The Hairy Ape – Shaving for Men and Body Grooming options
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Twenty years ago images of the Tom Selleck in an open neck shirt, or Burt Reynolds revealing a manly hairy chest was all the rage. Men were men, and the idea of eau du toilette, let alone moisturising was just not done. Shaving for Men was just about the face, and that was it. But now men taking care of themselves and their appearance is just a fact of life and a multi-billion dollar business. Body grooming is a big part of this, and manscaping is as acceptable as sharing a beer. It has moved on from the metro-sexual man, to just being what men do.
Take a look at male cover models, and images screaming down at you from bill boards. Plenty of six packs and big arms, but not a body hair in site.
So faced with these images of hairless Adonis looking back at us what should the hirsute man do? Manscaping is ultimately down to personal choice, even if that is influenced by the request of a partner. Even if you like a bit of hair on your body, it is still worth trimming and keeping the garden tidy. Generally the fashion at the moment, especially in women’s top ten lists of likes and dislikes in a man, the smooth, hairless back and chest is the essential look. If people are making jokes about your ape like appearance, then maybe it is time to man up, and explore the possibilities of manscaping.
What are the options available when it comes to controlling the body hair. There are three main options you can go for when it comes to tackling the thorny/furry issue of your man-hair. Shaving for Men, Wax for Men, Laser Treatment.
Wax for men is less permanent than laser treatment, and can result in a real smooth finish, although you’ll have to keep on top of it every 8-12 weeks, depending on hair growth. Waxing does hurt, but no more than a quick slap on sunburn, and the results are quick. There are lots of places that specialise in waxing for men – and it is worth checking these places out as they will be used to removing men’s hair, which tends to be thicker and stronger than ladies body hair. The more experienced the wax therapist, the less the pain and quicker the job.
PS – more and more companies offer special body groomers, such as these from the Grooming Lounge:
Mangroomer Private Body Shaver
The Mangroomer – Do-It-Yourself electric back hair shaver
