The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Body hair and you. And me. Us, if you will.
Sporked
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, this question is about body hair and it's removal, maintenance, and how people go about it and how they feel about the whole mess.
So, what do you do to manage it (if anything), how, what parts do you manage, and how do you feel about it? That last part is mostly for the ladies but whatever. Basically, I'm a hairy guy. Not quite ape man, but I'm a little self conscious about it. And it's HOT outside kids. So I'm toying with the idea of getting rid of it, and wanted some opinions, anecdotes, options, etc. But mostly, opinions on how short is too short or short enough and where/not to trim. So, let's talk about body hair and how best to get rid of it while not looking ridiculous or inadvertently doing something that will instantly turn off all ladies universally.
So, what do you do to manage it (if anything), how, what parts do you manage, and how do you feel about it? That last part is mostly for the ladies but whatever. Basically, I'm a hairy guy. Not quite ape man, but I'm a little self conscious about it. And it's HOT outside kids. So I'm toying with the idea of getting rid of it, and wanted some opinions, anecdotes, options, etc. But mostly, opinions on how short is too short or short enough and where/not to trim. So, let's talk about body hair and how best to get rid of it while not looking ridiculous or inadvertently doing something that will instantly turn off all ladies universally.
Sporked on
0
Posts
For the most part, though, you could get rid of any hair on the dorsal / posterior portion of your body with few people lighting a candle in its memory.
As for me, I've tried getting rid of the hair beginning it's conquest of my shoulders and back, but it's a tough job to do yourself, and I love my friends too much to ask them to do something to help. That, and they'd love to hurt me...
Shaving any part of your body is possible, and in the grand scheme of things is probably the easiest, cheapest, and most straightforward. Waxing is not so bad, since the areas that most men would think about waxing are not terribly sensitive. It will last longer than shaving, but if you're like me, it won't last long enough (usually about 7-10 days before hair is growing out again) and you have to wait until the hair grows back out some to do it again. Also, in my case, it leads to some pretty gross folliculitis, which can be prevented with a bit of neosporin (anti-bacterial ointment) applied afterwards. For the record, shaving sometimes gives me folliculitis as well.
Depilatories, in my experience, do indeed smell bad, and are not any better than shaving for results. However, they can be easier to use in hard-to-reach areas, and usually don't cause me any lasting problems.
Ideally, I would find someone who is willing to help you with waxing, either by friendship, relationship, or cold hard cash, since waxing will leave you "touchably smooth" for an extended time. Either that, or if you are Caucasian, go for broke and get laser hair removal.
edit: Whoops, meant "posterior".
As for hair, I'm not hairy enough to have any need to manipulate it beyond simple appearance, and luckily it is only for easy to reach areas (i.e. no back/shoulder hair). I use a Bodygroomer ( http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Norelco-BG2020-31-Bodygroom/dp/B000EG8HLE ) and have found it to work very well.
Murphy's Paradox: The more you plan, the more that can go wrong. The less you plan, the less likely your plan will succeed.
Junk:
Use a Number 1 in an electric trimmer like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Wahl-79524-1001-Multi-Cut-Clipper-Trimmer/dp/B000I1S18Y/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1212376606&sr=8-30
Chest:
Use a Number 2 using the same trimmer. Make sure to take care of the armpits.
Back:
Light hair here for me, but I use
http://www.amazon.com/MANGROOMER-Yourself-Electric-Back-Shaver/dp/B000HQ0L2E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1212376766&sr=1-1
for those "hard to reach places.
What you have to do is find what you like, and then be confident with yourself. If you are grooming to impress women, you will always worry that what you are doing "is not enough." Trim as necessary, be confident, and you will have no problem finding a woman who will accept you, body hair and all.
Anyway, don't go nuts about it. Stuff like this has been popularised as a way for the 'beauty' industry to make ever more money off the backs of manufactured insecurities. They've finally figured out that men are as manipulable in this respect as women, hence the sudden pressure to not look gorillaish, and the subtle but constant shifting of the definition of 'gorillaish' towards ever balder frontiers.
Laser only works on people with brown or black hair. Plenty of us are still stuck with the ancient methods.
First off. Forget what the girls think or what ever else. You need to do what makes you comfortable. If you are not comfortable with your body that is going to be way more unattractive then looking like an ape.
I am a hairy dude as well. For the last 10 years or so I have done everything under the sun from waxing, Nair, shaving, trimming, tweezing and everything in between. And in the past 2 years I have come across a universal truth. It doesnt matter. At the end of the day Its my body and I want it to be comfortable.
So here is some story time.
