The Manly Man’s Guide to Manscaping

Dudefluencer: Manscaping Guide

Most dudes go through puberty. Their first experience with a razor comes when it’s finally time to trim that caterpillar above their upper lip. 

As for grooming the rest of their body, that’s like the time my dad caught me Googling “naked women” in middle school: something we just don’t talk about.

Some dudes love their chest hair or are indifferent to their pubic hair length. For others, hair and grooming are something to be really self-conscious about, or even something they hide for aesthetic reasons. 

I mean, when I talk about the importance of male friendship, I’m talking about vulnerability. Still, even I’ll admit it’s difficult to naturally fit “Hey, do you shave your back?” into a conversation. 

Don’t worry. I’m not here to shame you one way or another regarding personal grooming. I think it’s essential that there’s a guide to manscaping that presents options. Maybe, more importantly, tools of the trade, so you don’t end up nicking and cutting yourself.

What is manscaping (or male body grooming)?

Before Antoni, Tan, Jonathan, Karamo, and Bobby stole our hearts on the Netflix reboot of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” there was the original Fab Five: Ted, Kyan, Thom, Carson, and Jai. 

These shows revolutionized the way men saw male grooming and opened the doors for many improvements in men’s self-care. The original cast of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy also originated of the term “Manscaping” before it became commodified and commercialized as a male grooming tool.

“Manscaping” can be defined as any grooming that takes place below the neck, and for this guide, that’s precisely where I’ll focus. 

That includes chest hair, back hair, pubic hair, and yes, even a bit about butt hair. It’s all about those hard to reach or sensitive areas.

Before becoming popularized on television, men’s grooming was influenced by lifestyle magazines and performed secretly in bathrooms. 

Imagine it like a speakeasy with disposable razors and hair on the floor. A lot of curly hair.

Since the mid-2000s, men’s grooming has continued to take off as men have begun to research and experience manscaping benefits. 

According to a survey by Cosmopolitan, 69% of men prefer trimming their pubic hair while 17% shave it all off. Interestingly enough, the same article cites that 70% of women prefer their men to be trimmed up.

More men are willing to experiment because of a wider-spread acceptance of manscaping. That said, there’s still a bit of shame or embarrassment attached when asking questions, which is in part why we developed the Manly Man’s Guide to Manscaping.

Grooming tool? Can’t I just use my trimmer?

In the immortal words of Darth Vader: “Noooooooooooooo.”

Seriously, no. Stop. Don’t use the electric trimmer designed for your facial hair on your chest, back, or balls. 

Do you want nicks and cuts? Probably not, which is why specific razors and body trimmers are designed for each part of your body. (Yes, this article will be talking about Manscaped, and no, I probably won’t be recommending them for anything on this list.)

But there’s something a bit more serious you should consider when thinking about manscaping: bacteria. 

Microbiologist Jason Tetro told Dollar Shave Club, “The pubic area has its own independent microbial community. While most of the bacteria are similar to other areas of the body, the introduction of transient bacteria with a trimmer may end up altering the environment and possibly leading to skin problems.” 

To put it bluntly, one scenario leaves you with acne around your pubic region. A worst-case scenario leads to a staph infection on your face. Seriously.

Messing and mixing with the bacteria in different body areas can lead to long-term consequences.

The importance of blending in.

Growing a patchy beard can be a nightmare. The same can be said for the areas you’re manscaping. That’s why it’s essential you learn how to blend your hair together, so it matches up. 

That means if you are shaving your chest, you’re going to want to trim your happy trail and pubic area. 

The same goes for down there; the carpet needs to match your chest rug. This works best while using your trimmer: aim for your chest to be one trimmer length higher at most than the trimmer length you use for your pubic region. 

Do this correctly, and you’ll look like a professional after your manscaping session.

The Manly Man’s Guide to Manscaping

If anything is embarrassing with my body, my dad’s the first one I’d call.

He wasn’t home for a couple of hours, and this was before the internet was a thing, so this single pubic hair lingered with me until Dad came home.

“Dad, what is this?”

Dad stood there. I imagine parenting classes a decade-plus ago didn’t plan anything for the moment his son would ask him what a pubic hair was. “Dude, it’s a hair. Like the one on your face. But on your balls.” And then he walked away. Simple as that.

