First things first: There’s nothing wrong with body hair, and how you groom yours (if at all) comes down to personal preference.
First things first: There’s nothing wrong with body hair, and how you groom yours (if at all) comes down to personal preference. Still, the practice of removing or grooming male body hair (aka, manscaping) dates at least as far back as the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians, who believed a hairless male body was superior.
Today, there’s a wide range of preferences when it comes to manscaping as well as a variety of tools to get the job done. But no matter which method you choose—trimming, shaving, waxing—manscaping requires a careful hand and good hygiene.
In this grooming guide, we’ll cover the manscaping basics and how to avoid pitfalls like skin infections and irritation.
A 2023 U.S. survey of over 1,000 adult men found that nearly half of respondents reported a lifetime practice of pubic hair removal, with nearly 30 percent having removed their pubic hair within the past 30 days. The research showed that gay and bisexual men were more likely to remove their pubic hair than heterosexual men. Men who were sexually active in the past month were also more likely to remove their pubic hair.
What were their motivations for grooming? Responses included:
Makes me feel cleaner
Makes oral sex easier
Helps me feel sexy
Seen it done that way in porn
Makes me look younger
Men aren’t just grooming their pubic hair, either. Many are also removing or trimming their chest hair, back hair, armpit hair, ear hair, and more for similar reasons to the above.
Do what makes you feel good in your body, but if you’re shaving your pubic hair to impress your partner, you may not need to be.
According to a 2021 survey of over 1,000 women, 51 percent said they disliked it when men removed all their pubic hair (30 percent strongly disliked it). However, 41 percent said they liked it when men’s pubic hair was trimmed to be “very short.”
Interestingly, though, some research shows that women’s preference for male body hair may change over the course of their menstrual cycle. Some women prefer a more hairless body only when they’re most fertile.
When it comes to gay men, opinions on body hair vary widely. Much of the research done in this area shows that many gay men idealize a smooth torso and engage in various forms of body grooming to achieve that aesthetic. However, other gay men regard body hair removal as “unnecessary, unattractive, and unnatural.”
So, if manscaping feels right to you, then go for it. But if you’re doing it for someone else, know there are plenty of differing perspectives out there. Your body hair may not be as big a deal as you think.
Want to implement your own manscaping routine? This may look a little different depending on whether you plan to go fully bare or just get things a little tidier. It may also depend on whether you’re focusing on your balls specifically or your pubic area more generally. Keep reading to learn more.
When it comes to how to shave your penis and the pubic area above it, follow these steps:
Trim first. Shaving short hair is much easier than shaving long hair, so give yourself a trim before you start shaving. You can use an electric trimmer, clippers, scissors, or an all-in-one body groomer for trimming and shaving.
Clean the area with body wash. Before you get to work, take a shower and wash your pubic area well.
Apply shaving gel or shaving cream. Shaving gel or cream helps the shaver glide properly to avoid nicks and ingrown hairs.
Use a clean shaver. Whether you use an electric or non-electric razor, ensure the tool is clean. Using a rusty or dirty shaver will not only make it more difficult to shave, but it can also increase the risk of infection.
Shave in the direction of hair growth. Very carefully, shave in the direction of hair growth, not against the grain. Use short and gentle strokes while holding your skin taut.
Moisturize. After you’ve done the deed, apply lotion or aftershave to soothe the skin and reduce the risk of irritation. Avoid plucking any hairs you may have missed with tweezers, as this can lead to ingrown hairs.
Shaving your scrotum (the sac that holds your testicles) requires a few more steps. In addition to all the steps above—trimming hair first, washing up, applying shaving gel, and using a clean shaver—follow these extra steps:
Lift your leg on a stool or bathtub for hard-to-reach areas. It can feel awkward trying to shave your balls when they’re not in clear view. Lifting one leg is an easy way to access them.
Hold your skin taut while shaving in the direction of hair growth. Be sure to hold your skin taut as you glide your shaver in the direction of hair growth. Use short, careful strokes.
Rinse the shaver regularly. You’ll notice a buildup of hair on your razor as you shave. Rinse this away to keep your tool working efficiently.
Apply aftershave or lotion. As with the pubic area, apply a cooling aftershave or lotion to calm skin and prevent ingrown hairs.
If you’re not into the bald look, you may want to consider trimming your pubic area instead of shaving it. Do away with the shaver and opt for a hair trimmer or scissors. You can also use a nose hair trimmer with a rounded edge to protect against cuts. Then do the following:
Break out the comb. Place a fine-toothed comb against your skin at the hair root. This will shield your sensitive areas from sharp edges. Then, slowly trim the hair you can see above the comb’s teeth.
Trim small sections at a time. Moving from top to bottom with your comb, trim small sections at a time, slowly and carefully.
Feel free to get creative. Some men like to shape their pubic hair into a shape or pattern. Others like to combine shaving and trimming to make a lion’s mane shape. To do this, shave your balls clean and then trim your pubic area to resemble a lion’s regal look.
Clean up. Hop into the shower to wash away lingering hairs and then do a good sweep to get rid of your leftover clippings.
When taking a blade to your nether regions, it’s important to be careful. Here are some trimming and shaving tips to make sure all goes smoothly:
Get the right tools. Whether you choose an electric body trimmer, clippers, or a razor, ensure you use a high-quality tool. Some people prefer a one-blade safety razor when shaving sensitive areas for a closer shave.
Exfoliate regularly. Get into the habit of exfoliating your whole body, including your pubic area. You can use a loofah or exfoliating scrub to slough away dead skin and prevent ingrown hairs.
Consider waxing. Yes, waxing can be painful, but it can slow the rate of hair reappearing and reduce the itchiness associated with razor burn. However, we don’t recommend waxing yourself. Enlist the help of a trained professional to get the job done right.
Stop shaving if you get a cut. If you encounter any nicks or cuts, you may have to abandon the mission for now. Continuing may lead to more irritation and possible infection.
Treat bumps. If you notice any bumps when your hair starts to grow back, treat them immediately. You can apply a warm compress to open pores or use an over-the-counter cream meant to treat razor bumps or ingrown hairs.
In a study of 5,674 adults who groom their pubic hair, around 25 percent reported injuries. The most common were cuts and burns. Men were most likely to injure their balls, followed by their penis.
Grooming injuries aren’t just painful — they can cause infections and abscesses, which may require antibiotics or even surgery in severe cases.
That’s why it’s important to use caution while manscaping, following the steps we outlined above. You should also avoid sharing razors with others to stop the spread of germs.
If you get an injury while manscaping or end up with irritation or an infection that doesn’t go away after using the at-home remedies we’ve outlined, make an appointment with your doctor or a dermatologist to determine the best course of treatment.
If you choose to manscape, remember the following:
Groom carefully and responsibly. Rushing through your grooming session and not using the right tools can lead to injuries and infection. Take your time to do it right.
Practice good hygiene. Wash up before and after grooming to keep your most sensitive areas clean. Exfoliate regularly to avoid ingrown hairs.
Treat bumps and injuries. If you get a cut while grooming, put the blades down and try again later. Apply warm compresses to ingrown hairs and try OTC creams for inflammation. If the problem persists, see a doctor or dermatologist for help.
And while manscaping may never be out of style, you shouldn’t feel pressured to nix your pubes if you don’t want to. There are plenty of other ways to feel good in your body without taking a blade anywhere near your genitals.
On that note, check out these 13 tips for keeping your penis healthy, learn how to be sexually confident, and read this guide to looking younger.
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