26 Dec Hairy Men… Hot or Not?
In a world where men and women are considered equal, we could argue that it’s no big deal for men to have to go through the same tedious and painful hair removal processes as women. At the same time, though, are women willing to give up precious time in the bathroom so that men can pluck, shave and preen? Most importantly, will we find them just as attractive once we’ve learnt that they’re rushing off for their weekly waxing appointment or will we consider them shallow and possibly even feminine?
Historically, men have been shaving regularly since World War I, but it became more of a grooming habit thanks to the requirements of the U.S. Army and the development of Gillette’s safety razor. Prior to that, ancient Egyptians were believed to have used crude tools for shaving, primarily for religious and aesthetic reasons, as well as to combat parasitic infestations.
The Female Preference
What women want has always been one of life’s long mysteries and whether the majority prefer hairy versus smooth men, remains largely unanswered.
One reader, Rigmor, suggests that women should let men be men. “I don’t want to have to wait my turn for the mirror. I am probably old fashioned but men should only venture into the shaving world in order to be, as they say in Italian, ‘curato’. So yes, of course cut your hair, cut your nails (all of them) and remove the extras on your back, ears, and nose, but leave your chests and legs alone. In essence, men should only worry about personal cleanliness and scent, trimming only occasionally for the sake of neatness.”
Another reader, Ana, responds to the mainstream opinion that men should be smooth, by saying that hairless guys “make her shudder” and that she’s not comfortable dating a man that is smoother than she is. Ana goes on to say that she prefers a medium hairy man, preferably without back hair, because “real men have hair on their arms, legs, and chest – a soft, cozy, lightweight blanket of sexiness”.
So despite this plucking, waxing and shaving frenzy, there seem to be plenty of women who love hairy me. They describe them as rugged, manly, masculine beasts with torrid levels of testosterone and raging libidos. Claiming that hairy men stir within them an animalistic desire that is unparalleled, these women also praise the warmth and comfort that a nice man-rug provides. Even a Sasquatch-crotch is insanely attractive to some ladies, claiming that the man sacs are akin to stuffed animals, soft and fun to play with.
Men and Manscaping
While it may seem like a strange idea to most men and women, manscaping is a popular term used to describe the art of male hair removal. Whether it’s obvious or subtle waxing, plucking, shaving or shaping, more men than you might imagine are getting baby smooth for themselves and their mates.
When asked why they are so willing to undergo painful hair removal processes, two reasons were prominent among the guys. Other than the obvious benefits of cleanliness and acceptance in today’s society, some silky-smooth men are hoping to show off a tattoo, a sculptured six-pack or accentuate their “package”.
But some guys find this level of grooming to be unnecessary. One reader, Russel, talks about the many hours his brother spends in the bathroom each day. According to him “straight men are becoming gayer than gays”. He says that he doesn’t have time for such plucking and grooming and wonders how women (and men) don’t find ultra-smooth guys to be less masculine?
This level of grooming is growing in acceptance as Kathryn, a local aesthetician, explains, “I wax men and women for a living, and my male clientele has been growing steadily for years,” she says. She goes on to describe the diversity of her clients, and says that regarding age and profession, “there’s no one type or one reason, why they want to wax. “ Individual reasons for manscaping, vary, but it’s rarely about equality and more about cleanliness and vanity.”
Still, there are also readers like Christine who state that they “would never kiss a man with a beard or a moustache” as there might be something unhygienic hidden inside. She continues to say that a bit of chest hair is fine, but shaved legs and the presence of back hair are both big NO NO’s!
Referring to body hair, a female reader named Mirielle states, “you either have it or you don’t. And in this case, it’s a lot better if you don’t!” She goes on to describe a tuft of hair on the chest as manly and fun, but states a full coat is a turn-off, even if waxed regularly because sooner or later, he’s likely going to give in and let it grow.
Admitting to her fetish of running her fingers through a head of man hair, Mirelle also mentioned her disapproval of the newly popular beard growing frenzy and the plucking of male eyebrows. For what she refers to as ‘the obvious bits’, Mirelle describes pubic hair as having a purpose on the male body, and should not be cause for alarm, nor require dangerous antics for their removal.
The changing desires of modern women are evident when considering the male idols worshipped twenty years ago versus the men that make us hot today. Women have gone from swooning over hairy guys like Pierce Brosnan and Tom Selleck to going gaga over men with significantly less coverage, such as Ryan Gosling and Gerard Butler.
This suggests that most women prefer a happy medium… somewhere in the middle between Alec Baldwin and Leonardo di Caprio. While some may enjoy gripping a tuft of manly chest hair, the mood will likely be ruined with excessive carpeting across the shoulders and back. Additionally, trimming the hedges around crucial areas will do a man no good if the rest is still begging to be mowed.
*This article was first published on Pink Magazine
