How to: Manscape

To manscape or not: that is becoming the prime question in men’s grooming. You’ve spent the winter ensconced in your pelt of body hair, too lethargic from turkey and stuffing to attend to the rampant follicles that span your body, and secretly (or not), beginning to enjoy curling your fingers through your luxurious chest locks. However, spring is upon us, and that means the shame of short-sleeved shirts, V-neck crews and, soon enough, swim trunks. Once squirrelled away behind closed doors, manscaping is experiencing a surge in popularity. What is it exactly, you may ask? Simply put, it’s an umbrella term for shaving, waxing or otherwise stripping away extraneous hair—from chest to back to the tender nether regions.

For quite a long time, women have claimed to prefer a smooth, so mug, and that preference has more recently extended beyond the neck to the whole body. The trend among spas offering man-centric services aimed at hair removal and body exfoliation, however, suggests that men are beginning to take initiative for themselves. As added motivation, the summer months are the best time to attempt manscaping, as less hair will keep you cooler and control odour.

No matter what your reasons are for wanting to go hairless—be it curiosity or the not-so-subtle hints of a lady—there are several options available:

• The most private and inexpensive of these is good ol’ fashioned shaving, and what’s true of your face is doubly true of your chest. Soak yourself in warm water for a few minutes, use a moisturizing shaving cream and, depending on the length of the hair, consider trimming before you put blade to skin.
• Those willing to grit their teeth and bare it (all) can visit an aesthetician or spa for waxing or sugaring. These professionals are well versed in removing hair from the chest, back, arms, legs and even removing the “uni” from your “brow.” Although painful, it results in so softer and thinner hair growth over time and lasts longer than shaving.
• For those ready to part ways permanently with unwanted hair, choose electrolysis or laser hair removal. Both procedures destroy hair at the root with the help of electric needle or a laser beam. Each requires several sessions, and not everyone is a candidate, especially darker-skinned men who might experience de-pigmentation at the site of removal.
• Trimming the shrubs to make the tree look bigger – it’s true of land and manscaping alike. We won’t make you blush, but we will advise that you use an electric groomer and exercise extreme caution. Better yet, practice regular trimming rather than full-on shaving, and above all don’t get trigger-happy with your weed-whacker.
• Keep those ear and nose hairs under control. The best tool for this is a compact electric trimmer, and as with other sensitive regions, go slowly and pull the skin taut to avoid nicks.
• A cautionary note: Manscaping ultimately comes down to questions of personal preference and degree. Unless you’re a) frequently mistaken for a Sasquatch and b) feel legitimately shamed by it, you should never feel pressured into it. And be forewarned: any form of hair removal takes commitment. It’ll take a few weeks for your luxurious pelt to sprout back, and there’ll be some indignant moments of stubble, scruff and chaffing. AG