# Hairy palms? Yes, it's what you think...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 6, 2000, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610 "2000-06-06T23:51:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610/1 "2000-06-06T23:51:42Z")

</div>

How did the myth about masterbating giving you hairy palms begin?

Now…where’s my razor…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610/2 "2000-06-07T21:22:57Z")

</div>

It was actually Harold Palms, not Harry Palms… got distorted over the years.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610/3 "2000-06-07T23:48:44Z")

</div>

Based on fact, I imagine.  
When is the pubic hair most likely to shed ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2000, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610/4 "2000-06-08T00:10:13Z")

</div>

My guess is it was NOT based on fact, but something to scare little boys (and girls, I guess) from the sinful act.

The myth-maker(s) picked a sympton that would be easily seen by the children’s peers, so they would fear persecution. “Frankie has hairy palms! We know what HE does!”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigJoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@BigJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigJoe)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2000, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610/5 "2000-06-08T00:37:17Z")

</div>

Must chime in with Revtim. Look at all of our ape like cousins, they’ve got hair everywhere but palms and the sole of the feet.

(struggling hard not to mention baboon heinies)

Hey! That would make a great sig line, don’t ya think?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2000, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610/6 "2000-06-08T01:52:59Z")

</div>

Yep, Father Murphy started it. (The myth, that is. :D)  
Peace,  
mangeorge

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairy-palms-yes-its-what-you-think/21610/7 "2000-06-08T01:57:40Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> Based on fact, I imagine.  
> When is the pubic hair most likely to shed ?  
> \*\*

Silly ! Every 28 days, when the Lycanthropy sets in 😃

Cartooniverse