Short answer
No. Removing pubic and armpit hair is Sunnah for men and women, at least every 40 days. Men may also remove chest, back, arm or leg hair; the Hanafi texts say shaving the chest and back goes against good manners but is not a sin. Laser is allowed, but nobody else may see or treat your awrah for it.
Shaving the pubic hair and removing the armpit hair are sunnah, and leaving them beyond 40 days is makruh. For men, removing hair from the chest and back is against adab (good manners) but permitted; removing hair from the arms and legs is permitted. The beard may not be removed.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ listed shaving the pubic hair and plucking the armpits among the five practices of the fitrah (natural way). Anas said the Companions were given a limit of 40 nights for these, along with nails and the moustache. So these two are a regular Sunnah, ideally weekly, and they should never be left more than 40 days. The four schools agree.
How. For pubic hair, men usually shave. For the armpits, plucking is the Sunnah, but shaving, waxing, creams and laser are all allowed. Women may use any method.
Other body hair for men. Trimming or removing hair on the arms, legs, chest or back is allowed. The Hanafi texts note that shaving the chest and back is not good manners, so do it for a reason such as hygiene, sport or a medical need, not to look like a woman. The beard is a separate matter and must stay: see shaving the beard.
Laser and waxing at a clinic. The method is fine. The problem is exposure. A man's awrah is from the navel to the knees, and a woman's awrah in front of other women is the same, so no technician may see or treat the pubic area. Do that area yourself with a home device or cream. Underarms, arms and lower legs may be done by a technician of the same sex. See the awrah guide.
Bury or dispose of removed hair respectfully, and see the Sunnah way of cutting nails for the rest of the fitrah.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 5891
Sahih... الفطرة خمس الختان والاستحداد وقص الشارب وتقليم الأظفار ونتف الآباط ...
"Five things are part of the fitrah: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpits."
Pubic and armpit hair removal are part of the natural way.
Sahih Muslim 258
Sahih... وقت لنا في قص الشارب وتقليم الأظفار ونتف الإبط وحلق العانة ...
"We were given a time limit for trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, plucking the armpits and shaving the pubic hair: not to leave them more than forty nights."
Sets the 40-day limit.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on circumcision, hair and nails. Removing pubic and armpit hair, the 40-day limit, and shaving the chest and back.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on the siwak and the practices of the fitrah. The practices of the fitrah in the Shafi'i school.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.