Avoid WAXING. That shit hurts. the 40 year old virgin is a pretty good approximation of my chest hair. That shit was 3 hours of torture. Never do that to yourself. Plus it only lasts like 3 weeks anyway and then when it grows back it will grow back ingrown and you have red bumps everywhere. It was a bad experience that was expensive and painful. Do not do it.
Nair. Skip it. only works on little patches of hair. If you have a man sweater it will remove like half of it and smell terrible. Also if you have a reaction to it you will be in a world of shit.
Shaving. If you can keep up with it EVERY day. It will look ok but feel shitty. No girls like chest stuble. But if you are gonna be hitting the beach for a weekend and wanna look all buff give it a try. Be warned when it grows back it will itch like hell. For at least a week.
Now their are 2 areas that I recommend trimming.The arm pits and the crotch. Use one of these. They work very well even on super thick hair.
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Norelco-BG2020-31-Bodygroom/dp/B000EG8HLE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1212382719&sr=8-1
If you are hairy like me you will sweat. Especially in the summer. Those two areas sweat the most on your body because they are the hottest. If you have a jungle of hair down there and sweat. It smells terrible. No girl is gonna want to ever go down on you after a night of dancing if you have a steamy jungle of man juice down there. If you trim down the hair with the smallest guard on that trimmer you will have a soft little patch of hair down there that will not collect sweat and there for not smell.
Also a note on the crotch take the norelco deal over the entire area pretty much if your underwear covers it trim it down to a quarter inch or less. No girl wants a pube up the nose or in the mouth when you are fooling around so do them the same favor you would expect.
AS for your chest hair. Man just let it flow. I have a freaking lions mane of chest hair. I tried everything to tame it but once I just accepted it for what it was it always worked out a lot better. I cant tell you how many times I have had girls tell me they dont like hairy guys and after dating me for 2 weeks totally fall in love with playing with my chest hair. You gotta keep it clean and you gotta smell nice but having something they can run their hands through or grab while fooling around is a gift from god.
Ive also had the opposite experience at clubs especially at the beach when im either not wearing a shirt or i have a button down not buttoned up top where girls see the hair and like it alot. They are like O moose you are so rugged please take me home and pretend to be a lumber jack. /shrug.
So in summation if you are in good physical shape and don't smell bad girls really dont care about your hair even if they say they do. If you have all the other important things in order like being attentive in bed and not being an ass they will give your hair a pass. Or some will revel in it. I brag up my chest hair the first time im a with a chick most have not been with a guy as hairy as me so its fun to tease them about my lions mane. (helps if you are in shape. A flabby chest covered in hair probably wont have the same effect)
And if you still feel bad about being hairy just take a cue from Mr Gaston. He gets all the ladies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaBnWZignkQ
agreed
having to pause because it feels like you're flossing, not doing fun stuff, really isn't sexy
speaking purely aesthetically, I do like less hair on the chest. BUT not enough to -ever- suggest that someone go through the bother of getting rid of their hair. Hell, I sometimes think that shaving my legs is too much of a bother, asking someone to shave/wax/whatever their whole body is just silly
but a trim near the nethers is nice.
I have a somewhat hairy chest, although it grows in lopsided (more hair growing on the left than the right). But the real problem is the hairy nipples. One time, I was getting into some sexy time with a girl and she decided to bite my nipple. We had to stop for a minute while she was spitting and trying to pick hair out of her teeth. So I'll sometimes take an electric razor to the nipples alone, but not the rest of my chest.
And yes, if you're clean, the only person who really cares about your body hair will be your girlfriend++. I've got some family friends who are super hairy and yeah, they get shit for it but when it comes down to it there's not much they can do without living in agony.
If you must get rid of it, wax. Shaving just leads to ingrown hairs, which is a problem that resolves itself eventually if you're waxing regularly.
edit: Except your huevos. Man, don't put hot wax near your huevos.
All in all, I'd say I am reasonably metro- my facial hair is neat and well groomed, I use differing layers on light sideburns for face framing, keep a light chin shadow, and a short goatee. I bought a cordless trimmer some time ago, and I generally dont even bother with the different guards any more- just a steady hand.
I keep my chest shaved, but it doesn't stubble, there just isn't enough of it. I have a neatly trimmed treasure trail, no stomach hair, and trimmed bits. I like to keep with a sort of 'arrow' theme actually- it suits me. I dont get back hair- but a look at my grandpa says that's probably coming one day. I don't like to cut too short, and never a razor near the boys- itches. The trimmer is perfect.
I would repeat what has been said above, do what makes you feel comfortable. I like to look entirely well presented in both business and birthday suits.
On the other hand, I don't like spending my time gagging on the hair stuck in the back of my throat, either. It's nice to trim.