Body hair grooming for guys: what's common and how to do it safely
Plenty of men groom some body hair and plenty leave it alone. In a 2014 Mintel survey in the UK, 30% of men had removed no body hair in the past year, and chest, underarms and back were the most common torso areas men did. If you want to change it, a trimmer with a guard is a common starting point (that part is advice), and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists the pros and risks of each removal method.
This is general grooming information from health bodies and surveys, not medical advice. It leaves out the genital area. The AAD has a separate page on avoiding injuries there.
What's common
The numbers depend on country, year and who was asked, so treat them as snapshots.
- Mintel, UK, 2014. Over the previous 12 months, men reported removing hair from their chest (13%), underarms (12%), back (9%), arms (5%), legs (4%) and feet (2%). The release also lists head, bottom, pubic region and eyebrows, which this post leaves out. 30% of men had removed no body hair. The press release doesn't give the sample size. Mintel is a market research firm, so this is commercial research.
- Pressure to groom. In the same survey, 19% of men felt pressure to remove or groom torso hair, 18% underarm hair and 13% leg hair. Among men aged 16 to 24, 58% felt pressure to remove or groom body hair, against 22% of men over 65.
- Methods. Among all British adults who removed hair, 80% wet shaved, 51% plucked and 45% trimmed by hand. Those figures cover men and women together.
What the surveys don't say is what any particular person finds attractive. Preferences vary widely, and no survey of this kind settles it. Groom because you like how it feels, or don't, and don't treat either as a requirement.
The main options
Here's what the AAD says about each method on its page about removing unwanted hair.
| Method | What the AAD says in favor | What it says to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Shaving | Works on any body area, easy to learn, painless unless you cut yourself | Results are short-lived. Frequent shaving can irritate skin, and cuts, razor burn and ingrown hairs can occur |
| Waxing | Results can last a few weeks or longer | Takes practice and can hurt. Skin may be red and irritated afterward. Hot wax can burn |
| Depilatory creams | Quick and easy at home, results often last longer than shaving | Can irritate skin, including after months or years of use. Patch test first |
| Laser | After 6 or more treatments it's permanent, except on a woman's face | Inexperienced operators can cause burns, blisters, infection or dark spots. It won't work on blonde, white, gray or red hair |
| Electrolysis | Can permanently remove hair of any color | Several sessions. Unsterile probes can cause infections. Inexperienced use can cause scarring |
That AAD page doesn't cover trimming as a method. Trimming with clippers and a guard leaves hair at a set length instead of cutting it at the skin, which is why many people start there. That is advice, not an AAD statement.
Shaving body hair
The face rules carry over, and the AAD's shaving tips apply to the body too. Wet the skin and hair first, use shaving cream or gel, and shave in the direction the hair grows. Rinse the razor after each stroke, and replace the blade or throw away a disposable razor after about 5 to 7 shaves. Let the razor dry fully between uses, away from the shower and wet sinks. The shaving guide has the full steps.
The AAD says coarse, curly hair is more prone to curling back into the skin and causing razor bumps. The NHS adds that the best prevention for ingrown hairs is not shaving, and that if you do, you should use a sharp razor and leave at least 1 mm of stubble.
Trimming
Trimming is cutting hair to a length rather than shaving it off. A general approach, offered as advice:
- Use clean clippers with a guard. Start with a longer guard and go shorter only if you want to.
- Work on dry skin and dry hair, unless the tool's instructions say otherwise.
- Go slowly over bony areas like the ribs and shoulders, and don't press hard.
- Clean the blades after each use, per the instructions for your tool.
- Moisturize afterward if the skin feels dry.
Waxing and creams: the AAD's cautions
On its waxing guide, the AAD says:
- Don't wax sunburned or very sensitive skin.
- Don't wax if you've taken isotretinoin in the past six months. The hair removal page adds that waxing isn't recommended with antibiotics or tretinoin, which thin the skin and can cause tears.
- Test the wax's temperature on the inside of your wrist, and apply it in small sections.
- Afterward, use cold packs for pain, avoid hot baths and showers, wear loose clothing and use an oil-free or non-comedogenic moisturizer.
- See a board-certified dermatologist if redness or swelling lasts more than two days.
For depilatory creams, the AAD says to patch test: apply a small amount, rinse at the time stated or at the first burning or stinging, and wait 24 hours before using it on that area. Don't use it if you get a reaction.
Laser and electrolysis
For these, the AAD's advice is about who does it. A board-certified dermatologist can tell you if you're a good candidate for laser, and the operator should have experience treating your skin tone. It says people of all skin tones can safely have laser. For electrolysis, it says to have a board-certified dermatologist or board-certified electrologist do it.
When to see a doctor
- Hair removal causes a skin problem, such as lasting redness, swelling, blisters or what looks like an infection. The AAD says to see a board-certified dermatologist if redness or swelling after waxing lasts more than two days.
- You suddenly have much more unwanted hair than usual. The AAD says to see a board-certified dermatologist in that case.
- An ingrown hair or the skin around it is very painful, hot or swollen, or you have a high temperature or feel very unwell. The NHS says to see a GP.
What to do next
- Decide whether you want to change anything at all. If you're unsure, do nothing for a month. Nothing here is urgent.
- If you want a neater look, start with clippers and a longer guard on one area, and wait a few days before going shorter.
- If you shave, run through the face routine: wet skin, cream, with the grain, a fresh blade every 5 to 7 shaves.
- If you want to try waxing or a cream, patch test first on a small area and wait 24 hours.
- For laser or electrolysis, book a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist and ask about your hair color and skin tone.
- Treat it as one item among many. The grooming checklist covers haircut, nails and the rest, and skincare for guys covers what to put on your skin.
Sources
- Mintel: The only way is smooth, half of Britain's men feel the pressure to remove or groom their body hair (press release, 8 October 2014; sample size not stated on the page)
- American Academy of Dermatology: 6 ways to remove unwanted hair (last updated 9/7/23 per the page)
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair removal, how to wax
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair removal, how to shave (the page shows no date)
- American Academy of Dermatology: Razor bumps
- American Academy of Dermatology: Skin care tips for men
- NHS: Ingrown hairs