Waxing vs Shaving for Body Hair: A Guide to All-Over Hair Control

Manscaping has been on the rise in recent years. Male waxing and shaving is a whole new ball game for many men, who now realise that they don’t have to let it all grow out if they don’t want to! But should you shave or wax? Here’s our guide to all-over hair control.

What Are the Benefits of Waxing & Shaving Body Hair?

It might seem like a pain but waxing and shaving some of your body hair can have numerous benefits. Sporty men could find better performance and heightened comfort from streamlining their volume of body hair. However, it’s not just the physical aspects that can be appealing; it can improve things in an existential sense as well.

Very hairy men can lack confidence in situations where being shirtless is expected. Beach days, sunbathing, playing sports in hot weather – they can all become a moment of dread for men who are insecure about their body hair. However, you can change this!

Man shaving chest

You don’t normally question whether to shave or wax your face (the majority of men choose shave), but you can certainly choose whether shave or wax your chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs and bum. When looking at waxing and shaving your body hair, you’ll find that each one has its pros and cons, and what works for one man may not work for another. Male waxing has seen a surge of popularity but there are certain aspects that mean it may not be the right method for you long term. Shaving can be seen as more effort but does have benefits of waxing insofar as cost and effectiveness are concerned.

Let’s take a deeper look at both:

Pros and Cons of Waxing & Shaving

Male Waxing

Pros:

Gets rid of the hair at the follicle, meaning it takes longer than shaved hair to grow back
Can be done by a beauty technician so you don’t have to be a contortionist to wax it all
Leaves skin feeling smooth and hair free for up to 3 weeks

Cons:

It hurts! You can ‘man up’ as much as you want, but the sting is very real
It can leave a rash, especially if you don’t wax regularly or have sensitive skin
It’s expensive; depending on how much you want done and how often, it could leave a bit of a dent in your wallet

Man waxing chest

Male Shaving

Pros:

It’s a lot cheaper than waxing, you only to invest in a good razor and a few quality grooming products
It can be easily incorporated into your routine – although you won’t need to do it every day, you know you’ll have the means to keep things tidy whenever you want
You can do it yourself! If you can shave your face, you can probably shave your chest too

Cons:

It is possible to get a shaving rash on newly-shaved skin which could be exacerbated by clothing
Shaving won’t last as long as waxing, as you are cutting the hair at the point it breeches the skin rather than deep into the follicle
There may be some areas you can’t quite reach yourself!

Whichever you prefer out of waxing and shaving, you need to know you have the right products supporting your skin.

Choosing the Right Products for Waxing and Shaving

The skin that hides beneath your body hair is likely to be sensitive after your first shave or wax. Choosing products that work in harmony with male skin is integral to making waxing or shaving part of your grooming routine.

There are a number of elements that can cause irritation after shaving and waxing – your clothing rubbing against the skin, the feeling of hair beginning to grow back, or sweat and dirt that was previously caught up in your hair is now making its way into your skin. In any of these events, you need to devote yourself to products that reduce irritation and maximise moisture.

Man touching stubble

If you shave or wax your face without irritation, it may not necessarily mean your skin will react the same if you shave or wax your chest. Make sure you exercise damage control with a high-quality moisturiser and aftershave balm.