According to this source, in ancient Irani culture women did not do any hair removal until they were married. I am assuming that leg shaving and other now-common hygiene practices were not commonplace, so this would make sense. Also, I know that Ali's grandmother was married when she was 13 or something... so a younger age at marriage would be another factor. But still... shaving the eyebrows? Fascinating.
Body hair removal was a rite of passage and signaled passing from girlhood to womanhood. Only married women removed their body hair and the first one before marriage ceremony was a major ritual. These all-female events could include many friends, relatives, neighbors and servants. A whole day was spent in the baths with food, cold drinks tea and even musicians and dancers. Young men were clean-shaven while elderly and the more religious preferred a beard.
With the bride to be, all body hair was removed and once the eyebrows were plucked the girl had officially entered the kingdom of womanhood. In recent years with more traditional Iranian families moving to the West removing body hair has become an issue amongst parents and daughters. As far as the young girls are concerned these are common beauty and hygiene practices, while for their parents the act represents a major change and indicates becoming a woman without being married.
[ more from the same source ]