Now that we understand where manscaping came from and how it’s been popularized over the past couple of years, here is the fun part: figuring out the best way to manscape.

A shaved chest isn’t just for aerodynamics.

Dudefluencer: Shave your chest

My great-grandmother always said, “Make sure you eat your crust. It’ll grow hair on your chest.” 

I guess that explains why my chest is about as smooth as a dolphin’s skin. Wait, a dolphin’s skin is rubbery? Ummm… Let’s go back to the beginning.

My great-grandmother always said, “Make sure you eat your crust. It’ll grow hair on your chest.” I never did, which might explain why my chest isn’t hairy. The men on my dad’s side of the family, though, are furry like grizzly bears. And guess what, they all love the crust on their bread! 

That’s also why I reached out to them (and some professionals) to find out about the best ways to groom chest hair.

One thing you’ll see when researching clean-shaven chests is that there is no consensus on whether it’ll make you more or less attractive or even more or less manly looking. 

Honestly, my opinion: who cares? It’s about what you want and how you feel comfortable looking. It doesn’t hurt to take your partner’s opinion into consideration, but you’ve got to feel comfortable in your own skin.

Trim before shaving.

If this is your first time shaving your chest, then you should absolutely 100% trim your chest hair with a full body trimmer before taking a razor to your skin. 

Dudes who have tried using a razor to cut a long beard completely empathize with the pain of hairs being pulled and ripped off your face, so just imagine that happening on your chest. 

If you are a masochist and don’t believe me, take a pair of tweezers and pull one of those nagging hairs around your nipples off.

Yeah, I bet that hurt. Now, are you going to listen to me?

The reason why you’d want to trim before shaving your chest hair is that those longer hairs can get caught up in the blades, thus why everything is being pulled apart painfully. Plus, a good trim allows you to see how much chest hair you really want.

Like to have a little bit of stubble on your chest, or just enough chest hair to feel manly but not enough to have food caught in it while you’re munching on snacks shirtless? Then start with a trim (before your shower) and see how it feels.

Different dudes like different lengths.

Want to be shined up and bare-chested like a professional wrestler? Then keep going to the next section of our manly man’s guide to manscaping.

Bare-chested.

So you’ve trimmed up, and you want a smooth shave and all of that chest hair gone. What do you do now? 

The first thing you’ve got to do is hit the showers. The water will soften your chest hair, making it a bit easier to shave off. 

Some razors are even designed to be used in the shower if that’s how you want to do your initial trim.

After you’re all cleaned up, lather your chest up with shaving gel and get ready to have super smooth skin. 

Ensure your razor doesn’t have any dull blades (because ouch!), and use short, gentle strokes. Re-apply as much shaving cream as you need so that every stroke moves smoothly.

I feel like I should note something here if it’s not been made explicit: please don’t shave your nipples. They’re sensitive. Very sensitive, and it will hurt like heck if you nick or cut them.

Once all of the shaving gel is wiped up, the last step is to slab some moisturizer over your freshly-shaved chest. 

A good moisturizer can prevent ingrown hairs and those pesky breakouts that can ruin a shirt-less beach trip. 

Remember, if you go entirely shaven, upkeep will be a bit more work. You will need to maintain a steady shaving schedule to maintain that sleek look—just something to keep in mind.

I guess you can wax?

If you’d like a completely, 100% guaranteed path towards a bare chest, then waxing might be the option you’re looking for. 

Now, I feel like I shouldn’t have to warn you, but I’m going to anyway: it’s going to fucking hurt. 

You think this scene from The Forty-Year Old Virgin was fake? Absolutely not.

Women don’t go around talking about how fun a Brazilian wax is, so don’t expect anything different when getting your chest waxed. 

You can, of course, buy some wax to try at home, but without a professional, expect to look more like a man-o-lantern than an extra on Magic Mike.

Since this is the manly man’s guide to manscaping, I’d be remiss to not include waxing as an option. But it’s not your best option. The pain is real, but your chest will be the smoothest it’s ever been (and for longer than if you shaved).

