Priyanka’s armpits! That’s not on her (although she did post the cover on her social media). Priyanka’s team wasn’t asking Maxim, “please make Priyanka’s armpits look like doll pits.”
I actually feel the struggle here. So many light-haired women can be all “oh, I’m going sleeveless today and I forgot to shave, oh well!” But it’s different for Indian ladies and it’s different for dark-haired, swarthy types. If I went sleeveless and there were somehow photos of my pits, I would DEMAND that someone Photoshop my pits to resemble doll-pits, just because I can shave and two seconds later I have a gross “five o’clock shadow.” The struggle is real.
That being said, Priyanka goes sleeveless/strapless all the time and her armpits are perfectly normal. There was no reason to give her Barbie pits.
Photos courtesy of Maxim India, WENN.
I have the same issue. In college I stopped shaving my armpits because it just seemed futile. Turns out, some guys are really, really into that. And they weren’t the kind of guys I was into.
I’m a redhead and I totally still feel your pain on the 5:00 shadow two hours after shaving. I have a head full of red hair, blonde hair on my arms and legs, but BLACK hair in my armpits. What the…?! So unfair. My fellow gingers all seem to have nice, blondy-reddish hair all over. Oh well. Such is life.
I’m a redhead too and have dark hair on my armpits! But I also have dark-ish hair on my legs too. Not sure where that comes from!
I have dark blonde hair, but black hair in my armpits. Good thing about getting older: I care way less about the shadow or the hair on my legs. Sometimes I shave, sometimes I don’t. What I want to be able to pull off is deliberately not shaving my armpits before official events. I know this step would make a meaningful change in my life, just to be more ‘me’ and less ‘collective opinion’. I think I’ll go for it.
@TheMummy Not that you’re not perfect the way you are but in case you’re bothered by the black hair, try lasering it off. Alas, I have it black all over and the best it responded was on my armpits. After growing a luxuriant dark jungle for years, I have now – 7 years after the laser – just a few strands of brown hair. Best thing I ever did! The secret is very black hair on very fair skin – this is where it works the best. As a redhead I think you’d be an ideal candidate. Or stay the perfect creature that you are, no judgement here on your undercover five o’clock 🙂
I’m white as white but have dark pit hair and I wish I could have photo shopped my wedding pictures in my strapless gown. Would have loved barbie pits in those pictures.
One of the best things I’ve ever done was to get my armpits lasered. Not only do I not have to mess with shaving, but the little bumps and irritations that I thought were permanent healed and now I have Barbie pits! If I had the money I would laser my legs, but unfortunately I’ll have to keep shaving them.
@Giddy – Details please … How many treatments did you need? Was it painful? Is it permanent or something that needs to be done every few months/years?
It took me about 12 treatments, the first six weren’t enough. I have very dark, coarse hair. Cost for six underarm was combined with six bikini line lasers, total was $600 Canadian. Not really very painful, just stings and a little hot, no lingering pain.
I had laser and it worked well, but I needed 15 or so treatments. Not painful really, but the results only lasted a few years. Now the hair is all back.
My sister did her pits and bikini area. I think she had about 10 treatments and paid about $1000 CDN. Within a year her hair had grown back, but a little bit thinner. Nonetheless, she wasn’t expecting to need near-constant maintenance. For the price, she said she wouldn’t do it again.
Megan, I’m in Europe and I went to a doctor and not a cosmetic parlour. I did my lower legs, my bikini line and my armpits. As said above, best it works black hair on white skin. So I repeated it for legs and bikini – bikini skin too dark – I went all in! – and legs too many hairs. I did the number of sessions recommended by the doctor. It cost me 2400 €. Again, this was 7 years ago and while I still have stray hairs on my legs, they are blondish and not really noticeable / last time I was on holiday and I got tanned I couldn’t see them in broad daylight! Armpits were a success but the bikini has mixed results: although the actual bikini line is clean and has a few strand hairs at most, the private parts are not really responding. I am repeating the treatment for the bikini, not the bikini line, that’s ok, but the private parts – every 2/3 years with the knowledge that is some temporary solution. But 200 € for 2 years I think it’s cheaper than waxing and less cumbersome.
Keep in mind that I had thick black hair everywhere before this.
Whoever has it and had the laser knows that beyond cultural significance, etc, it’s about comfort. I wouldn’t have done it if I had blondish hair and I am perfectly happy with my thin blond hair on my thighs. But I feel clean all the time now and I love it.
