Tips for stopping shaving:
When you are told since the time you develop bodyhair that it must go it can be difficult to actually let it grow out. Unfortunately I am THAT feminist with sensory issues from autism who really struggled to stop shaving. Yes haha we DO have eyebrows that don't give us sensory issues but that's because its not a social norm to shave your eyebrows from the time they begin to grow. Making a physical change that feels different can be challenging for people like me and its sad to see my neurodivergent sisters being made fun of or judged.
So rant over. For my fellow ladies who want to stop shaving but have struggled these are things I've personally done to help myself that might help you too! I do promise once the hair is longer it should feel better, getting through the spikey faze is the challenge!
Feel free to leave any other tips in the comments!
Wear looser fitting trousers or a skirt to help prevent friction on the hair
If you're feeling self concious remember a) no one SHOULD actually care, its your body so they don't get a say b) no one is likely to notice, its way more noticeable to you than anyone else
Make sure you soap up your legs in the shower while its growing out it can help the hair feel smoother and reduce the risk of any post shaving ingrown hairs, spots, etc
Remember that stopping shaving does also reduce the risk of cutting yourself with the razor, in grown hairs, damaged follicles, spots and rashes/razor burn. You are technically saving yourself from other uncomfortable sensory experiences by putting up with the spikrs for a few days!
It will likely only be uncomfortable for a few days as the spikes grow out and begin to soften, after that unless you touch your legs I personally find it relatively unnoticeable
Wear tank tops or loose fitting t-shirts to reduce the friction
Try to wash the area consistently to reduce the feeling of the spikey hair
You can use antibacterial wipes or a warm cloth and soup to clean the area if you are finding the sensation particularly irritating and can't shower every 10 muinets lol
If the hair is irritating consider using hair scissors to trim it rather than a razor, it can help you get used to having the hair present but with less density
Use fragrance free, alcohol free deodorants if you can, I find they are gentler on the skin and help reduce any overstimulation
The spikey faze is definitely the worst, I'd use conditioner or moisturizer to help soften the hair, idk if it was a placebo effect or not but it felt like it helped
Wearing looser or cotton underwear helps reduce the feeling of friction
If it gets to a length that's a bit annoying I'd recommend investing in some hair scissors to give it a trim then washing the hair to help clean up
There's no shame in shaving down any areas that feel particularly odd, especially when starting out, give yourself time to adjust if need be