How to shave your chest

Step 1: Choose a trimmer length and trim your chest.

Remember that you’re going to be matching your chest hair length with your happy trail and pubic area, so decide how much of your chest hair you want to trim off. Even if you’re planning on going completely bare-chested, it’s still a good idea to do a trim up first.

Step 2: Shower

You can merge steps one and two together, but you are more likely to clog up your drain with chest hair. No matter what, though, you’re going to need to shower. This will allow your chest to be cleaned, and if planning on using a razor, it will soften the chest hairs so that you’ll be less likely to get one caught up in the razor blades.

Step 3: Put on shaving gel/cream

Note: this is only for dudes who will be using a razor. If you’re just trimming, you can skip to step 5. The shaving cream/gel allows for a smooth shave and can protect your chest from cuts and scrapes.

Step 4: Shave

You’re going to want to be careful around your nipples while shaving. Especially for those of you looking for a closer shave. They can be sensitive and hurt super bad if nicked with your razor. Be gentle and use short strokes while cleaning between your blades often.

Step 5: Moisturize

Once everything is cleaned up, grab yourself some moisturizer and rub it all over your chest. It will soften your skin and can prevent ingrown hairs from coming in.

Tools of the trade:

If you’re new to men’s grooming, then you’re going to need some tools to get you through it. For body grooming, in particular, you’re not going to want to use something that’s designed for beards. Instead, purchase yourself a body groomer that has been designed with that functionality in mind.

Philips Norelco Body Groomer

Philips Body Groomer

Unlike a traditional beard trimmer, the waterproof Philips Norelco Bodygroom 7000 is dual-sided, allows you to shave or trim easily.

This is my favorite men’s body groomer on the market. Unlike a traditional beard trimmer, the Philips Norelco Bodygroom 7000 is dual-sided, allowing you to shave or trim easily.

The Bodygroom 7000 is also waterproof, making it even more useful if you’re looking to trim up while in the shower. Don’t forget that it includes a comb attachment, and rechargeable battery.

Cerepil Wax

Cerepil Wax

For those dudes who are willing to brave being waxed at home, then you’re going to want to pick up some Cerepil Wax. While Amazon lists this product in the women’s section, it’s essentially a unisex product (because, I mean, wax is wax). What’s nice about Cerepil Wax is that it is one of the gentler waxes on the market.

For those dudes who are willing to brave being waxeFor those dudes who are willing to brave being waxed at home for their hair removal, then you’re going to want to pick up some Cerepil Wax. While Amazon lists this product in the women’s section, it’s essentially a unisex product (because, I mean, wax is wax).

What’s nice about Cerepil Wax is that it is one of the gentler waxes on the market. It goes on and off quickly, so if you’re looking for a clean-shaven chest with a little bit of pain, pick up a tin (or bag) of Cerepil Wax.

Aesop Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment

Aesop

Aesop Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment is one of our tools of the trade. Your chest will have never felt softer after a couple days of rubbing this hydrating body treatment on it.

After cleaning up, the manly man’s guide to manscaping recommends an oil-based treatment (this will work for dudes who keep their chest hair, trim it down, or shave it off entirely).

That’s why Aesop Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment is one of our tools of the trade. Your chest will have never felt softer after a couple days of rubbing this hydrating body treatment on it.

How am I supposed to shave my back? I can’t see it.

Dudefluencer: Shave your back

How am I supposed to shave my back? I can’t see it.

It’s hard enough to scratch an itch on your back, let alone figure out a way to get a razorback there. That’s why the manly man’s guide to manscaping is making sure to give you enough information so you can successfully trim that back hair. No argument shaving your back will be the most challenging part of any grooming situation. Still, thankfully there are a ton of tips and tools available to make it a little less stressful.

Like a clean-shaven chest, there’s no exact one way or the other in terms of preference. A shaved back makes you no less manly than a hairy back. The same goes the other way. As always, it comes down to what you want and what makes you feel comfortable.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Sometimes we all need a little help. When it comes to shaving your back, you might want assistance. I feel like I don’t really need to explain why, but have you ever tried popping, pulling, or doing anything that requires looking at your back? You’d need more mirrors than David Copperfield to get the right angle, especially when it comes to shaving. There’s nothing you want less than a singular patch of back hair just lingering back there.

