More than Half of Men Are Ashamed of Their Body Hair

Body hair happens. For some, it happens a lot more than others. We learn about this in the very first lessons in health class or — perhaps even more embarrassing — from our parents. Body hair is a reality of life for most men, but if you are particularly blessed, the issue can actually lead to poor self-esteem, a new survey suggests.

According to the New York Post, new research provided by OnePoll (on behalf of shaving tool company BAKBlade) suggests that manly men from all walks of life are ashamed of the natural hair which grows in various spots of their bodies. From a sample size of 2,000 men, 55% of those surveyed admitted to being ashamed of their hairy selves. Perhaps even more saddening is the fact that 20% reported “often” feeling ashamed of their body hair.

So why not just get out the razor or grab a sturdy body hair trimmer and knock down the hedges or trim back the grass? BAKBlade CEO Matt Dryfhout claims that the primary issue is one of masculine pride, outdated or no.

“When most men think of having better ‘grooming habits’ they often think of going into a salon and waiting for their name to be called for their waxing session,” Dryfhout said. “Who wants that?”

As it turns out, 44% of men surveyed said that they consider top-shelf grooming habits as “unmanly,” and 62% of guys said they’d never shaved their back — not even a single time. Surprisingly, more men had shaved their legs than had shaved their back, with 47% of men admitting to having stripped their legs of hair at least once.

There is at least some degree of curiosity present in even the most staunch opponents of shaving one’s body hair, however. Nearly half of male subjects in the survey confessed to having experimented at least once with their partner’s grooming products, and the average fellow coughs up just under $40 on grooming products per month.

The tides may be shifting in favor of a more clean-shaven male image, according to Dryfhout.

“While men, overall, are getting more curious in the area of grooming, it is the millennials that are showing the most curiosity,” he said. “The biggest hurdle has been showing men options available to them while at the same time letting them know how easy it can be.”

What’s old is new again, after all. While thick stubble, lumberjack chops and well-oiled pirate beards still seem to be all the rage among greater male culture, those with longer memories can probably remember the thick, furry chests (and truly epic mustaches) once proudly rocked by guys like Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit and Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I.

With that history lesson in masculinity in mind, it may be time to either embrace your body hair with manly pride — or to pick up a razor, some shave gel, and have at it.

Please follow and like us: