Summer always conjures up images of smooth, tanned legs as warmer weather brings them out of hiding. Big butts and shorter hemlines encourage women to keep their legs smooth, some members of the image-conscious male population wonder: how about shaving your legs for men?
Hair removal has become a dominant presence in the global economy, with an estimated value of $4.01 billion in 2019 and aprojected revenue of 4.94 billionby 2027. While these numbers have historically been dominated by a female demographic, demand for men's grooming products has clearly increased in recent years.
Are you curious to shave your legs?
Wondering if this could be the next male grooming trend?
Keep reading to learn more about the male tradition of shaving your legs and what the benefits might be for you.
The tradition of shaving the legs
Many of us associate shaving our legs with more feminine rituals. It's hard to remember a time when men's waxing was more common than women's body waxing.
Interestingly, men have been shaving their legs for much longer than women. Shaving the legs has historically been a male ritual. Ancient Egyptian men used to remove all body hair as a sign of class and nobility.
While women in ancient Greece shaved their bodies as a form of femininity, this practice lay dormant in most cultures for many years. It wasn't until the 1920s and the evolution of "womanhood" that this view was revived. Suddenly,leg waxingbecame associated with shorter hemlines and revealing bathing suits.
In the early 20th century, men (mostly swimmers, cyclists and some non-runners) started shaving their legs again, this time to improve performance. This practice became an enduring practice that is still practiced by male athletes across the world.
Benefits of shaving legs for men
Many men already participatehair removaland leg shaving. They find some important benefits in practice and can't help but enjoy how their skin feels after shaving unwanted body hair.
Are you worried that your preference is toounusualolittle masculinewhy do you take this seriously? Don't worry about that!According to a recent survey, more than 33% of the men interviewed admitted to having shaved their legs; 15% of respondents even said they shave their legs completely!
The reasons for shaving your legs can vary, but these are the most common reasons for men.
sexual attraction
Many modern men choose to shave or "human landscape" to maintain their preferred appearance. Many romantic partners find this appearance attractive and support the preference.
Some men with thick or dark leg hair feel more confident in shorts and bathing suits if they've shaved beforehand. This is a personal preference that may even vary by season!
Shaving thick or dense hair can help you show off those leg muscles you've worked so hard to build. It's easier to see muscle definition without a thick layer of hair covering the surface!
sporting advantage
Many high-level athletes have normalized the practice of body shaving. Professional swimmers, cyclists, triathletes and bodybuilders traditionally shave their body hair, including the legs.
Shaving is known to decrease active resistance and increase the efficiency of a swimmer's stroke. Drag is a type of force that resists the forward motion of a body moving through a fluid.in some studies, distance per stroke increased by 5% in swimmers who shaved their legs.
For cyclists and triathletes, well-shaven legs can make it easier to remove bandages, bandages, Velcro, and braces. It can also be psychological.some cyclistsreported feeling "slowed down" if they hadn't shaved before a run.
In bodybuilding, shaving the legs is necessary for the day of the show, as the physique and muscle definition must be clearly visible to the judges.
For all athletes, recovery tools and deep tissue work can be easier without extra body hair.
Wound healing and skin care
Often, dressings and topical treatments need to be applied to a sore or painful part of the leg. Shaving the leg can speed up the healing process or make access to treatment easier. Remember: it is better to apply an ointment directly to the affected area than to the surrounding leg hair!
If your injury or condition requires bandages or bandages, shaving your hair before applying the bandage will minimize the painful burns and tears that accompany removing the patch from your skin. If you're not interested in experiencing the waxing sensation, we recommend shaving before curling!
Preparation and display of tattoos
Excess hair can impede the visibility of the artwork you paid so much to design and tattoo on your calf, ankle or thigh. Many men shave all or part of their leg to improve the appearance of their body art. Others will need to shave before any new sessions.
If this is your preference, you will need to ensure your tattoo is fully healed before starting a shaving or trimming ritual. Accidentally cutting or opening your tattoo with a razor will be a painful and devastating event. While healing time can vary, most experts recommend 5 to 10 days of healing time before using a razor or power trimmer on the area again.
How to shave leg hair
You will need to consider your hair type, thickness and desired result before selecting.the correct shaving method. For some, a full, close shave will work best for their style and practical needs (cosmetics, athletics, tattoos, wounds, and skin care). For others, just reduce the thickness!
We will guide you through the two methods below.
full shave
With a full shave, the key is to implement a proper grooming and recovery routine to avoid minor cuts, bumps or burns. You will complete the process in five complete steps:
- preparing the skin
- Trim to any thickness needed with an electric trimmer
- Lathering a protective barrier
- Shave close to the skin with a sharp razor
- soothe the skin
First, you will need to prepare the skin. Since dead skin cells can inhibit a close shave, softening the skin with a warm bath or shower and exfoliating with the proper cleanser or exfoliating brush will help smooth the hairs and open the pores.
If you've never shaved your legs before or let your hair grow a little wild for a while, you may need to trim your hair down to a level your razor can handle. Remember: a clogged blade is a useless blade! For trimming, use an electric trimmer to cut the hair to the shortest possible length.