That’s why my first suggestion is to ask for some help. If you have a partner, just ask them if they’d be willing to get those hard to reach spots on your back. It does take a small level of vulnerability, but reaching out to a loved one makes your life so much easier.

Bumpy road ahead.

One of the biggest reasons I suggest getting some help when shaving your back is that there are many hidden, dangerous spots back there. Without having a clear line of sight, it’s straightforward to snag a mole, stray skin tag, or pimple resulting in pain, blood, and possibly infection. You need to be careful on those hard to see/hard to reach areas because you just don’t know what you’re getting into.

When faced with one of these potentially dangerous spots on your back, my recommendation is just to avoid them. Shave around them. Don’t risk a nick or scrap because it won’t be worth it.

Post-shave shower.

The post-shave shower is essential in making sure your grooming session is successful. How many dudes use a washcloth, reach for your back, and just hope for the best when it comes to making sure it stays clean? Well, that’s not going to work anymore, especially after shaving your back. You’re going to want to purchase a back washer (yes, those do exist) to make sure everything is lathered up and clean back there.

How to shave your back:

Step 1: Find a friend/lover/assistant

Before trying to shave your back alone, ask your partner or someone, you trust if they’d be willing to help you. Like The Legend of Zelda says, it’s dangerous to go alone. If not, there’s still a couple of options available.

Step 2: Shower

If you have someone else helping out, then definitely put on some shaving cream or gel. If not, and you’re going at this alone, then the next thing you’ll want to do is take a shower to soften up your hair.

Step 3: Apply Shaving cream or gel

After your shower and you’re all dried up, apply some shaving cream or gel to your back. I recommend getting an extended applicator tool because trying to reach all of those spots on your back will be difficult.

Step 4: Shave

Using either the electric Mangroomer or Bakblade, start to shave your back. Make sure you have a steady, easy to see mirror available so you can see what you’re doing; otherwise, you run the risk of missing a spot, or worse, cutting open a mole or pimple. Be gentle, and go slow during your shave. 

Don’t forget your shoulders while you’re back there. Remember, we want to keep things nice and even.

Step 5: Follow-up shower

After you’re done shaving, hit the showers again for a post-trim rinse. Use a bathroom brush that has an extended handle so that you’ll be able to scrub yourself. This way, you’ll exfoliate and heal your skin after your shave.

Tools of the trade:

There are quite a few options available for personal back grooming for dudes who are a bit self-conscious and unlikely to ask for help. Before using either of the shavers below, make sure you have a fool-proof mirror design so that you can avoid any moles or skin tags and guarantee you won’t miss a spot.

The Platinum Pro

Platinum Pro

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, then The Platinum Pro by Mangroomer is the electric back razor you’ve been looking for. As you can probably tell, Mangroomer’s back-razors are designed with a solo job in mind, as its handle extends long enough to reach the hardest to reach spots on your back.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, then The Platinum Pro by Mangroomer is the electric back razor you’ve been looking for.

As you can probably tell, Mangroomer’s back-razors are designed with a solo job in mind, as its handle extends long enough to reach the hardest to reach spots on your back. It boasts about its “shock absorber flex heads,” which are meant to help with bumps or anything on your back. This is the best electric back razor for men who want to go at it alone.

Bakblade 2.0

Bakblade

Some men don’t want to use an electric razor. If you fall into that category, the Bakblade 2.0 is another option to consider.

Some men don’t want to use an electric razor. If you fall into that category, the Bakblade 2.0 is another option to consider.

The handle on the Bakblade is extended to reach all of your back, but what I appreciate is the company’s “Dryglide” technology. “Dryglide” allows you the choice to either dry or wet shave your back (for some dudes, it might be easier to trim in the shower). With its extended handle and smooth finish, the Bakblade 2.0 is the choice for men looking to shave their backs by themselves without an electric razor.

Shower brush

After you’re done shaving your back, make sure that you clean that area up with a good shower brush. This one, in particular, has a wooden handle, as well as a double sided head. You don’t just use a washcloth, but you can find shower brushes in most department stores. Even if you’re not planning on any back grooming, getting a good shower brush is a grooming game-changer.

