by Lilinaz Evans

It’s that time of year again: the sun has got her hat on and it’s time to get your legs summer ready to show off on the beach! We all know the horror of being the only babe on the beach with no luscious locks of leg hair, so today we have some tips from beauty experts, our summer body hair crushes, and some ahead-of-time style tips so you can be the hairiest you can be this summer.

Let’s start off with some basic background on body hair care for those newbies just starting out. Now if you have ever shaved in the past (ew! So unhygienic) you know those evil spiky hairs that catch on your tights and scratch your bae’s skin, but worry not! Those spiky baby hairs grow out in 3-4 weeks, and by your second month you will be left with the sleek and smooth pins you always dreamed of. Everyone is different and it may take a bit longer, for some of you slow growers, but just keep at it and be proud of your baby hair!

Leg hair has so many advantages! Apart from the fashionable aesthetic of course, longer leg hair is smooth and soft. It keeps the moisture locked in your skin and it keeps you cool in the summer. There is no better feeling than a summer breeze flowing through your hair. And we cannot forget of course, if you spend less on scraping the hair off your skin, there’s more money for shoes!

Leg hair gets so much attention, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg of cute hair possibilities. Your underarm hair (or pit kittens) can be a sophisticated peak of glossy hair or super cute fluff to show off with your sleeveless dresses. So versatile, so cute; I know my wardrobe would not be the same without them! Arm hair, your bikini line, and our summer 2014 fave, the unibrow, must also not be forgotten.

But let’s get serious, girls. We all think about how dreadful it must be to have blonde hair that doesn’t show up,  that has no volume or colour. Not everyone can have that thick, dark, gorgeous body hair that we all dream of, and it can be embarrassing for the girls who aren’t blessed with the right genes, but we mustn’t be cruel to them. Everyone deserves to feel like a babe! Here are some tips for those unfortunates:

  • If you are a slow grower or have lighter hair, it’s important to start you summer hair regime as early as possible. Stop shaving in January/February to give you hair and skin time to recover and fill out a bit more!
  • Using shampoo and conditioner like you would on your head hair keeps your body hair healthier and more resistant to damage. This is especially important if you have thinner hair.
  • Spray a little dry shampoo for dark hair at a distance and it will cling to the blonde baby hairs and make them pop! This is not ideal at the beach as it will wash off in the sea but great for an everyday style fix.
  • Dye it!

The best was to stay effortlessly on trend and keep that hair in line is to dye it! Last seasons’ deep maroons and forest greens are out for good, and 2k14 is all about the NEON. A brightly contrasting orange and blue seems to be the best bet this season, with the paps snapping Honoria McDonald (daughter of restaurant tycoon Ronald McDonald) with radioactive orange pit kittens in May, and supermodel Persephone Amethyst sporting blue and green leg hair stripes in Malibu. But you don’t need to take advice from celebs! Here are our 2014 real girl body hair crushes:

Yas Necati suggests going bold: “Neon colors really suits the summer festival theme!” But she’s into the more natural look, too: “I like to brush my leg hair in the sunlight. Sometimes I shave my leg hair into butterfly shapes and pretend I’m in the forest.”

Sinead Westwood suggests a “playful, confident look–wear tiny vest tops to really turn heads with your fabulous underarm fluff this summer!”

Emily Miller recently ditched shaving: “I like to tell myself I’m being more sustainable! Wanna save the environment? Shave once a month and recycle all your razors! You’ll feel like an eco-warrior in no time!”