What’s Manscaping? Everything You Need To Know To Do It Right

Manscaping is the art of trimming and grooming body hair to highlight your physique. It tames your armpit forest, defines your picture-perfect pecs, and keeps your package presentable. Shaving is the most common method, but the term also covers plucking, trimming, and yes, even waxing.

While your personal manscaping style decides how much hair you take off, every man can benefit from basic trimming or shaving to keep things manageable.

Consider this your manscaping masterclass. You’ll learn what manscaping is, what its benefits are, and how to start your own routine. And if you’re already a grad-level groomer, use this guide to level up your technique.

Why Do Men Manscape?

You don’t need a special reason to start manscaping. If you’re tired of having hair somewhere or find it uncomfortable, shave it, trim it, or zap it with a laser. It’s your body; you don’t need anyone’s permission. 

That said, if you’re looking for a reason to start, here are some of the most common ones: 

• Hygiene: Reduces odor-causing bacteria trapped by body hair, streamlining your hygiene routine

• Appearance: Highlights your natural angles and puts your muscles and lines on full display

• Comfort: Prevents coarse hair from clumping and chafing in tight crevices, making daily movement more comfortable

• Confidence: Empowers your mindset by putting you in control of your look

• Athletic performance: Cuts down skin friction for sports like swimming and cycling while eliminating the pain of ripping athletic tape off hairy skin 

Examples of Manscaping Throughout History

The word manscaping is relatively new, but history shows that men have tamed their manes for thousands of years . Ancient Greeks groomed their body hair for their hygiene and appearance. Similarly, Alexander the Great ordered his soldiers to trim their beards so enemies couldn’t grab them in combat. You won’t be conquering Persia any time soon, but you can still benefit from managing your beard, back, and below-the-belt hair.

Gear and Prep

Now you know the basics, let’s dive into how to groom safely and effectively. Grab these essential tools before you start:

• Exfoliating soap: Bar soaps with a bit of grit can help reduce the risk of ingrown hairs by softening body hair and removing dead skin.

• Moisturizer: A good moisturizer reduces irritation and prevents razor burn.

• Body trimmer: An electric trimmer with a guard makes safe, precise cuts.

If you’re going in for a clean shave rather than just a trim, you’ll also need:

• Shave butter: This balm can reduce the friction that causes nicks, ingrown hairs, and razor burn.

• Body razor: A safety razor handles curves and crevices with care. Consider buying a long-handled razor made for shaving hard-to-reach areas like your back if you plan to do those solo.

Always shower before you start. Warm water softens hair, and a gentle wash with an exfoliating soap is just the thing to avoid irritated skin. Make sure you dry off completely before you trim or shave since damp skin causes more friction. 

How To Manscape: 4 Key Areas 

Now it’s time to dive into the step-by-step process for manscaping four key areas of your body.

1. Chest

Here’s how to get a well-trimmed chest that can show off your pecs and neckline:

• Shape: Clear the surrounding hair if you want to keep a chest patch. Hold your trimmer at a 45-degree angle and go against the grain for clean results.

• Trim to length: Set your guard to your desired length, then blend the remaining hair to a uniform height.

• (Optional) Shave: Apply shave butter or cream to the cleared areas, and run a razor with the grain. Take your time around sensitive areas like your nipples and belly button.

2. Back

Shaving your back is no easy feat, so enlist a partner if you can. If you prefer to go solo, you can skip the razor entirely and use hair removal creams (depilatories), waxing strips, or intense pulsed light (IPL) devices.

To shave your back with a razor, follow these steps:

• Shave your upper back: Reach over your shoulder, place the razor near your spine, and pull upward toward your shoulder blade.

• Shave your lower back and sides: Lift one arm straight up, reach around with your opposite hand, and pull the razor horizontally from your spine toward your side. 

3. Below the Belt

Put the manual razor down. Using a traditional razor on your groin risks painful nicks and rough stubble. Opt for an electric trimmer instead. Follow these steps for a safe trim:

• Trim the area: Snap on a short guard (4–6 mm), and trim the hair on your lower stomach, inner thighs, and perineum.

• Groom the essentials: Switch to a safer medium guard (6–8 mm) to keep the moving blades far from your skin. Hold the trimmer at a 45-degree angle pointing away from your skin. Pull the skin taut with your free hand, and gently glide against the grain. Move slowly to prevent the blade from snagging loose skin. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to razor bumps, shave with the grain instead.

4. Arms and Legs

Your limbs are easy to groom compared to your back and groin. The only real challenge is using your non-dominant hand: 

• Shorten the hair: Run your trimmer over your limbs to bring long hair down to a manageable length.

• Apply shave butter: Coat the target areas generously while leaving your reference lines clear.

• Shave smooth: Glide your razor with the grain for a clean finish without razor burn.

Top Manscaping Tips for a Cleaner Experience

Here are some tips for masterful manscaping that’ll help you get longer-lasting results:

• Take care of your tools: Replace blades regularly for a clean shave, and clean out your electric trimmer after every use.

• Trim against the grain: Guide your clipper at a 45-degree angle away from your skin to lift every hair and prevent painful nicks.

• Shave with the grain: Glide your razor in the direction of hair growth to prevent razor burn and jagged stubble.

• Go slow in sensitive areas: Take your time around the groin, chest, and armpits to avoid eye-watering nicks and razor burns.

Dr. Squatch Knows a Thing or Two About Body Hair

Now that you’re ready to tame that mane and whack those weeds, it’s time to collect all the tools you’ll need to do it right. With the right setup, you can make manscaping an easy, even enjoyable routine. Pick up a Dr. Squatch Complete Shave Set to instantly upgrade your manscaping toolbox with top-notch products made with natural ingredients. Mother Nature wants us to look and feel our best, and Dr. Squatch uses her best ingredients to make that possible.

FAQ

What Are the Cons of Manscaping?

Manscaping does have some downsides beyond just distracting people with your sexiness. Just like shaving your face, shaving other parts of your body can cause razor burn, skin irritation, and ingrown hairs. If done right, you can remove body hair without these issues, but it takes some practice.

Does Shaving Make Your Body Hair Grow Back Thicker?

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no evidence that shaving body hair makes it grow back thicker, so you can put that worry out of your mind. 

Is Manscaping Normal?

Yeah! Studies show that the vast majority of men do some form of manscaping. Even if they didn’t, though, the choice is yours. If your personal preference is to have less body hair, then no one’s stopping you.