Once you've prepared your skin and hair for a close shave, you'll need to lather up with a high-quality shaving soap or cream to protect your skin's barrier and allow the razor to glide smoothly over your skin's surface. Skipping this step could result in a sore and bloody leg, it's not worth it!
Shaving with a high-quality razor will also go a long way in ensuring you limit skin irritation and maximize the closest possible shave. Once you get to this main step, make sure you shave:
- In the direction the hair grows for sensitive skin
- In an upward motion for a closer shave
- With long, straight strokes, and avoid pressing too hard
- Rinse the blade after each use.
After shaving, remember to soften the skin barrier with a mild lotion or cream. This can help you avoid any lingering irritation or dry skin.
Most will need to shave the area every other day and moisturize daily.
just a clipping
If you don't need a close shave but prefer to lock in the thickness of your hair, the undercut might be a better option for you. By purchasing a pair of clippers with attachments (something we encourage all men to have for grooming), you can choose the right clipper head for your preferred length.
If you're limited to one cut, we recommend cutting down to half an inch. Anything less than half an inch can be itchy, itchy, and rough if you don't shave with a close razor.
There are two types of electric shavers: dry and wet electric shavers.
The most common type is the dry electric shaver, which allows you to get a quick shave on your legs at any time.
To trim leg hair with an electric trimmer, follow similar steps to shaving.
- Exfoliate or prep your legs with hot water
- Dry the legs so the electric trimmer can glide smoothly over the surface.
- Turn on the device and move up, from the ankle to the thighs.
- Repeat as many times as necessary to get an even, consistent cut.
- Rinse or wipe with a towel
- Follow with a gentle moisturizer
You can try following a once-a-week cutting schedule to start. If you feel you need to increase frequency, consider duration. Always follow up with a daily moisturizer, even if you're not using a razor.
Avoid ingrown hairs
Aside from maintenance, ingrown hairs can be the most painful aspect of shaving your legs. Fortunately, it's very normal and easy to prevent.
An ingrown hair is a shaved hair that grows back into the skin, resulting in an inflamed follicle and a nasty cyst. These painful, inflamed lumps are often filled with oil and pus on the skin and can be difficult to treat.
There are standard shaving recommendations that can be implemented to prevent ingrown hairs. These include:
- Exfoliate properly to get rid of dead skin that can trap hair and turn it into painful bumps.
- Use the sharpest razor possible to avoid an uneven shave
- Use lukewarm water or hot towels to open your pores.
- Shave with the grain if you are prone to ingrown hairs
Ingrown hairs tend to be more common in people with thick hair. If you have thick, dense leg hair, you must be very mindful of the steps you are taking to prep, shave, and treat your skin after shaving.
Pros and cons of shaving your legs
Still wondering if this is the right routine for you? Certainly, committing to a shaving ritual has advantages and disadvantages.
Professionals include:
- Aesthetics and sex appeal
- The ability to improve your athletic performance
- Easier to treat certain skin lesions and conditions that require monitoring or topical treatment
- tattoo display
There may also be cons to consider. Men's shaving cons include:
- Significant maintenance and required maintenance
- cost of shaving supplies
- May irritate the skin
Remember: there is no right or wrong choice when it comes to shaving or how you decide to shave.body hair care--oHair removal--It's an extremely personal decision.
try something new
Clearly, shaving legs for men is a tradition that has been around for quite some time. If you want to improve your grooming routine or just see what it looks like, we recommend choosing the right shaving tools and giving them a try.
What could happen worse? It will always grow back!
Are you interested in cleaning up your look? Start by buying the right product for the job.Browse our inventoryof body care systems and complete kits. Start shaving, in any season.
FAQs
Do girls like guys with hairy legs? ›
A quarter (26%) find men's hairy legs attractive (21% of men and 30% of women said this). Among 16-24-year-old women, 57% – a rate significantly more than any other age/gender group – say hairy legs on women are neither attractive nor unattractive.
How often should I shave my legs as a man? ›There's really no set rule or right or wrong answer for how often you need to shave. In general, shave every two to three days for a smooth feel and three to five days if you aren't worried about a prickly leg.
Is it acceptable for men to shave their legs? ›Plenty of modern men choose to shave or "manscape" in order to maintain their preferred appearance. Many romantic partners find this look to be attractive and support the preference. Some men with dense or dark leg hair feel more confident in shorts and swimming suits if they've shaved beforehand.
What percentage of men Manscape their body hair? ›If you're thinking about trimming it up, you're not alone. According to a U.S. study, just over half of men surveyed — 50.5 percent, to be exact — reported regular pubic grooming.
Do straight guys shave their legs? ›The majority of men are not completely shaving their legs, but more than 33 percent admitted that “I don't shave clean, but I do use a trimmer to cut it down.” And 15 percent are shaving completely. So that adds up to nearly half of the men we surveyed doing something about their leg hair.
Does manscaping include legs? ›Can you use MANSCAPED tools with leg hair? That's a definite yes. The Lawn Mower™ 4.0 was designed for full-body grooming. While we recommend using separate trimmers (or blades) for the face and the body, this trimmer can tackle any body hair.