Men's Leg and Body Hair Removal

Hair Removal Methods Shaving/Trimming
#101

Hi Stuart!

I’ve been away for awhile and trying to catch up on some of the latests posts on hairtell. I’ve been thinking about a lot of the issues which you and others have brought up on this thread as well the “men shaving legs” thread. By sheer chance, I came across an article on the NYT about the recent demise of the men’s magzine called “Cargo”, which I have never read, or even heard of http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/fashion/sundaystyles/02cargo.html. Anyways, the interesting point about the article was that the magazine was considered an “authority” on men’s fashion and trends for some newspapers but the whipping boy of many others–one newspaper from British Columbia cited Cargo and noted that “it is now trendy for men to shave their pits”, while others commented on “men enjoying pampering too” and other recent trends. On the other hand, some papers such as The Washington Post, were highly critical of Cargo and indicted the magazine for “foppery, frippery, metrosexuality, the commercialization of everything and the wimpification of America.” The interesting thing and a point which the author of the article brings up is why was the magazine considered so “threatening” and why did it receive such criticism from some well established newspapers???

I really can’t understand why the public thinks it’s “gay, wimpy or unmanly” for guys to take care of themselves or enjoy such things as a spa, or looking good. We really shouldn’t have to justify or feel guilty about wanting to feel or look good–we only have one body and I think it’s pretty normal to want to take care of yourself and appearance. Why is this mocked or seen as a threat by some??? I remember reading once a long time ago, on the “men shaving legs” thread, that the average male might be secretly terrified of having to shave their legs or chest on a regular basis and this might explain such harsh criticism. Maybe, the average male is a slob and doesn’t care about his appearance but I suspect that a lot of guys would like to try body shaving or taking better care of themselves but are afraid of what others might think of them. I remember reading a recent article about breaking so-called cultural taboos–a well-known Polish actor goes to salons for tanning and other services and wrote that he doesn’t feel that salons are “the exclusive territory of women.” That makes sense–what in the world is wrong with guys getting waxed, having a massage or doing things which improve your general feeling of well-being? Unfortunately, a lot of these salons that cater to both men and women tend to be very expensive and geared to those with a lot of disposable income. Normal places with reasonable prices are pretty much the realm of women here and they seem surprised that a guy might want to get waxed or have a massage. We really need to stand up and not be ashamed of taking care of ourselves and the public should realize that not everyone wants to be a sweaty and furry animal!

Regards,

smoothlover

#102

Hi Smoothlover

One of the other benefits of shaving my legs that I have found is comfort and coolness when it is hot. As a teen when I had extremely long leg hair I had to sleep with my legs hanging out of bed to stop sweating. needless to say this led to backpain and uncomfortable nights.

It’s great now just to lie under the covers in comfort and peace and all the excess heat just vanishes. I can shower at night now with no night sweats (as long as my aircon works that is), get up in the morning and get going without a morning shower or any body odour. What a great way to start your day!

I would never go back to the old hairy leg days, thats just old fashioned and should be regarded as such.

Regards
Stuart

#103

Hi Stuart,

Hope you’re continuing to recover after the crash and will be up on your bike again soon!

I finally went in for some tests on my legs to find out why they often hurt and the reason for the purple blotches. Having smooth legs made it so much easier to do the USG tests and get rid of the all that gel which they smear up and down your legs–I really wouldn’t want to deal with getting that goop off hairy legs! Unfortunately, the results that I got back, weren’t what I wanted to hear. It looks like I’ve got some varicose veins forming and the fact that I’m really slim, makes broken blood vessels noticeable on the skin’s surface–hence the ugly purple blotches.

I’m going to see another doctor later this week about various forms of treatment. Hopefully, there’s a non-invasive method because I’m not really ready for having some veins ripped out. I’ve heard that laser can be used to treat broken blood vessels but I don’t know if it would have any effect on varicose veins.

Regards,

smoothlover

#104

Hi Smoothlover

I am back up on my feet again no problems left. Those varicose veins you may be able to treat with a gel that works well in SA. Here it is known as Thrombo Phob gel and is excellent for bruising and is said to work effectivly with varicose veins. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, maybe it will work for you.

All my extensive bruising from my accident is now gone thanks to this gel.

Regards
Stuart

#105

No fear NO hair <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Laser Hai [color:“red”] [/color] r Removal

#106

Hi Smoothlover

I read your post with interest. We all need to keep in mind that our lives are not a “dress reahsal for somebody else”. Shaving our male bodies is both our privilige and our right and anybody who stands in the way of those aspects is violating our human rights. Everybody that writes to this forum will die one day, and if we don’t do what we all prefer to do, we have not lived the lives we should have. I have now survived 2 potentially fatal car accidents, 4 tropical viruses that all could have killed me and I still drive and travel extensivly in Africa. I am also exposed to Malaria, Typhoid, Cholera and Yellow Fever at least 8 months of every year as well as assualt rifles held to my head for bribes.
Given these factors and the fact that I run 2 successfull manufacturing export companies I feel that leg and body hair shaving are minor issues. We need feel no shame of being called gay or sissies.

