Q&A: Laser Hair Removal
Laser Hair Removal
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is it permitted for a man nowadays to remove hair with laser treatment on his whole body? Including the armpits and pubic hair?
If what is considered cross-dressing changes according to culture, do we need to worry that the culture will change and hair removal will go back to being something only women do, and then there will be nothing to do because laser treatment is permanent.
Answer
There is no need to worry about the future. One should act according to the current circumstances. At most, you would be considered compelled. I do not know how common this is among men, but if it is accepted, then there is certainly room to permit it.
Discussion on Answer
That sounds reasonable. I am not familiar with the accepted social norms. If a reasonable person does it, then it seems that it is fine.
I cannot really know what counts as "accepted," but does the very fact that they advertise it specifically to men mean that it is no longer considered something for women?