If you believe it’s just cyclists, swimmers and Instagram influencers who take a shaver to their body fuzz, think again. When it comes to hair below the neckline, research conducted by VSforMen found that 70% of Australian Millennials and Gen X women prefer guys to trim their body hair rather than let it run wild or shave it all off.
RELATED: Braun’s Best Shaver Yet Will Give You a Close, Precise Shave Every Time
Interesting, right? However, before you grab the clippers, make sure you know what you’re doing. Let’s not beat around the bush: what works for one area of the body might not cut it elsewhere.
Ready? Start here:
Chest Hair
Already imagining Steve Carell getting his chest mat ripped off in The 40-Year-Old Virgin? Same. But trust us: it doesn’t have to be that excruciating. “The best way to manage chest hair would be to stay on top of it by trimming monthly – or more frequently, depending on how hairy you are. That way it becomes less of an ordeal,” says Jules Tognini, VSforMen grooming expert. In terms of tools, Tognini has this advice: “For manscaping, you need something versatile and easy to use.”
The Braun Multi Grooming Kit 7-in-1 Face and Body Trimming will safely and accurately maintain all areas of your body.
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Your Jewels
Do not put a razor near your junk. Repeat: do not put a razor near your junk. For short and curlies, you need a body trimmer or depilatory cream. With a body trimmer you can trim it all to a shorter, more uniform length. “Keep the length on the shorter side as it will make you look bigger,” says Tognini, a touch presumptuously, perhaps.
RELATED: 4 Shaving Techniques Every Man Should Know
There aren’t a lot of good reasons for shaving your marbles, but if you’re going to do it, do it right. A body trimmer is the best tool for the job – just be sure to pull the skin taut with each pass and never put the trimmer directly on your skin. “Always keep the guard on the tool as there could be blood and tears,” Try the Philips Series 1000 Body Groomer.
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The Back
There are some areas of hair worth keeping around. A back-and-shoulder rug is not one of them. “[Getting rid of back hair] on a weekly basis will make the job less of 3 a chore.” Use a body trimmer for this area, too, as it’s susceptible to breakouts. If you lack the flexibility of a yogi, ask your partner or roomie to lend a hand. The BakBlade 2.0 can be held in multiple positions to help you reach anywhere on your back. (R699, makro.co.za).
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Arms and Legs
The skin on your arms and legs is a lot less irritable, so you can opt either for a body groomer if you simply want to trim it down, or a depilatory cream, wax or razor. “Trim legs and arms if they are massively hairy, but otherwise there’s nothing wrong with a bit of hair – it’s natural for men to have hair, especially on the arms and legs,” says Tongini.
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The Four Commandments Of Manscaping
- Always go against the grain
- To avoid ingrown hairs, moisturise the hair beforehand.
- Make sure you blend the line between body parts (ie. shoulders into arms).
- Don’t go too short. It can get prickly.
