The Why Women Grow podcast is produced by Holly Fisher, and theme music is by Maria Chiara Argiro. Thank you to Canongate and Uprooting, by Marchelle Farrell, for supporting this episode. We are grateful to our hosts at Charleston House and to Hollie Fernandes for her beautiful photographs of Jamaica Kincaid taken there. Women and facial hair are not exactly a new thing. In fact, there have been many women throughout time who have sported facial hair. It is not just limited to those in the male-dominated society. But it seems like in these times, more and more women are growing their facial hair for various reasons. In contrast, women were more likely to cite that they preferred trimmed or partially shaved or waxed pubic hair. Personal preference

A myriad of reasons tenderly touched upon through different people in this book, as too, the growing that take places within , not just in a garden or outdoor space, but within oneself, one's heart as one does. Butler SM, et al. (2015). Pubic hair preferences, reasons for removal, and associated genital symptoms: Comparisons between men and women. There are a lot of reasons why people get rid of their pubic hair. Some of the most common ones are discussed below. Social norms Keep skin moist and lathered. If you’re shaving, your skin should be wet. Use soap suds or shaving gel to keep the area lubricated.At her best Vincent captures a garden in its mid-October glory: “Masses of purple asters, the last of the scabious, nigella and salvias; one brave, bright purple foxglove clinging on five months after its siblings bloomed.” Elsewhere her writing veers into repetition. Few interviews deviate from generalisation into toothsome anecdote, and a meeting with Cosey Fanni Tutti of 1970s band Throbbing Gristle skitters by in a quote-free paragraph.

Hair removal can also irritate your skin, leading to skin infections such as cellulitis and folliculitis. Why women grow' indeed! The reasons, what led them to, their pains, their hopes, their instant nurturing soul, their need to express to grow, to share, to see the fruits of their inner voice and experiences, their thoughts their hurt ... Using steroids is the leading artificial cause of hirsutism, especially when it’s being used in huge quantities for recreational purposes. You may also experience beard growth while using steroids medically, according to a doctor’s prescription, but that’s a bit rarer than its recreational use.I have always learned about plants through their stories: how they came here, what they represent, what silent powers they hold and who they mean something to. I have made my career as a storyteller: as a journalist, I have told stories daily for more than a decade. Now, I wanted to hear – perhaps even tell – these women’s stories. I wanted to learn more about what had driven these women to garden, perhaps to better understand my own need for the soil, perhaps to better understand what it was to be a woman. For some, removing their pubic hair is simply a matter of personal preference. People who prefer to remove their pubic hair often cite comfort, routine, and sexual confidence as motivating factors. Increased sensation Some women have tried to stop the fluff from growing on their chin and around their mouth area by using a razor blade. This is not always effective, though, because it is difficult for women to reach these areas with a razor blade and shave them properly. Another reason as to why there has been an increase in female facial hair growth is because of its portrayal in pop culture lately. Many celebrities like Miley Cyrus have made headlines for sporting full beards on red carpets, which has helped girls realize that they too can grow a beard if they want to. Some medications such as antidepressants or certain types of cancer treatments can temporarily cause facial hair growth as well. Excess levels of thyroid hormones or over-active pituitary gland may also cause unwanted side effects like excess facial hair, acne, and other issues with how your body looks and feels. Medications for certain types of cancer and their effects on the body

Heredity is one of the most common factors that contribute to beard growth in women. So if you have beards as a lady, there’s a high chance that your mother, grandmother, or aunt has had a similar experience. There are exceptions, but generally, hirsutism is a heritable trait. 2. Corticosteroid medications (steroids) Wash yourself beforehand. Cleaning your skin before you get to trimming or shaving will help prevent the transmission of bacteria. So she turns to women all around the country...women with different stories, all separated by time, space, upbringing and personal history, but all connected by two similarities: their awareness of their own womanhood and the love of their gardens and green spaces. I have a birth defect (that is similar to Polycystic Ovary but not the same) which causes my adrenal glands and my ovaries to pump out testosterone like mad. I produce 10 times more testosterone than a normal woman, and 3 times more than a normal man. Since I was in my 20s I’ve grown a full beard and mustache and by full I mean I could double for ZZ Top if I don’t watch out! My endocrinologist is one of the best in the country and he says if my birth defect had been caught sooner we’d have been able to get it under control. As it is I don’t grow hair on my legs, and never have, I can’t have children as I don’t ovulate because of my birth defect, I’m bald on top of my head and grow a beard. There are many reasons why women grow facial hair. Some men and women who have a hormonal imbalance may begin to grow it at various points during their menstrual cycles, which can cause a temporary growth of facial hair. Some women will also grow facial hair in response to natural birth control methods like the pill or other forms of hormonal contraception, which are not only effective but have fewer side effects than traditional methods.These rich and intimate conversations offer new perspectives on our interactions with nature' - The FT Visit a dermatologist who specializes in treating facial Other underlying medical conditions that cause a woman to grow facial hair. As with boils, abscesses tend to develop from irritation caused by certain hair removal methods, such as shaving or waxing. Bonus episode: Writer and novelist Jamaica Kincaid redefined garden writing with books such as My Garden (Book) and Among Flowers, as well as changing perspectives on the post-colonial experience through titles such as A Small Place and Lucy. We meet the Antiguan-American author in the halls of Charleston House, Sussex, where Bloomsbury Group artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant made art, a home, and a life-long relationship. In a quiet moment away from Charleston’s Festival of the Garden, Jamaica tells us about how gardening sits alongside her writing practice, how she converses with her plants and what they teach her about mortality.