Should You Manscape? Your Guide to Manscaping

Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash

It used to be that among men, having body hair was next to being masculine. Nothing symbolizes male virility as much as a lush thicket of chest hair with a trail to boot.

In the meantime, body hair removal was relegated to something women would do. The female market in the 1900s¹ was one of the reasons why razors and feminine shaving began to be commonplace. Fashion pressured women to shave off their body hair to become smoother and, therefore, more attractive to men.

But now that we are in the 21st century, grooming attitudes have shifted. More and more men are embracing the idea of shaving, not only facial hair but all over the body. Several marketing surveys have, in fact, pointed out that about 57%² of the male millennial segment now actually considers body hair removal as part of regular grooming. And in America, Hispanic guys are more likely to remove body hair than the rest of the male demographic.

So popular is this routine that it has even acquired its own: manscaping.

• What is Manscaping?
• Pros and Cons of Manscaping
• Different Styles of Manscaping
• How to Manscape

What is Manscaping?

Manscaping is trimming or removing body hair, like chest hair, to enhance appearance and highlight features.
Photo by serezniy on Depositphotos

Manscaping is removing a man’s body hair primarily for cosmetic or aesthetic purposes. It’s not just about looking fresh and smooth but also about trimming excess body hair to highlight the right body parts on the appropriate occasions. One doesn’t work out at the gym to develop a fine pair of pecs only to have them covered by dense hair when gallivanting at the beach.

The earliest mention of manscaping dates back to 2006. The Dollar Shave Club notes³ that this was primarily because of Craig’s popularity as James Bond in Casino Royale. During that beach scene that showed him in hairless glory, millions of guys began thinking it looked manly and sexy to have no body hair.

However, it was the gay community that originally invented the term. According to The Body Reader: Essential Social and Cultural Readings⁴, the term “manscaping” was originally coined by the hosts of the early 2000s television show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy⁵. A simple portmanteau of “man” and “landscaping,” manscaping was defined at the time as “waxing, shaving, lasering, or simply shaping any hairy region of the male body below the head.”

Pros and Cons of Manscaping

Despite the common perception that manscaping is just a fad hoisted about by the proponents of the metrosexual male lifestyle, there’s actually a good reason for doing it. It’s a great way to maintain good body hygiene. During summer, removing your body hair can help you be less sweaty.

It can also help your sexual health. Manscaped men have a decreased risk of catching some types of STDs, like pubic lice infestation, when you shave the pubic hair off.

On the con side, it can be tedious to manscape, especially if one grows hair faster than most guys. One will have to spend more time shaving it off on a regular basis. So, if you are wondering, "How often should I manscape down there?" The answer truly depends on how fast hair grows down there.

There is also a real risk of injuring oneself. Especially if one decides to manscape his pubes. The skin around that area is thin and easily bleeds. That’s why one must be very careful when shaving the nether regions.

And then there’s your sex life. While there isn’t really a definite consensus on whether women generally like their men shaved below, manscaping can still impact your performance in bed. They say that one of the functions of pubic hair is to trap pheromones⁶, which make you attractive to your partner. Shaving it all off then will lessen your sex appeal. To that, we say there’s more to sexual performance than pheromones, though.

Different Styles of Manscaping

Like beard grooming, manscaping need not be all about shaving it all off. It can range from simple trimming of wild hairs to full-on shaving. One can always pick the right level to suit one’s styling objective.

Along with how much hair you plan to keep, it’s also essential to consider the placement and shape of the body hair. Some men prefer a hairy chest and shaved abs, while some prefer a smooth chest and treasure trail.

When it comes to shaving pubes, there are also various styles as well. One can go all-natural or neatly trimmed. We’ve come across an excellent discussion on the best manscape designs⁷. Whatever works for you, we’re here for it.

How to Manscape

There are many ways how to manscape yourself. You can have it done professionally at a waxing salon or a laser hair removal clinic. You can also go to the drugstore and buy a chemical hair removal cream. All of these, however, will cost you.

If you don’t want to overdo the spending, you can always decide to manscape yourself. It’s the most common way since most men are still embarrassed at seeking professional manscaping services. That being said, you have to be very careful because the risk that you might injure yourself—especially down there—is high if you do it the wrong way.

