Is Manscaping Right for You? 5 Tips for Beginners
Do you ever look back on those videos from the 80's and early 90's and cringe? You know, the big hair, the out-of-control body hair, and the seedy mustaches.
None of that looks good now, and you certainly don’t want to allow yourself to slip into an unkempt 80's look because you’re not taking care of yourself.
Call it what you want: manscaping, grooming, or caring about your appearance. The point is that making the effort to look razor-sharp will make you feel better about yourself.
You’ll probably be happier, more confident, and have an improved outlook in your day-to-day life. And most people around you notice that increased confidence and respond positively to it.
5 Top Tips for Manscaping
So, is manscaping right for you? Absolutely. Now let’s look at some tips about it.
1. Beard Care is a Must
It’s a great time to have a beard considering how incredibly fashionable they’ve become over the past couple of years.
Considering that the majority of men look good with a beard, this is great news. However, growing a beard shouldn’t be an excuse to let your facial hair run wild. You still need to maintain it, even if you do plan on growing a beard that’d make Zeus jealous.
Make sure that you do some weekly maintenance on your beard. Take care of any out-of-place cheek hairs that are growing a few centimeters above your beard, keep the lower portion of your neck trimmed or clean-shaven, and make use of beard oils – they moisturize and protect your skin, as well as help your beard look neater and healthier.
You may also want to see a barber every couple of months just to shape it up a little – some guys grow some really strange beard patterns!
A short beard is generally easier to maintain. All you have to do is go over it with a pair of scissors or a beard trimmer once a week. If you’re looking for convenience and maximum precision, the beard trimmer is a much better choice.
You just need to choose your preferred guard length and get started. And even with a short beard, you’ll still want to do a bit of housekeeping around the edges and neck to give your beard a nice, clean look.
2. Trim Your Body Hair
Sometimes our body hair gets a little too wild. That doesn’t mean you have to scorch the earth and shave it all off (your choice, really), but a little tidying up doesn’t hurt.
If you do decide to bring out the scissors, make sure that you give them a good cleaning with alcohol before and after your manscaping session to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Needless to say, the scissors you use on your body hair should be used only for trimming your body hair, so you might want to think about buying a pair of scissors designed specifically for cutting hair.
They’re comfortable and allow for better precision when snipping away at those strands of hair. You should be able to find them at any local beauty supply store and some supermarkets.
If you’re a fan of completely shaving your body hair off, do it in the shower or immediately after. The water will help lubricate your skin while removing dirt and oils, plus the warm temperature is soothing on your skin.
Just make sure that you use proper shaving gel, preferably with aloe, and not lathered-up bar soap. Irritated skin is the last thing you want to have.
3. Keep Your Skin Moisturized
While it’s generally a good idea to keep your skin moisturized regardless of whether you manscape or not, it’s especially important to do so if you frequently shave body hair.
Even though people don’t really think about shaving as a big deal, pulling a sharp, metal object across your skin is actually doing a number on it – that’s one of the reasons why people get razor burn.
Moisturizers filled with soothing agents like camphor or aloe are great for protecting your skin and removing any irritation, and they’ll even help with any post-shave itching. The Hims Everyday Moisturizer is a perfect solution after a shower or a shave.
It’s official. Hims is a hit.
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4. Don’t Use Your Beard Trimmer For Body Hair
If you have a run-of-the-mill beard trimmer or hair clippers, you might get the urge to use them for manscaping purposes. After all, it seems like a quick and easy way to trim your body hair. And in some ways, they’re definitely helpful.
However, electric trimmers can actually be pretty abrasive and could cause serious discomfort in areas with soft, sensitive skin. Also, you don’t want to use the same equipment that trims your hair or beard on the rest of your body hair.
Doing so places you at risk for a number of different types of skin-related issues as you transmit bacteria from one area of your body to another.
If you do want to use an electric hair clipper for your body hair, buy one solely for that purpose and don’t use it for anything else.
There are a few out there on the market that are designed for manscaping purposes and come with a number of different guards and other attachments, like the nose hair trimmer.
If you want something electronic to handle more sensitive areas, have a look at a device called an epilator.
They’re usually a little more expensive than a pair of clippers but are great for removing hair in those delicate areas.
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5. Be Gentle
Regardless of where on your body you’re manscaping, you want to take your time and do it gently. If you rush through the process, you’re going to irritate your skin and could cut yourself in the process.
If you intend to shave a thick patch of hair, you’ll want to trim it down with scissors before you take a razor to it. This will not only save you time, it’ll prevent your razor from getting clogged with hair every couple of minutes.
Now that we’ve covered these five basic tips, you’re ready to start manscaping. Just remember that we all have our own different preferences and styles, so go about grooming in a way that works best for you. But seriously, don’t manscape with the razors, scissors, and clippers you use on your face.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.