Let’s talk about pubes.

Dudefluencer: Shave your pubes

Let’s talk about pubes.

Here we go. All throughout high school, I let my bush roam free, a jungle of curly hairs that too frequently found themselves left behind on bars of soap. I had no idea what to do with my pubes, and I didn’t want to ask my dad. And especially not my friends.

So I continued to grow it out, unaware that there were any alternatives. Then, after watching a film in which an unsuspecting plumber became involved in an all-too-real love triangle filled with innuendo, lust, and the impracticalities of having too big a wrench, I had an idea. 

(Yes, I’m talking about porn. But pubescent debauchery isn’t the point.) 

The bigger deal was that I realized I could go completely clean-shaven.

It would be impossible to write an article entitled the manly man’s guide to manscaping without spending a significant amount of time in the pubic area. I mean, that’s kind of what everyone thinks of when they hear the words manscaped nowadays. But proper grooming of your pubic hair isn’t just for fashion. It’s actually a cleanliness thing too.

Don’t use your beard trimmer on your nether regions.

We’ve all been there before, right before the shower, we decide we need a trim downstairs. We reach for the beard trimmer on the countertop. Like a guardian angel, I’m going to pause the story right there. Don’t do it, don’t use the same trimmer on your face that you do on your balls.

First off, it’s not designed to trim hair on your pubic region, which means it’s not as gentle as it should be and is likely to lead to more nicks and cuts than desired. Because of the different bacteria on our body, those nicks and scratches could lead to a staph infection on your face. Seriously, it’s not worth the risk to use the same equipment on your bush and face.

Just buy a second trimmer.

Shave in the shower.

Ask any man who’s shaved their pubic hair about the mess it can make. There’s a reason why Manscaped includes many newspapers for under your pubes during the shave. But from my experience, the best place to actually trim your down-there jungle is in the shower.

If you decide to clean up in the shower, it allows you to soften the hair at your pubes, making it a bit easier to cut and trim. Also, there’s no mess as it all goes down the drain (yes, this will eventually lead to a clogged drain, but just be aware of that, and it won’t be a big issue). The warm water provides an easy way to keep your razor clean while you’re shaving.

What’s nice is many companies recognize the benefits of trimming, so they have made their body groomers waterproof. That doesn’t mean you can leave them in the shower. It just means you can use them while you’re showering.

A waterproof body groomer and a nice shower can make all of the difference between a messy, disorganized shave and a welcoming, refreshing trim.

Be careful.

Would Guy Fieri rush his patented Triple B burger and forget the Donkey Sauce? Hell no. So why would you rush while shaving your junk? Okay, so these two analogies aren’t even remotely close together, but I promised myself that I’ll find a way to include Guy Fieri into my men’s guide to manscaping.

But seriously, don’t rush. Take your time. When in the shower, make sure that every stroke of your razor goes in the direction of the grain of your hair. If you go the opposite way, you’re much more likely to get something caught or pulled. When trimming the hairs on your testicles, keep your skin taut to create a flatter surface. Shaving your pubic hair might be a little nerve-wracking at first, but once you get the hang of it, the fear will go away.

While you’re down there, do a testicular cancer check.

Since you’re already being delicate and shaving around your testicles, it’s important to take the time to check for any bumps or signs of testicular cancer. On our episode of The Dudecast with Justin Birchbickler, the founder of A Ballsy Sense of Tumor, Birchbickler highlighted the best way to perform a testicular checkup:

“Best done during or after a shower when the scrotum is relaxed, a self-exam is a quick and effective way to catch testicular cancer early on. Just place your index and middle fingers under the testicle with your thumb on top. Firmly but gently, roll the testicle between your fingers. Any weird lumps or bumps should be checked out by a doctor ASAP. When you get out of the shower, be sure to look for signs of changes in shape, color, or swelling.”

Photo courtesy of A Ballsy Sense of Tumor

And even if you’re not grooming your pubes, at least do a quick check-in the shower once a month to make sure everything is okay down there.