Kind Regards
Stuart

#107

Hi Stuart:

Obviously you don’t work for the South African tourist board, because you scared me with all of the perils you mentioned!

Seriously though, you are right about us having but one life to live, and we should live it being true to ourselves.

In the end when people call you names it is just childish and does not make it true. Even those who might be gay or transgendered have a right to be who they are, and should be proud that they are "real".

The name callers are phoney, and only get off on a reaction. The only reaction they should get is for you to walk proudly with your head held high. That is how you get back at them.

Alicia

#108

Hi Aliciadarling

No I don’t work for the RSA tourist board. All I have described has happened to me in over 7 African countries across sub saharen Africa (Incidentally the assualt rifle attempt was in Chile in South America by an Argentinian soldier. Had he not had an assualt rifle I would have asked him to step outside and ended the disagreement over $5000 to his deterement, but we don’t always get what we want now do we?

Anyway smooth skin wins again! I just got back from equatorial East Africa after 14 days. I was in a very remote area and we used solar charging for all our small equipment like my razor. Guess what - 3 mosquitoe bites and a tick bite on my leg. As soon as I found them at camp I lanced them all squeesed out blood and gave each a small antibiotic injection. I never would have seen them through all the hair that may have beeen present.

I took a 5 day antibiotic course (which meant many a trip behind a tree of course) and on my return went to see my doctor. No Malaria fortunatly, but guess what - tick bite fever antigenes detected but stopped just like that! The next trip is scheduled for 20 days from now and I am told 5 of the other guys now shave their legs and arms HE-HE.

Dark skinned Africans have relativly no or very little leg hair. This is clearly no accident and we need to learn from nature what is best. BTW don’t be scared of visiting South Africa - just like the USA we don’t have any of this and you can safely drink our tap water. We also have the second largest beer brewery in the world - remember we bought Miller out recently so if you want a taste of Africa go have a Miller Draft

Kind Regards
Stuart

#109

Whew! I thought I had problems.
Anyway, I discovered this thread today and found that there have been multitudes of entries. What caught my attention was the leg hair removal on men. At the beginnnig of the threads, there were people who were basically asking women how they liked smooth legs on men. Because of the quantity of posts in this thread, I have not read all of them. However, I didn’t read anything from any women who expressed their opinion. So, I was curious if there were any women around that might want to express it.
Those of us men who have discovered shaving of our legs and got hair removed really like it. We assume that because we like it, others do too. I tend to believe this because of the media that tends not to show hairy body parts of a lot of men. Look at the body builders, professional “wrestlers”, models, and etc. Hairy body parts are usually not cameraworthy.
I also think that there are women who say that they prefer chest and leg hair on men that if all things being equal, with their boyfriends or husbands, except for being more hairless, I think a lot of women would lean toward the more hairless appearance.
I just experimented with a razor on body parts such as parts of my legs, bikini area, pits, and happy trail. Once I started, I couldn’t NOT do it. It got to where I shaved all of my legs which led to LHR. I really like these areas look and feel. Smooth is nice.

#110

Hi Stuart:

I can see the reasons for needing to shave your legs in that harsh environment. Most of us in north america can barely imagine what you have to deal with. In spite of the harshness I am sure there is lots of beauty there too.

BBR:
I think that having shaved legs or not would not be the determining factor on whether a woman is attracted to you or not.

Many women are more attracted by a nice smile, nice eyes and by ones personality. They also like someone who is confident and sincere. Women are not as stimulated by the physical appearance as men are. Someone being attractive and well groomed would probably be a bonus however.

If you personally like shaved legs and are confident about yourself that is the important thing.

Alicia

#111

Oh yes, I definately agree with that. I totally agree that a woman would be attracted to a man who has not only a nice smile, but also has a good, sincere personality and could carry a stimulating conversation.

I was just curious as to what women might think about hairless appearance. In general, without knowing someone who might have a hairless appearance, what would first impressions be?

Or, all things being equal between two guys who have good personalities and etc, and the only difference is that one is hairy and the other is not, would she prefer the hairier one or not?

#112

Hi BBR:

Unless you meet a woman in either your shorts or a bathing suit, she is not going to see your legs. If she got to know you and liked you then I don’t think she would reject you once she found out you shaved your legs.

Maybe she would not like it if you were too vain about it or left a ring around the bathtub however.