So here are our tips on how to manscape safely and properly.

• Tip 1: Wash Your Body Hair and Pubes Before Shaving
  
  Warm moisture softens the hair, making shaving easy. Even then, shave lightly and slowly, working your way throughout the area in small stages.
  
  
• Tip 2: Always Shave Along the Grain
  
  Shave in the direction that your hair grows to minimize irritation and the risk of ingrown hairs. Pull your skin taut to get all of the hair. Always remember that the skin in the groin area is thin and can easily get cut, so never attempt to shave against the grain.
  
  
• Tip 3: Use Natural Shaving Soaps, Creams, and Gels
  
  Don’t use creams, gels, or soaps with synthetic ingredients because they can cause irritation. Use organic products. To test if the shaving cream is good for your skin, apply a small amount of it to a part of your skin and wait for a reddening or itching reaction in five minutes or less. This shows that you’re allergic to the cream.
  
  
• Tip 4: Shave Carefully
  
  Shave slowly in incremental stages. Let the weight of the razor guide your stroke. If you think shaving the facial hair takes time, try shaving your nether regions. If you’re not careful, you can injure yourself. The scrotal sac is easily cut and doesn’t stop bleeding easily.
  
  
• Tip 5: Use a Safety Razor
  
  Safety razors have a guard that prevents the blade from cutting too deeply into the skin layer. Unlike multi-blades, a single blade won’t tug at the hair strands while shaving. This gives you a smoother and more comfortable shaving experience—it's the closest you can get to a straight razor shave.
  
  
• Tip 6: Always Disinfect Your Safety Razor Before Shaving
  
  This is a non-negotiable tip. A nick caused by an unsanitary safety razor can easily cause a blood infection. The risks become higher, especially when shaving in the groin area, where the skin is delicate.
  
  A safety razor must always be cleaned and disinfected with alcohol before use.
  
  
• Tip 7: Get a Naked Armor Safety Razor
  
  Here at Naked Armor, we manufacture world-class safety razors that put the luxury in shaving.
  
  For example, our Tor Safety Razor is crafted from zinc-aluminum alloy to ensure optimal balance and durability. Unlike typical razors with cold metal handles, this safety razor features a warm, luxurious handle made from natural mahogany wood, enhancing both comfort and aesthetics.
  
  
  This safety razor comes in a complete shaving kit to get you started. It includes an all-natural shaving soap, a badger-friendly shaving brush, and a razor stand, all wrapped up in an elegant box. Aside from a straight razor, a safety razor is a disposable razor alternative that can give you the baby-butt smooth shave for your manscaping needs.
  
  
  So, if you want a safety razor that will help you manscape safely while giving you a luxurious shaving experience, add our safety razor to your cart now and experience the Naked Armor Safety Razor.

Other Essential Naked Armor Reads

What She Really Thinks About Men’s Hairy Butts—We Asked Her!
Here’s How to Shave Your Legs, Men!
Should Men Shave Their Armpits?

References

1. Lubitz, R. (2016, August 13). The deeply sexist history of women removing their body hair. MIC. https://www.mic.com/impact/women-removing-their-body-hair-is-a-deeply-sexist-tradition-that-wont-end-16470015
2. Wegrzyn, K. (2014, July 23). Study: Majority of Millennial Males Manscape. Skin Inc. https://www.skininc.com/treatment/hair-removal/news/21891253/study-majority-of-millennial-males-manscape
3. What Does "Manscaping" Really Mean? Where Did the Word Come From? (2023, October 31). Dollar Shave Club. https://us.dollarshaveclub.com/blogs/club-chronicles/manscaping-really-mean-word-come
4. Moore, L. J., & Kosut, M. (2010). The Body Reader: Essential Social and Cultural Readings. NYU Press. https://books.google.com.ph/books/about/The_Body_Reader.html?id=cnD41FhWZzcC&redir_esc=y
5. Queer Eye. (n.d). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358332/
6. Kubota, T. (2022, September 16). 10 Sexual Hygiene Tips for Better Sex. Men's Journal. https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/10-sexual-hygiene-tips-for-better-sex-20150206
7. Jewell, T. (2023, April 17). The Manscaping Guide to Healthy, Well-Groomed Pubic Hair. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/manscaping-pubic-hair-tips#styles