How to shave your pubic region:

Step 1: Get out the trimmers

Before putting the electric trimmer to dong jungle, make sure you select the length you’d like it to be. The same length as your chest hair or one below works well when blending together. After that, trim away. You can do this either in the shower or outside of it; just make sure you have a plan for clean up afterward. No one wants to see your pubes on the toilet seat.

Step 2: Shower

It bears repeating: take a shower after any trim of your pubic region. It will help clean up any excess hairs, and more importantly, exfoliate your skin. If you’re going to use a razor, I recommend doing it in the shower under the water.

Step 3: Shave

You’re going to want to be really careful here as you’re going to be putting a razor closer to one of the more sensitive areas on your body. Check your razor for any dull blades because you don’t want to get a cut or infection in your pubic area.

Hold your skin taut to create a nice flat area and short, gentle strokes all throughout. Go with the grain here. Use the water to rinse off the blade after each short stroke and if you’re using shaving cream, obviously stay out of the water.

Step 4: Rinse up

After you’re all done shaving, you’re going to want to rinse everything off using a good, healthy soap. Ensure you clean up any excess hairs left on the shaft, testicles, and pubic area.

Step 5: Moisturize and deodorize

Once you’re out of the shower, dry up and throw on some scent-free moisturizer. You want to prevent any ingrown hairs from popping up as they can easily be infected and painful. And lastly, dab a little ball deodorant on your testicles as a way to stop chafing, and fight off any gross ball smells that might come from moving around all day.

Tools of the trade:

Thankfully there are more tools for manscaping than I ever thought possible, which is why it was hard for me to narrow this list down to just three. So I didn’t. For trimming your pubic hair, I’m going to give you five items that I think are the bare minimum needed for a healthy, safe, and rewarding grooming session.

Panasonic Electric Body Hair Trimmer and Groomer for Men

The best men’s pubic hair trimmer is the Panasonic Electric Body Hair Trimmer. This particular body groomer has been specifically designed to minimize nicks and cuts while shaving. This smaller sized trimmer provides a smooth, safe cut that’s better than any other pubic hair groomer on the market.

It’s stainless steel blade and long, rechargeable battery life is pretty awesome.

Use the Panasonic Body Hair Trimmer as the opener to trim those hairs down a bit before using any razors.

Gillette Body Razors

Sadly, these razors are no longer available through Gillette. I’ve only found the Gillette Body Razors on sale at Amazon. But I can tell you from experience, there has been no other razor that I’ve been willing to put near my junk than this one. Since I first tried it out four years ago, this has been my go-to.

It provides a smooth, close shave without any of the scrapes and scratches other blades have caused. I seriously love this blade, and there’s no other body grooming razor that I’d include in the manly man’s guide to manscaping.

Art of Shaving Body Razor

Body Razor

The Art of Shaving Rubberized Body Razor, is something every dude should have in their shower. Designed by Bolin Webb, the rubberized grip is perfect for maintaining control while trying to shave those problematic parts in the shower.

Another hard-to-find tool, the Art of Shaving Rubberized Body Razor, is something every dude should have in their shower. Designed by Bolin Webb, the rubberized grip is perfect for maintaining control while trying to shave those problematic parts in the shower. If you’re able to pick up the Gillette Body Razors, use them with this handle, and I promise you shaving your pubes will feel so much easier.

I needed to include this body razor in my manscaping guide because it is the only one I’ve found that I’ve trusted and fallen in love with. Shaving your pubic area can be tricky, so you want to have the tools at your disposal to make it as stress-free as possible.

Art of Shaving Lavender Shaving Cream

Our Pick
Art of shaving

The Art of Shaving Lavender Shaving Cream lathers, moisturizes, and protects the skin from irritation all while providing you with a soft, smooth shave.

If you can’t tell already, the Art of Shaving has many underrated body grooming tools available online, and their Lavender Shaving Cream is definitely one of them. Throw it on before your shower or during, and it will help prevent any unnecessary cuts and scrapes while grooming. I don’t use this product as much as I used to (prefer no shaving cream while in the shower), but I think it’s a good product if you’re looking for a men’s grooming cream that won’t irritate your pubic region.

