Male waxing

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Male waxing is the broad term for hair removal for men using depilatory wax. Within the beauty industry, it is common to see the more specific definitions 'male body waxing' and 'male Brazilian waxing'.

Contents

The latter refers to the removal of hair from the pubic area and buttocks, a service which is not always offered at salons while other male body parts might be, hence the distinction. Some salons may also offer to wax up to the bikini line, or leg crease, but go no further.

Male body waxing

Male body waxing refers to all body areas from neck to toe except the genital and buttocks area. Normal body hair is finer with shallower roots than pubic hair. It is usually removed with strip wax which leaves a smooth result and exfoliates the top layer of dead skin cells.

Strip waxing begins with the application of warm depilatory wax in the direction of hair growth. A paper or calico strip is then pressed onto the wax then pulled off briskly in the opposite direction of application.

A post-wax lotion with antiseptic properties is then applied to help the skin recover quickly.

Some men grow dense pubic hair on body areas instead of the finer body hair, particularly on the stomach, chest, and upper back. This is usually due to ancestry, but can also be impacted by testosterone supplements. [1]

Male Brazilian waxing

Male Brazilian Mbrazilian.jpg
Male Brazilian

The somewhat vague term, male Brazilian waxing, refers to any removal of hair from the pubis, penis, scrotum, perineum, or buttocks. The definition also usually includes the bikini line, or an inch or two out from the leg crease.

It takes its name from female Brazilian waxing. The term Manzilian is becoming increasingly mainstream in advertising and popular culture to differentiate the treatment from female waxing. [2]

A slang term, back, sack and crack, is sometimes referred to in adult films to describe the treated area but it has largely fallen out of use.

Pubic hair is removed with hot wax, also called hard wax. This type of wax is solid but malleable at room temperature and does not require a strip.

Hard wax is applied in a similar fashion to strip wax, given a few seconds to harden and then pulled off. The advantage with hard wax on sensitive areas is that is less likely to stick to the skin, especially if used in conjunction with the pre-wax oil recommended by the manufacturer.

Again, an antiseptic post-wax lotion is applied afterward.

Brazilian waxing is very difficult for the untrained to perform without causing skin damage due to the multi-directional hair growth pattern of the pubic region. [3]

Benefits

Hair Removal Therapists will usually recommend follow-up waxing treatments every 4 to 6 weeks. With repeated, regular treatments, it is common to notice a reduced rate of hair growth and finer hair.

This is particularly noticeable in people in middle-age or older where the rate of hair growth is naturally decreasing already.

Hair growth inhibitors are available commercially, and can be applied after waxing. The theory is that they somehow limit the hair follicle's ability to generate new hair, however their efficacy is open for debate.

Precautions

Common contraindications for treatment include but are not limited to:

People taking anticoagulants, sometimes incorrectly referred to as blood thinners, are also in a higher risk category due to an increased chance of bruising. This is not necessarily a major risk, especially if they already wax regularly. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pubic hair</span> Hair in the human genital area

Pubic hair is terminal body hair that is found in the genital area of adolescent and adult humans. The hair is located on and around the sex organs and sometimes at the top of the inside of the thighs. In the pubic region around the pubis bone and the mons pubis that covers it, it is known as a pubic patch. Pubic hair is also found on the scrotum and base of the penile shaft in males and on the vulva in females.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hair removal</span> Temporary removal of body hair

Hair removal, also known as epilation or depilation, is the deliberate removal of body hair or head hair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaving</span> Removal of hair with a razor or others bladed implement

Shaving is the removal of hair, by using a razor or any other kind of bladed implement, to slice it down—to the level of the skin or otherwise. Shaving is most commonly practiced by men to remove their facial hair and by women to remove their leg and underarm hair. A man is called clean-shaven if he has had his beard entirely removed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waxing</span> Form of semi-permanent hair removal

Waxing is the process of hair removal from the root by using a covering of a sticky substance, such as wax, to adhere to body hair, and then removing this covering and pulling out the hair from the follicle. New hair will not grow back in the previously waxed area for four to six weeks, although some people will start to see regrowth in only a week due to some of their hair being on a different human hair growth cycle. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, pubic hair, legs, arms, back, abdomen, chest, knuckles, and feet. There are many types of waxing suitable for removing unwanted hair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mons pubis</span> Rounded mass of fatty tissue found over the pubic symphysis

In human anatomy, and in mammals in general, the mons pubis or pubic mound is a rounded mass of fatty tissue found over the pubic symphysis of the pubic bones.