I did this. It was great for the first six months…no hairs at all! I was elated! However, very slowly over time, they started coming back, and now (many years later) it’s like I never did it at all. So totally not worth the time and expense for me.
Please note, they used to sell laser as “permanent hair removal” but now they legally cannot….because most people will get some hair back and some people get most or even all of the hair back. I also found out that any hormonal changes (such as pregnancy, etc) can also cause the hair to come back.
So…while I was so happy initially….it was a pointless waste of money for me.
Megan, sorry I just saw your question. I had it done five years ago by a dermatologist. I still have no growth. There were 3 treatments and I did not find it painful. Amazing since I have low pain tolerance. The doctor warned me that it would feel like getting popped by a rubber band, and that’s just about right. Maybe the difference in how well it worked for me is that a doctor did it, or maybe it’s individual.
Yes. We need details. Rude to ask in person, but on-line not so much….how much did it cost?
Inquiring minds want to know.
I second what Giddy says! I’m white with dark brown hair but I have platinum blonde hair via bleach. The 5’oclock shadow is just not cute, especially in a swimsuit or short sleeves.
I decided to get laser last year and went to LaserAway. They sold me an initial package of 6 treatments and I think I purchased an extra 3. You’ll almost always need more than their packages, just be ready for that. In total I think I spent $800.
The appointments themselves are every 4-6 weeks and you can shave in between. In fact you must shave the day of your appointment so that the laser doesn’t burn the hairs. Each time I went in, it only takes about 15 minutes.
The first appointment hurt, badly!! But after that, it’s no more painful than say, waxing. Each time your hairs fall out within about a week and grow in lighter.
I’m so happy with the results!! I only shave like once a week if I want to be baby smooth but I don’t actually have to. The ideal candidate for laser is someone with dark hair and light skin, because the laser can easily pinpoint the hairs. Go get a consultation!! They’ll give you a quote and explain everything.
One thing to consider… You can’t tan your skin during treatment, so it might be better to start in the winter time. Good luck!
Me too, lasered underarms and bikini line, best money I ever spent.
Is this like electrolysis only different?
I LOVE laser hair removal. I am so happy I had it done. I have PCOS so I had excess dark hair growth, and bleaching and all the other stuff used to take forever. Once my treatment for PCOS was done and my hormones were stable, I started laser hair removal, first with the face and stomach, then underarms and other areas. I’ve even done my legs. I am SO happy I did it.
WAX them pits!! My skin isn’t pale enough and my hair is brown but very fine, so I couldn’t do laser. But I have a lot of pit hair and it grows so fast, I couldn’t go a day without shaving for it to be noticeable and super uncomfortable. Waxing is quick (2 strips), and leaves you with wispy things that grow back.
Well, this just ruins her chances to be James Bond.
LOL. I guess we’re back to Hiddlesboxers then?
Honestly I would never have even noticed. That face is too gorgeous for me to even notice that she has armpits.
IKR? With that face, who notices the pits?
Right?! Her face is captivating.
They’ve also changed her skin tone and made her complexion more of that of a tanned or light golden Caucasian woman instead of the light brown she is. That is not her natural skin tone.
Gorgeous woman. Can’t act her way out of a paper bag, though.
Yes, the original Mia. Thank you!!! I was starting to wonder if I was the only one who thought her “acting” was atrocious. I mean, really, it’s just terrible. Thank goodness I’m not the only one!
Yes. Beautiful but, hoo boy, she is a terrible actress.
I dont shave mine. No man I have ever been with has dared/bothered to say a word. And no, this does not affect anything in even the slightest bit negatively.
No man should bother to put you down about things. If he does he needs to GTFO.
It’s interesting that shaving armpits is such a thing, isn’t it? It’s such a cultural sign of femininity in North America especially and yet my European-born Mum and some of my friends refuse to be dictated to. Good for them and you too, teehee.
What an odd comment. How can one “refuse” a cultural norm that isn’t theirs to refuse?
I went through a period a few years ago where I just let my body hair be for the most part and was really dismayed to find that it was other women who had the “omg ewwww” reactions. Most men were either slightly amused or had no reaction at all.
And also her eyes are blue on this photo. Although, they are actually brown.
Oh, no! Pit hair?! *dramatically falls onto fainting couch*
Maxim magazine still exists? Wow I thought this magazine was gone
It looks like they chopped her arm off at the shoulder then stuck it back on in the same spot, much weirder than the armpit issue.
For interested parties you can also buy home laser machines, I have one and it’s been pretty good.