diff --git a/janitor/functions.py b/janitor/functions.py
index 2fe77556b..6d4789dcc 100644
--- a/janitor/functions.py
+++ b/janitor/functions.py
@@ -8,7 +8,38 @@
 import re
 
 
-def clean_names(df):
+def _strip_underscores(df, strip_underscores=None):
+    """
+    Strip underscores from the beginning, end or both of the
+    of the DataFrames column names.
+
+    .. code-block:: python
+
+        df = _strip_underscores(df, strip_underscores='left')
+
+    :param df: The pandas DataFrame object.
+    :param strip_underscores: (optional) Removes the outer underscores from all
+        column names. Default None keeps outer underscores. Values can be
+        either 'left', 'right' or 'both' or the respective shorthand 'l', 'r'
+        and True.
+    :returns: A pandas DataFrame.
+    """
+    underscore_options = [None, 'left', 'right', 'both', 'l', 'r', True]
+    if strip_underscores not in underscore_options:
+        raise JanitorError(
+            """strip_underscores must be one of: %s""" % underscore_options
+            )
+
+    if strip_underscores in ['left', 'l']:
+        df = df.rename(columns=lambda x: x.lstrip('_'))
+    elif strip_underscores in ['right', 'r']:
+        df = df.rename(columns=lambda x: x.rstrip('_'))
+    elif strip_underscores == 'both' or strip_underscores is True:
+        df = df.rename(columns=lambda x: x.strip('_'))
+    return df
+
+
+def clean_names(df, strip_underscores=None):
     """
     Clean column names.
 
@@ -29,6 +60,10 @@ def clean_names(df):
         df = jn.DataFrame(df).clean_names()
 
     :param df: The pandas DataFrame object.
+    :param strip_underscores: (optional) Removes the outer underscores from all
+        column names. Default None keeps outer underscores. Values can be
+        either 'left', 'right' or 'both' or the respective shorthand 'l', 'r'
+        and True.
     :returns: A pandas DataFrame.
     """
     df = df.rename(
@@ -47,6 +82,7 @@ def clean_names(df):
     )
 
     df = df.rename(columns=lambda x: re.sub('_+', '_', x))
+    df = _strip_underscores(df, strip_underscores)
     return df
 
 
@@ -190,7 +226,7 @@ def get_features_targets(df, target_columns, feature_columns=None):
         if isinstance(target_columns, str):
             xcols = [c for c in df.columns if target_columns != c]
         elif (isinstance(target_columns, list)
-                or isinstance(target_columns, tuple)):
+              or isinstance(target_columns, tuple)):
             xcols = [c for c in df.columns if c not in target_columns]
         X = df[xcols]
     return X, Y
diff --git a/tests/test_functions.py b/tests/test_functions.py
index 6af5b2498..7242ceab8 100644
--- a/tests/test_functions.py
+++ b/tests/test_functions.py
@@ -159,3 +159,91 @@ def test_multiindex_clean_names_pipe(multiindex_dataframe):
 
     expected_columns = pd.MultiIndex(levels=levels, labels=labels)
     assert set(df.columns) == set(expected_columns)
+
+
+def test_clean_names_strip_underscores_both(multiindex_dataframe):
+    df = multiindex_dataframe.rename(columns=lambda x: '_' + x)
+    df = clean_names(multiindex_dataframe, strip_underscores='both')
+
+    levels = [
+        ['a', 'bell_chart', 'decorated_elephant'],
+        ['b', 'normal_distribution', 'r_i_p_rhino']
+    ]
+
+    labels = [[1, 0, 2], [1, 0, 2]]
+
+    expected_columns = pd.MultiIndex(levels=levels, labels=labels)
+    assert set(df.columns) == set(expected_columns)
+
+
+def test_clean_names_strip_underscores_true(multiindex_dataframe):
+    df = multiindex_dataframe.rename(columns=lambda x: '_' + x)
+    df = clean_names(multiindex_dataframe, strip_underscores=True)
+
+    levels = [
+        ['a', 'bell_chart', 'decorated_elephant'],
+        ['b', 'normal_distribution', 'r_i_p_rhino']
+    ]
+
+    labels = [[1, 0, 2], [1, 0, 2]]
+
+    expected_columns = pd.MultiIndex(levels=levels, labels=labels)
+    assert set(df.columns) == set(expected_columns)
+
+
+def test_clean_names_strip_underscores_right(multiindex_dataframe):
+    df = clean_names(multiindex_dataframe, strip_underscores='right')
+
+    levels = [
+        ['a', 'bell_chart', 'decorated_elephant'],
+        ['b', 'normal_distribution', 'r_i_p_rhino']
+    ]
+
+    labels = [[1, 0, 2], [1, 0, 2]]
+
+    expected_columns = pd.MultiIndex(levels=levels, labels=labels)
+    assert set(df.columns) == set(expected_columns)
+
+
+def test_clean_names_strip_underscores_r(multiindex_dataframe):
+    df = clean_names(multiindex_dataframe, strip_underscores='r')
+
+    levels = [
+        ['a', 'bell_chart', 'decorated_elephant'],
+        ['b', 'normal_distribution', 'r_i_p_rhino']
+    ]
+
+    labels = [[1, 0, 2], [1, 0, 2]]
+
+    expected_columns = pd.MultiIndex(levels=levels, labels=labels)
+    assert set(df.columns) == set(expected_columns)
+
+
+def test_clean_names_strip_underscores_left(multiindex_dataframe):
+    df = multiindex_dataframe.rename(columns=lambda x: '_' + x)
+    df = clean_names(multiindex_dataframe, strip_underscores='left')
+
+    levels = [
+        ['a', 'bell_chart', 'decorated_elephant'],
+        ['b', 'normal_distribution', 'r_i_p_rhino_']
+    ]
+
+    labels = [[1, 0, 2], [1, 0, 2]]
+
+    expected_columns = pd.MultiIndex(levels=levels, labels=labels)
+    assert set(df.columns) == set(expected_columns)
+
+
+def test_clean_names_strip_underscores_l(multiindex_dataframe):
+    df = multiindex_dataframe.rename(columns=lambda x: '_' + x)
+    df = clean_names(multiindex_dataframe, strip_underscores='l')
+
+    levels = [
+        ['a', 'bell_chart', 'decorated_elephant'],
+        ['b', 'normal_distribution', 'r_i_p_rhino_']
+    ]
+
+    labels = [[1, 0, 2], [1, 0, 2]]
+
+    expected_columns = pd.MultiIndex(levels=levels, labels=labels)
+    assert set(df.columns) == set(expected_columns)