How much and where: getting to grips with body hair

Whether it’s height, weight, hair colour, musical taste or anything else, no two guys are exactly the same, and it’s also true when it comes to body hair. The amount of hair you get and where you get it will depend entirely on your age and genes, and how much hair you want to keep is entirely a matter of personal preference. There are no right or wrong answers, so this definitely isn’t a guide to what you should do with your body. Think of it as some handy information regarding what and where you can do something with your body hair, if you feel like inclined to do so.

Where there are pores, there can be hairs

Pores contain hair follicles, and given the entire surface of your skin is covered in pores (with the exception of the palms of your hands and the bottoms of your feet) it’s common for men to have at least some body hair. For some it might just be a light covering on the arms and legs, a tuft in each armpit and another below the belt. For others it can be a lot more and include dense hair on the chest, stomach, back and pretty much anywhere else.

For those who don’t have much body hair and want more, the bad news is that the genes that you have are the only ones you’re ever going to have, and there’s no way to stimulate growth in areas where there is none. There’s nothing feminine or wrong with having a smooth body, and in a world where so many men waste time and energy wishing aspects of their bodies were different, you’re better off accepting your body for what it is.

After all (and as Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain allegedly said), wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.

From head to toe

For guys who do have body hair the back, chest, stomach and crotch are areas that frequently cause concern. We have articles covering the specifics of how to deal with those areas, but no matter where you’re thinking about, knowing what you’re trying to achieve and why is the best place to start.

For instance, do you want to remove the hairs completely, or is it sufficient to trim the hairs to a shorter length and tidy up the edges? If the problem is that you don’t like being able to see your chest hair above the collar of your shirt, then trimming effected area is probably going to be enough. If on the other hand you’ve been putting in the hours on the incline dumbbell press at the gym and want your hard-earned pectoral muscles to be visible rather than hidden under a layer of hair, then the shortening or removal of your entire chest hair is a better choice.

The point is; you have options, and it doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” decision.  The same is true of hair anywhere on your body, whether it’s on your head, your toes or anywhere else in between. It’s up to you if and what you choose to change something about your body.