How to Get Rid of Back Hair?

Having a hairy back is just one of the harsh realities of being a man. Body hair is natural, but if you have a little too much, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t consider getting rid of it. “Even in the past five years we are seeing more and more men looking for solutions to remove back hair. The idea of looking younger and taking better care of yourself keeps on growing and is gaining momentum in every area of grooming, ” says grooming expert Anthony Sosnick, founder of Anthony Brands, to Ask Men. If you’re ready to get to it, here’s how you can get rid of your back hair.

Shave it

Shaving is one of the simplest and least expensive options, but you may need a helping pair of hands for great results. The results are going to be rather short-lived, and just a warning: You’re likely to be plagued with itchy regrowth. That said, if you can keep up with it consistently, you’ll maintain pretty good results. If you go the shaving route, ask your partner (or whoever’s willing to help you) to do it in the shower — the steam will soften your hair — and make sure whoever’s helping shaves in the direction of hair growth. Otherwise, you could end up with irritated, painful ingrown hairs. If you don’t have someone who can help out on a regular basis, you may want to consider the proceeding options instead.

Before we get into what you’ll need to do to shave it right, remember the following steps as you remove your back hair: Cleanse, exfoliate, shave, and moisturize. Sosnick recommends the following tips to equip yourself before you get shaving. Before you do shave your back, make sure your hair is longer than ¼ inch to get the best and closest shave. Go over the hair with a trimmer to shorten the hair before removing it completely with a razor.

• Only use a non-foaming shave gel or cream. As back hair is usually thicker, using a cream or gel will allow the blade to target the base of your hair.
• Use a new razor. If you’re doing this for the first time a sharp, new razor is a must. Use one with a pivoting head for a smoother, closer shave, says Sosnick.
• Trim it. This bears repeating because in order to even shave it, it’s advisable to get rid as much length as possible. Use either an electric trimmer on the shortest setting, or if you’re really a man of simple tastes, place a comb flat on your skin, take a scissor trim over the comb — this one may also require the help of a friend.
• Finish off with moisturizer. It’s important to use a moisturizing aftershave to help soothe and protect your skin (or an aftershave balm to ensure a clean, smooth result).

Electric back shaver

Razor | Source: iStock

Using an electric shaver is another great option, although the one downside is that you won’t be able to shave your back when it’s wet (unless it says you specifically can shave when wet). Generally speaking, the electric back shaver is pretty versatile. Our favorite, the Mangroomer Do It Yourself Electric Shaver, is a fast, easy, and effective way to eliminate unwanted back hair, equipped with a fully extendable, adjustable handle that locks into place at various lengths. It can help to reach even the most difficult middle and lower portions of your back. With a special easy-grip handle and an extra-wide 1½-inch blade, it can remove hair from larger areas of your back rather quickly. Plus, you may not need a partner to help you out on this one.

Use depilatory cream

Your next best and less painful do-it yourself option? Using a depilatory cream. This works by dissolving your hair at skin level and delivers results lasting around twice as long as shaving; however, applying it by yourself can be tricky, so you might need to enlist an assistant. Bliss’ ‘Fuzz Off foam is a spray-on, rinse-off foaming depilatory that removes unwanted hair painlessly, and is infused with a powerful hair-inhibiting complex, skin-smoothing conditioning Algae and Sea Kelp Marine extracts, and a deeply nourishing double butter complex that removes hair while leaving skin soft and touchable. To apply, keep the bottle 2 inches away from the body and spray in a continuous motion over the back area. Leave the foam on skin for five minutes to see the hair rinse off.