Crop Preserver Anti-Chafing Ball Deodorant

Manscaped’s product I recommend more than any other is their Crop Preserver Anti-Chafing Ball Deodorant.

You may have seen Manscaped’s ads for their popular Lawn Mower (I’m not a big fan to be honest), but I had never heard of such a thing as ball deodorant, but as I’ve picked up running again, I don’t know if I could go without it anymore. (My wife says I shouldn’t either.)

Just put a little dab in your hand after your shower, rub it in, and that’s it. There is no more worrying about chafing. It does a decent enough job getting rid of that sweaty-ball stank that comes around after exercising. 

Should I shave my butt?

Dudefluencer: Shave your butt

Do you suffer from a hairy ass? Is your butthole itchy? Should I shave my ass? All questions I never planned on Googling, and now my Youtube Ads are dangerously specific. But, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve at least thought about these questions at some point in your lifetime, and the manly man’s guide to manscaping wouldn’t be complete without a little bit about the derriere.

According to GQ, you should keep your butt hair under control. Manscaped agrees with that sentiment. And now you can add Dudefluencer to the list of men’s magazines that cares way more about butt hair than one would ever believe.

Trimming your butt needs to be done as carefully as shaving your pubes because there’s just as high a risk of infection from an accidental cut or scrape. So imagine the difficulty of trying to shave your back, with the dangers of shaving your pubes, and you’ve got what makes butt shaving so tricky. Our manly man’s guide to manscaping will offer you a couple of tips and tricks learned along the way, as well as share some of the reasons why you should think about shaving that hairy bum.

You really should think about trimming your ass hair.

There are actually a ton of good reasons why you should think about trimming your butt hair. Let’s say you go for a run, a nice long run that ends with you coming home sweaty. You can smell yourself. It’s gross. Worse yet, it’s seeped into the hair on the top of your head. Now think about what that smell is around the hair on your butt. Even worse.

Whether you realize it or not, your butt hair collects odor and sweat like the rest of the hair on your body. The difference is that all that smell and odor is then trapped in your boxers, creating an unappealing stench that pops up every time you drop your drawers. Let’s not do this.

Ditch the itch (and dingleberries).

Two more reasons why you should shave your butt hair: itchy buttholes and dingleberries. Let’s start with the first: itchy buttholes. You’ve probably experienced this once or twice in your lifetime, and its causes can be many—too dirty a butthole, too clean a butthole, maybe even hemorrhoids. But one prevention method towards avoiding an itchy bum is to trim those hairs. It’s easy for dirt and grime to get stuck in there and even causes extra moisture, which is more likely to cause swamp ass (and itchiness).

Another potential reason your butt is itchy is because of dingleberries. You know what I’m talking about: those little pieces of poop that get stuck in your bum hairs after a poor wipe job. Part of the reason why they’re stuck in your hair is that your butt is just too hairy. 

How to shave your butt:

Step 1: Trim

It’s almost as all of the ways to shave in our manly man’s guide to grooming highlight the same first step: trim. Seriously, if you haven’t invested in a body groomer by this point, what are you waiting for? Do it. And then get started trimming that butt hair.

Step 2: Shower

If you decide to trim while in the shower, make sure you have a bath mat or something to maintain your grip because it will require some maneuvering to cut all of that butt hair. The nice part of a shower, though, is that it will clean up any excess hair and allow the skin on your bum to heal up a bit.

Step 3: Get the hairs between your cheeks.

Some websites might suggest that you’ll need to bust out a razor, but let me tell you something, the only thing worse than razor bumps are razor bumps on your ass. Instead, take your trimmer, and make your way between those butt cheeks. This is where the maneuvering will get difficult; some folks would suggest using a mirror during this section. That’s up to you (you’ll probably not miss any spots that way).

Step 4: Exfoliate

The skin, like the rest of the skin on your body, should be exfoliated after your shower. Find yourself a good body wash that will help moisturize and heal your skin.

Conclusion

Men who are unsure of whether or not they should start body grooming, the man’s guide to manscaping suggests starting small. It’s never a bad idea to get those annoying hairs taken care of to enhance your appearance, but also prevent any infections or bacteria from spreading.

Do you have any body grooming tips that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments below.

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