Brazilian commonly refers to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdominoplasty</span> Surgical procedure to make the abdomen thinner and firmer

Abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck" is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to make the abdomen thinner and more firm. The surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall. This type of surgery is usually sought by patients with loose or sagging tissues, that develop after pregnancy or major weight loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folliculitis</span> Human and animal disease of follicles

Folliculitis is the infection and inflammation of one or more hair follicles. The condition may occur anywhere on hair-covered skin. The rash may appear as pimples that come to white tips on the face, chest, back, arms, legs, buttocks, or head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bikini waxing</span> Removal of pubic hair using special wax

Bikini waxing is the removal of pubic hair using a special wax, which can be hot or cold, that adheres to hairs and pulls them out when the wax is removed quickly from the skin, usually with a cloth strip. While the practice is mainly associated with women, male waxing has become a more common practice to remove men's pubic hair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laser hair removal</span> Process of hair removal by exposure to laser pulses

Laser hair removal is the process of hair removal by means of exposure to pulses of laser light that destroy the hair follicle. It had been performed experimentally for about twenty years before becoming commercially available in 1995–1996. One of the first published articles describing laser hair removal was authored by the group at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1998. Laser hair removal is widely practiced in clinics, and even in homes using devices designed and priced for consumer self-treatment. Many reviews of laser hair removal methods, safety, and efficacy have been published in the dermatology literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypertrichosis</span> Hair disease characterized by hair growth that is abnormal in quantity or location

Hypertrichosis is an abnormal amount of hair growth over the body. The two distinct types of hypertrichosis are generalized hypertrichosis, which occurs over the entire body, and localized hypertrichosis, which is restricted to a certain area. Hypertrichosis can be either congenital or acquired later in life. The excess growth of hair occurs in areas of the skin with the exception of androgen-dependent hair of the pubic area, face, and axillary regions.

Sugaring, sugar waxing, or Persian waxing is a method of hair removal that has been in use since 1900 BC. Historically, sugar was confined to the regions surrounding Persia until the first millennium AD. As a result, it is speculated that honey was the first sugaring agent. Sugaring was also known as sukkar or ḥalawa in the Middle East, as ağda in Turkey, and as moum in Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labia</span> Parts of the vulva

The labia are the major externally visible portions of the vulva. In humans and other primates, there are two pairs of labia: the labia majora are large and thick folds of skin that cover the vulva's other parts while the labia minora are the inner folds of skin between the outer labia that surround and protect the urethral and vaginal openings.

Anal bleaching is the process of lightening the color of the skin around the anus. It is done for cosmetic purposes, to make the color of the anus more uniform with the surrounding area. Some treatments are applied in an office or salon by a cosmetic technician and others are sold as cream that can be applied at home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exfoliation (cosmetology)</span> Removal of dead skin cells from the epidermis

In cosmetology, exfoliation is the removal of the surface skin cells and built-up dirt from the skin's surface. The term comes from the Latin word exfoliare. This is a regular practice within the cosmetic industry, both for its outcome of promoting skin regeneration as well as providing a deep cleanse of the skin barrier. Being used in facials, this process can be achieved by mechanical or chemical means, such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels. Exfoliants are advertised as treatments that enhance beauty and promote a youthful and healthy appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veet</span> Canadian brand of chemical depilatory

Veet, formerly called Neet and Immac, is a Canadian brand of chemical depilatory products manufactured by the British-Dutch company Reckitt Benckiser. Hair removal cream, Lotions, gel, mousse, and wax products are produced under this brand, with differing variants being sold internationally. Previous products produced under the Neet and Immac brands were similar to those produced today.

Personal care products are consumer products which are applied on various external parts of the body such as skin, hair, nails, lips, external genital and anal areas, as well as teeth and mucous membrane of the oral cavity, in order to make them clean, protect them from harmful germs and keep them in good condition. They promote personal hygiene and overall health, well-being and appearance of those body parts. Toiletries form a narrower category of personal care products which are used for basic hygiene and cleanliness as a part of a daily routine. Cosmetic products, in contrast, are used for personal grooming and beautification. Pharmaceutical products are not considered personal care products.

Body grooming is the act of maintaining a clean appearance. It is typically associated with hair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prepubertal hypertrichosis</span> Medical condition

Prepubertal hypertrichosis, also known as childhood hypertrichosis, is a cutaneous condition characterized by increased hair growth, found in otherwise healthy infants and children. Prepubertal hypertrichosis is a cosmetic condition and does not affect any other health aspect. Individuals with this condition may suffer with low self esteem and mental health issues due to societal perceptions of what a "normal" appearance should be. The mechanism of prepubertal hypertrichosis is unclear, but causes may include genetics, systemic illnesses, or medications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pediculosis pubis</span> Infestation by the pubic louse

Pediculosis pubis is an infestation by the pubic louse, Pthirus pubis, a wingless insect which feeds on blood and lays its eggs (nits) on mainly pubic hair. Less commonly, hair near the anus, armpit, beard, eyebrows, moustache, and eyelashes may be involved. It is usually acquired during sex, but can be spread via bedding, clothing and towels, and is more common in crowded conditions where there is close contact between people.

References

  1. "The Manliest Men are Bald (Kind of)". Denver Hair Restoration. 19 April 2017. Retrieved Apr 14, 2023.
  2. "What is a Manzilian? (Dec 22, 2022)". Men's Health. 21 December 2022. Retrieved Apr 14, 2023.
  3. "Pubic Hair Growth Patterns". Man Thing. Retrieved Mar 15, 2024.
  4. "Body & Brazilian Waxing Contraindications". Man Thing. Retrieved Mar 15, 2024.