Hair Removal For Guys
March 22, 2012 5:58 pmIt used to be that hair removal was mainly thought of as a woman thing. Unless you were a competitive bodybuilder, cyclist, swimmer, or Chippendales dancer, chances are your body hair remained untouched. Not anymore. Experts report that more and more men are opting for the same grooming rights as women – including smooth skin. Additionally, we hear men say all the time that their partners dramatically prefer intimacy with an area that is groomed and maintained.
Most men don’t necessarily want all of their body hair removed, but they do want it controlled or thinned out, especially on their back and chest. Men seeking hair removal now make up a HUGE portion of my clients. I get a lot of men who want their back and shoulder hair gone completely, men who want to take get rid of that unibrow and tame the eyebrows, ear hair, back of the neck…men are wanting to just be cleaner and better groomed.
I have definitely seen quite a change in men wanting some, or all, or their “hair down there”…front and back… completely gone. Many times men find themselves at a loss for how to deal with excess body hair. So I’m going to give you the lowdown on the most common hair removal options available today.
NO. 1: WAXING
What It Does : The sticky, gooey, honey-based waxes are a thing of the past. In their place are soy waxes, a creamy lotion that’s applied to skin, but adheres only to the hair. Strips of specially prepared cotton cloth are layered over the cream. When the mixture dries, in just a few seconds, the cloth is quickly removed and bingo! The hair is gone.
How Long It Takes : Anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more, depending on what’s being waxed.
Best For : Chest, back, shoulders, unibrow, hair on ears and neck, legs, gental areas, underarms, and arms. Waxing can easily be done in the genital area, it is a little more painful, so you might want to try it on other parts of your body first so you know what you’re in for.
Cost: From $30 to $100+ depending on what you need done.
Lasting Result : About four to six weeks.
Expert Comments : If you’ve never had waxing before, it’s best to have it done professionally. It’s also important to follow advice on aftercare to avoid ingrown hairs or bumps. Interestingly, one study showed that men who had areas of their back waxed before undergoing laser treatment had better results from the laser treatment.
No. 2: Laser Hair Removal
What It Does : Using laser light energy to penetrate the hair shaft, it actually damages the hair root. This doesn’t kill the follicle (the place where hair growth starts). So technically, another hair can grow in its place, but it slows it down. It takes roughly 30 minutes per treatment, up to eight treatments are needed. This method is best for removing or reducing hair on back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and genital area. Works best on light skin with dark hair; not suitable for blond or white hair. Cost : $400-500 per treatment.
Expert Comments : Most men utilize laser hair removal for the back, upper arms, and chest and most want it thinned out, not removed — something which lasers can easily accomplish. Laser hair removal is the only hair removal treatment that allows for thinning, rather than complete removal. Touch-up laser hair removal treatments are usually needed on average once a year.
No. 3: Handheld Shavers
What It Does : With blades as wide as an inch and a half, and hinged handles as long as a foot, these specialty straight razors allow you to literally shave your back and shoulders, in much the way you use a back scrub brush during a shower.
Best For: Any area of the back, shoulders, or buttocks. Shaving the genital area is possible, but not recommended since a cut in this region could have serious complications.
How Long It Takes: Anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
Cost : About $50, plus blades and shaving cream.
Lasting Result : A few days, at most.
Expert Comments : While shaving is fast and easy, it can increase the risk of ingrown hairs, which occur when cut hairs curl back into the skin instead of growing outward. This can be a particular problem for darker skinned men, who are more likely to develop infections caused the by ingrown hairs. To help avoid problems make sure that the hair you will be shaving is wet – you might want to try shaving your back in the shower. It is also important to shave in the direction the hair grows, and lathering up beforehand to make hair removal easier. Contrary to popular opinion, shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker or coarser.
At 360 Skin we can wax just about any part of your body efficiently and with as little pain as possible. We use professional soy based waxes that will have you out the door with no stickiness or residue. Swing by and let us know how we can help you reach your grooming goals.