The modern man has a lot to consider when it comes to their personal appearance and style. There’s your choice of clothes and accessories, and the way you style your hair and groom (or shave) your facial hair. There are plenty of articles, magazines, and other media to help you decide the best path forward on those items.
But then there are those pesky and less enjoyable subjects to discuss. Like Chest Hari. Should you shave your chest hair? Trim it? Let it run wild?
Unfortunately, there’s not an “en vogue” answer, but fear not; I think we can still help you figure out what to do with your chest hair. Fear not, we still think we can help.
Pop Culture Doesn’t Answer The Question
Often, men will look to Hollywood for a style role-model, and when you apply this to chest hair, you see the “swinging pendulum” effect of style. Let me explain: In the 60’s and 70’s, a full curly mane of chest hair was all the rage. Actors like Tom Selleck and Roger Moore were on top of the world and were often depicted bare-chested, their follicles flying like flags in the wind. Fast forward to the early 2000’s, and the scene has changed. Films like Magic Mike and 300 redefined the ultimate man as a smooth one, and not without some reasons: abs and pecs look more defined, and many find smooth skin to be appealing. But now, the pendulum has started to swing the other way. The beard movement is just one indicator of a return to an age of more rugged, traditionally “manly-looking” styles, but the hairless man is still heavily represented in media and pop culture. So, if celebrities can’t be our guide, what do we do?
Why Do Men Care About This Subject? Women!
GQ Magazine surveyed six women and asked them what they thought about chest hair on a man, and no surprise, their responses ranged widely. Unfortunately, when it comes to the question of “do women like chest hair,” there is no one answer. So, the next step is to ask the person that matters: your significant other. A simple conversation with your girl can set you on the right path when it comes to your chest grooming decisions. But let’s say you don’t have that luxury, either. For whatever reason, you’re left to decide on your own what to do with that curly mess under your shirt. Fortunately, we have some general rules of thumb when it comes to chest hair grooming.
Say No To Stubble!
Stubble is a no-go. If you do decide to go hairless, consider waxing or using a hair removal cream. Simply shaving will lead to stubble across the front of your body. This will be uncomfortable for you and downright painful for your partner! If shaving is your only option, try and do it right before bedroom fun-time.
Trim To Keep It Reasonable
Trim it if you’ve got it. If your manly mat could be describe as “gnarly,” then it’s time to find a good trimmer. As a rule, your chest hair shouldn’t show from under your shirt. This means no curlies poking out of your collar, but is also means your chest hair shouldn’t cause your shirt to puff out from your torso. A half inch is a good goal for length.
Make It Roar
Go for the “tiger line.” The tiger line is a line of hair that runs from the center of your chest down to your, ahem, other hairy area. Hairy-chested celebs like Hugh Jackman and David Hasselhoff prove that a good tiger line coming down from a triangle of chest hair is an all-around sexy look. If you’re not sure where to start with your chest hair, the tiger line is am all-around safe bet.
Don’t Pretend
Be honest with yourself about what you’ve got. Honesty time: I was not blessed with an abundance of body hair. In fact, I wear a goatee instead of a beard because my facial hair comes in too patchy. When it comes to chest hair, I just have a little hair around my nipples. I don’t like it, and neither does my wife, so I shave it off. By the way, I highly recommend a safety razor if you need to take off the hair from around your tender pepperonis. I’ve found that I have a way easier time with the precision edge of a safety razor versus a boxy cartridge. (Don’t have one? You Need a Safety Razor.) Trust me: shaving your nipples is NOT the time to cut yourself!
Meh….
Don’t worry too much about it. At the end of the day, the goal is to be confident and comfortable with your own image. If you’re happy with your current chest hair situation, then there’s no need to change what you’re doing. Ultimately, your attractiveness when it comes to finding a partner is going to depend on your personality, sense of humor, and charm. Generally speaking, if you’ve gotten to the point where clothes are coming off, your chest hair grooming isn’t going to make or break the night!
We may not have a specific answer when it comes to whether you should shave your chest hair or not, but we hope this guide sets you on the right self-grooming path. Not sure what to do with the hair on your face? Here’s 6 Reasons Why You Should Shave Your Beard.
