Here’s Why Women Aren’t Shaving In January

My wife, Danielle, had a wax appointment over the weekend. Danielle's wax specialist at "The Pretty Kitty," a local place here in Las Vegas with arguably the coolest name, shared something really interesting that neither Danielle or I knew about. She mentioned that January is their slowest month. That makes sense. A lot of businesses say that January is their slowest month. I mean, the holidays just happened, and a lot of people slow their spending at the start of the year. But she also mentioned that there are other reasons. And one of the reasons is because of people celebrating something called "JANU-HAIRY."

I've heard about DRY JANUARY, but learning about JanuHairy is news to me. Have you heard about this? It's a time when many women choose not to shave to promote different beauty standards.

It's funny how things work out, because today I'm seeing an article about the celebration on CNN. According to the article, JanuHairy is an initiative aimed at encouraging women to embrace their natural body hair. Therefore, embracing their natural beauty. Participants are asked to refrain from shaving, waxing, or plucking for the entire month of January.

And even though it's news to my wife and me, the movement isn't new. According to the CNN article, JanuHairy first emerged in 2019, making this year the sixth anniversary of its observance.

It gets better. I've also learned that there's an official JanuHairy Instagram account. The page does really well, too! It boasts over 40,000 followers and outlines its goals as promoting self-confidence, challenging societal beauty norms, and fostering a supportive community where individuals can share their personal journeys.

As a guy who has celebrated "No Shave November" and "May-Stache," I totally get it. Not worrying about that extra step, each day, as I got ready for the day was liberating. I'm certain lots of women who are trying this out for the first time will learn that too.

So, if you notice the lady in your life sporting a bit more fuzz this month, it might just be her way of celebrating JanuHairy!

There’s nothing wrong with getting a head start on Galentine’s Day. According to Urban Dictionary, Galentine's Day is celebrated on February 13. The day before Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day Eve. February 13 will be here before you know it, and planning is key to the perfect Galentine’s Day with your friend circle.

Think of Galentine’s Day as a friendship-focused version of Valentine’s Day. It's a chance to celebrate the love between friends. Even if you don’t have a date for February 14th, you can still join in on the Valentine's vibes. You can celebrate it however you like. You can host a brunch, a dinner, a wine and cheese night, throw a party, exchange gifts, or book a spa day. The main idea is to honor your connection with your friends and show them some extra love.

What makes Galentine’s Day special is that it wasn't created by a company trying to make money. It was actually invented by a fictional character, Amy Poehler's character Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation.

This unique celebration goes back over ten years to an episode in season two of Parks and Recreation called "Galentine’s Day." In that 2010 episode, Leslie gathers her female friends for a brunch filled with waffles and love. She describes it as, “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”

A lot of people really liked the idea of Galentine’s Day, and they shared their love for it in the comments under the show clip. One person said, "I really love that Galentine’s is pretty much a national holiday. Seriously I feel like it’s more respected than Valentine's Day now." Another person thanked Amy Poehler for coming up with the idea, saying, "Ty Amy Poehler for creating this." Although, in this case, it's more of a thank you to Leslie Knope.

It's become so popular that some companies even have special promotions for Galentine’s Day, according to The Atlantic.

If you're thinking of having a Galentine’s Day party or doing something special with your friends, here are some fun ideas to consider.

Get some snacks and bring your favorite bottle of wine to swap with friends. Ask each friend to bring their own favorite wine, too. Spend the evening sipping on different wines and chatting. To make it more fun, play a game like White Elephant, but with wine. Sit in a circle, put the bottles in the middle, and have the person with the first turn pick a bottle, open it, and show it to everyone. The person with the second turn can either take that bottle or choose a mystery bottle from the pile.

If your friends are more into food than booze, consider a food tour. Pick a day leading up to Galentine's Day and go food hopping around local spots. Explore popular menu picks at different restaurants or bars. It wouldn't hurt to search for any food trucks or pop-ups in your area to add to the list.

Ahead of G-Day, write your friends' names on heart-shaped cards. Have each friend pick a name out of a hat and set a budget for buying presents. Schedule a day to meet up (preferably Galentine's Day) and reveal the secret Galentine's.

This one is easy to do. You can pick a fun brunch spot to meet up or potluck at someone's place. You can even follow the Galentine's Day theme with decorations or red and pink or foods that are heart-shaped.

Get your squad together for a chill night of binge-watching your top romantic movies. From Someone Great to Love Actually, there are tons of options to keep the vibes going. You could even turn it into a laid-back sleepover with snacks, games, and more movies.