Bodygroom tips.

September 22, 2010 2:46 AM

What should I do with my bodygroom trimmer?

I think I'm going to get one, but I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm pretty hairy, and would be happy to cut down on that somewhat, but I'm not sure how. I'm worried that I'll trim too much and look weird or too fastidious, or that I'll have strange-looking abrupt changes at different parts of the body. I'm wondering whether I should shave my arms and legs given that I will then have to explain if people ask. I want to look attractive but I'm worried that if I get rid of all my hair it won't look very masculine, and will suggest I am overly fastidious about my body. Suggestions?

posted by rwatson to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (7 answers total)

If you're "happy to cut down", you have to be prepared to accept a possible reduction in perceived masculinity. Though in practice, few people examine you closely enough to notice your body hair. Except people you sleep with, but it's a bit easier to explain under those circumstances.
posted by malusmoriendumest at 2:52 AM on September 22, 2010

Not sure who malusmoriendumest is hanging around with, but in my circles I wouldn't worry about a reduction in perceived masculinity.

Here's a collection of info on how to trim your body hair.
posted by awesomebrad at 5:11 AM on September 22, 2010 [4 favorites]

If you're at all worried, I would start with the bits of your body you can keep covered up, just in case you don't like the effect (chest and back, say). Hair grows back pretty quick :) But as long as you're shaving your body hair for the right reasons (because you want to, not because you're worried about how others perceive you), and it sounds like you are, you can't go far wrong. Me personally, I trim my chest and back hair, upper arms, and try to generally keep my body hair tidy. I don't worry about legs, lower arms, armpits, but that's my choice, not a man rule or anything.
posted by londonmark at 5:19 AM on September 22, 2010

Most men I know don't shave anything other than their faces. But I know a few who trim crotch, chest, and back hair, plus sometimes arm and leg hair, and no one thinks anything of it aside from a very occasional joke about manscaping and what their partners think about the prickliness. Their masculinity or lack thereof comes from the bigger picture of their self-identity and self-presentation, not the fine detail of whether or not they shave their nuts.

But I'm talking about men who are from their late 20s into their early 50s; these things might have different meanings if you were much younger, I don't know. Certainly in high school people can turn almost anything into an excuse for momentary cruelty; later in life, people just don't seem to have that kind of energy.

Regarding arm hair however, I think it would be weird if someone kept changing their arm hair -- long and fuzzy this week, shaved bare next week, trimmed short next month, etc. On the visible areas (say, what shows when you wear a t-shirt and shorts) you might want to settle on one approach, or do your experimenting during a vacation.
posted by Forktine at 6:20 AM on September 22, 2010

From my point of view and many girls I know, we prefer if a hairy man keeps neat. As long as you are neat, you'll be attractive! There's nothing unattractive about wanting to be well-groomed.
posted by shazzam! at 6:26 AM on September 22, 2010

There is a huge middle ground between shaving and letting it go natural. Shaving is a bit unusual, and requires a lot more work to maintain and can lead to ingrown hairs and such. Just trimming with a beard trimmer on a #4 setting or something is no big deal though.
posted by smackfu at 6:28 AM on September 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Several years ago, I bought 2 manscaping products. The original intent was to shave my back and neaten up everything else. Enthusiasm got the better of me and I shaved *everything* clean. It was...interesting. Shirts and pants felt funny without the layer of hair. I also felt like I looked like a pudgy 11 year old boy. Ick. I also took some good-natured ribbing around the office from a few people who noticed the change. Nothing mean-spirited was said (at least in my presence).

I didn't especially like the new look though, and returned to the original plan of back-shaving and neatening/trimming. Those results have been much more positive- I just look like a grown-up who keeps a tidy appearance.
posted by bluejayway at 10:10 AM on September 23, 2010