It is one factor amongst many, and probably not the most important one for most women.

If you want to, you could set up a poll and see what comes of it.

Alicia

#113

Hi Aliciadarling

Yes smooth skin is important in the areas I must travel to. There is great beauty in the surrounding environment and with the correct precations you are quite safe. I work in remote mining sites deep in the bush where your wits are your only protection. Being a paramedic doctor helps a lot and my medical bag is 4 ft long and 2 ft wide to give you an idea.

I treated 8 patients out there from the local village, including a very venomous scorpion sting, and killer bee attack, both with anaphalactic shock. We had 2 Malaria cases and one of typhoid who I nearly lost, and me obviously.

Normally if we are near a village I have a morning, and evening line waiting of 6 to 8. (Don’t go into paramedic medicine in Africa and try to be an engineer and a bussinsman at the same time). More seriously though smooth arms and particularly legs are considered very wise in the bush. The macho guys with lots of leg hair are always the first to laugh and also the first on the Medivac back to SA.

Interestingly the area I was in had a lot of snakes, very venomous. The locals are experts at saving lives if you are bitten. The boys go out in the morning and catch them and the elders milk them. They have developed bush antivenom that puts us to shame.

Regards
Stuart

#114

Hi Stuart:

That sounds like a truly facinating life. I am sure that you have been an angel of mercy to many. It would make for a really exciting screenplay or book, even if words cannot do it justice.

It is really hard for people from outside to even imagine
such harsh conditions transposed against such natural beauty.

Alicia

#115

I shave my pubic hair and armpits completely. Very few guys in the locker room trim at all, so it does stand out being fully shaved.

#116

I made a post on this thread out of curiosity. I am not in the “market” for a woman. I am happily married and have been for over 20 years. I know what my wife thinks and she doesn’t like hairy bodies, legs, and etc. Her opinion is what is important and the only one that counts.

What provoked the curiosity is the fact that you don’t see hairy models, professional wrestlers, body builders, and many other pro athletes who have their legs, arms or other parts exposed. There must be a reason for that.

Perhaps, in attempting to phrase the question better is stating that this has little to do with being attracted to someone. If you were merely walking along the beach and saw a man with a hairy body, is there a thought down inside that says “gross” compared to one who is much more hairless? By the same token, if you saw a guy who was 5’ 8" and weighed 320 lbs compared to a 6’1", muscular guy who weighed about 190? Obviously, there would be an opinion. Bear in mind, this has nothing to do with dating or any potential dating.

#117

I do like the idea of shaving my legs.I was shaving them everyday after I showered.I think they look nice this way and I haven’t had any bad vibes from anyone.I shaved them for about a year now and have found it to be very relaxing.My wife doesn’t like me doing it but i’ve told her its just hair and they are my legs and I can do whatever i want with them.I looked into laser treatments on my legs.I found it to be not too expensive.I’ve had one treatment already and am going for my second in july.I’m getting six treatments all together.Since my first treatment I don’t shave as often,maybe every third day.If you don’t mind me saying this but my legs look really great.

#118

Hi Alicia

You are right, what an existance! Bugs, snakes and guns. Anyway I intend to retire somewhere in the region of 45 years of age and maybe then I will write a book about all this. One thing I will say is it will include male hair removal.

My medical knowledge is only incidental to the fact that I work in dangerous areas, but then so is my habit of shaving my legs as it is to sport and fitness as well. My most recent weight loss programm came from contracting Hepatitis A from contaminated food (I should have known better). Now 6 kilos lighter after 27 days of sever diarrhea I won’t overlook the obvious again.

Anyway the good thing is my smooth legs showed the ticks quickly and without that I may well have died of complications. We had some North American female guests with us in the bush for about a week and none of them had any negative comments about my shaved legs. I actually think the debate is over, and practicality wins at the end. Go smooth or loose!

Regards
Stuart

#119

Hi Stuart:

I am glad that you made it through that ordeal OK.
It is ironic that the things we have to fear the most are often the smallest, such as tics or bacteria.

When shaving your legs can save your life by reducing tic problems, it is no question that practicality should win out over caring what people might think. Besides that it is really nobody else’s business how somebody else looks.

Alicia

#120

Hi Aliciadarling

Looks are only in the eye of the beholder as we all know. I am still suffering from liver ensymes over 10 times normal, but I am sure I will be O.K. soon. Looks don’t bother anymore fortunatly, and yes Ticks and Bactraria and Viral Infections (flu) and Malaria kill more people than AIDS worldwide. (Strange Doctors don’t tell us that?).I’d rather have smooth legs and get them (all the others) quickly than risk death! All the others exept AIDS can be sorted out. Flu is viral so not so easy, but the body can fight it, not AIDS yet though.

Regards
Stuart