Whether or not you’ve got acquired an overgrown again, chest, and even nether areas, it’s pure to start out questioning about hair elimination for males. And, as connoisseurs of all issues grooming, you’ve come to the proper place. We introduced in backup from the professionals, chopping it up with two specialists: Dr. David Kim, a board-certified beauty dermatologist who’s labored with luxurious vogue homes like Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen, and Dr. Charles Puza (higher identified to his hundreds of thousands of social media followers as “Dr. Charles MD”), a dermatologist on a mission to fight skincare misinformation on-line.
Their verdict? There are extra choices than ever for managing your man-fur—however not all of them are created equal. When you’re seeking to clear issues up, you’ve got acquired decisions, from fast fixes to extra everlasting options. This is what you might want to find out about every methodology, from least to most dedication.
The Greatest Physique Hair Elimination Choices, at a Look:
Shaving: The Fast Repair
Let’s begin with the apparent. “Shaving is a simple possibility, but it surely grows again rapidly and might be tedious,” says Dr. Kim. When you’re going this route, each docs stress approach: “All the time use a shaving cream with foam, by no means shave on naked pores and skin!” Kim warns. (One GQ contributor completely swears by Fur’s Shave Cream.)
Dr. Charles provides that you need to “shave within the course of hair development” and think about using “a trimmer guard to maintain 1-2 mm of hair above the pores and skin floor” to reduce irritation. Utilizing a gently exfoliating wash earlier than and after shaving will assist, too.
Depilatory Lotions: Proceed with Warning
When you’ve ever seen jars within the drug retailer boasting about magical hair elimination, these are what’s referred to as “depilatory cream.” And whereas it really works, each specialists warn in regards to the danger of irritation, as these lotions work by chemically dissolving hair on the floor of the pores and skin. Dr. Kim says skip them completely if you understand you’ve got delicate pores and skin. That stated, they do work properly for masking bigger areas like chest and again—simply attempt a patch check first.
Waxing & Sugaring: The Longer-Lasting Temp Repair
Need one thing that lasts longer than a shave? “Waxing and sugaring removes hair from the foundation, offering outcomes that final 3-6 weeks,” says Dr. Charles. The catch? It hurts. Each specialists rank these among the many most painful choices, although sugaring tends to be gentler on delicate pores and skin because it makes use of a pure paste to seize onto the hair. Count on to pay between $100-200 per space.
Electrolysis: The Solely “Everlasting” Resolution
If you’d like actually everlasting hair elimination, electrolysis is definitely your solely FDA-approved possibility. “It destroys hair follicles with {an electrical} present and works on all hair colours and pores and skin sorts,” explains Dr. Charles. The catch? It is time-consuming and finest fitted to smaller areas. “It is nice for focused spots, however not sensible for big areas like all the beard or again,” he notes. Price-wise, it falls someplace between waxing and laser therapies.
Laser Hair Elimination: The Gold Customary
Laser hair elimination is what each our specialists suggest most enthusiastically as a semi-permanent resolution for males. “I’ve by no means had a affected person remorse getting laser hair elimination,” vouches Dr. Kim. It’s pricier at just a few hundred {dollars} per session, however right here’s why it could be your finest path to a much less bushy future:
The expertise behind laser hair elimination makes use of laser vitality to focus on the pigment in your hair follicles, which considerably reduces regrowth. Count on to enter your derm’s workplace for 6-10 classes every spaced 4-6 weeks aside, with upkeep classes sooner or later as wanted. And we all know what you’re actually pondering–lasers? How unhealthy is that gonna damage? Effectively, Dr. Charles admits there might be “a slight sting each time the laser fires,” but it surely’s much less painful than waxing on the entire.
Each specialists agree that laser works finest on darker hair and lighter pores and skin, although newer expertise has made it secure and efficient for a wider vary of pores and skin tones. The one catch? “As soon as hair goes gray or white, laser hair elimination is not an possibility,” because the laser wants pigment to focus on. Likewise, it gained’t be as efficient for the blondes and redheads amongst us.
When you assume laser hair elimination is only for girls, assume once more. “Males do laser hair elimination on a regular basis,” Dr. Kim says, rattling off a listing of areas that features, properly, just about all the pieces: “face, neck, chest, again, stomach, arms, legs, personal areas.” And whereas sure, there’s some discomfort concerned, each specialists insist it is manageable. “All hair elimination procedures are considerably painful, however they’re 100% price it,” says Dr. Kim.
A Phrase About These At-Residence Lasers
Earlier than you impulsively cop that at-home laser machine you’ve got been seeing on the TikTok Store, a phrase to the sensible. “I typically warning individuals towards at-home IPL (Intense Pulsed Mild) hair elimination units,” warns Dr. Charles. Not solely are they much less efficient, however he is “personally seen a number of sufferers burned from these units.” Yikes. His skilled take? “No dermatologist makes use of IPL to take away hair,” which, we’ve gotta think about, is for good cause.
The Aftercare Playbook
Whether or not you are shaving, waxing, or going the laser route, correct aftercare is important. Each specialists suggest:
- Cleaning with merchandise that embody with benzoyl peroxide to stop ingrown hairs and zits flairs (like PanOxyl’s Zits Foaming Wash)
- Light exfoliating physique wash for a number of days after hair elimination (Dr. Charles suggests Skinfix’s Glycolic Scrub)
- A light-weight hydrating moisturizer (each docs like CeraVe)
