Keeping up with the latest fashion trends is an awesome way to ensure you keep up with the Joneses. Or the Kardashians, whichever tickles your fancy..
However, while most trends aim to enhance your beauty, some are just downright odd. Some of the strangest trends involve armpit hair. Out of these fashion trends, one of the oddest is a merkin. I am not pulling your gherkin, that’s a real word. If you don’t believe me, Google it.
What is a merkin?
Well, to be clear, there are two types of merkins. The first is a wig for your nether regions. I wish I was kidding, but I’m being dead serious. Apparently, the merkin came out in the 1400s when ladies of the night would shave to avoid lice, before donning on the merkin.
It is still in use today. Not necessarily by unsavoury women, but rather by actors and actresses in popular series and movies.
However, this is not the merkin we want to get into. Rather, we intend to focus on the second merkin, which is the armpit merkin. Yet again, I am not kidding. This is a real thing.
Why would anyone want to have an armpit wig?
There are celebrities, such as Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Penelope Cruz and even Drew Barrymore which have sported long armpit hair. This trend caught on and some women opted to rather buy wigs for their armpits, instead of actually growing their armpit hair. While this form of merkin can be bought through novelty stores, it remains a bizarre fashion trend.
However, when it comes to armpit hair, the fashion trends don’t end with merkins. Another popular trend is unicorn armpit hair. This rather strange trend sees women and girls discarding their razors to grow their armpit hair. Once the hair is long enough, they dye it an assortment of colours, so it resembles a rainbow.
While unicorn armpit hair is a bit strange, the message behind it is rather bright. It is meant to encourage women to embrace their bodies. While society often views women with armpit hair as socially unacceptable, this trend adds a bit of colour to the subject. It also gets a few good chuckles and is an awesome icebreaker.
However, I doubt I will be dying my armpit hair anytime soon or slapping on a wig down stairs…
Until the next time, have yourself a FREAKY FRIDAY!!
