When James, 43, ended his ten-year marriage, he decided to change his look. After researching online and asking his sister, he booked an appointment to remove his back hair.
James is part of a growing number of middle-aged men in the UK who are shaving, threading, plucking, and lasering their body hair. This trend, known as manscaping, reflects a shift away from the rugged, hairy style once popularized by stars like Sean Connery and David Hasselhoff.
Sunaina Raju, a laser hair removal clinician, says, “The modern man is hairless.” Celebrities from Irish actor Colin Farrell to BBC presenter Roman Kemp have spoken openly about removing their pubic hair. Even burly American football players are showing up with shaved armpits.
The trend is visible in ads too. For example, in Kim Kardashian’s Skims underwear campaign, England footballer Jude Bellingham, 20, shows off his smooth chest.
Market research from Mintel finds that half of British men now shave their bodies. Among men aged 16 to 24, 57% remove all their pubic hair, and 42% shave their underarms. Manscaping is not just popular with young men.
Dr. Aleksandar Godic, a dermatologist at Harley Street, says the typical hair removal client used to be young women or athletic men. Now, men aged 40 to 60 are increasingly seeking laser hair removal to feel more youthful.
Demand is so high that companies like Gillette, Philips, and Manscaped have developed special grooming tools. Manscaped’s ‘Lawn Mower’ is designed for sensitive skin and includes LED lights for hard-to-see spots.
However, doctors warn the trend carries risks. The Mail on Sunday reports rising cases of cuts, infections, and painful skin rashes linked to manscaping.
Dr. Godic says, “As demand grows, I see more skin rashes, folliculitis, and ingrown hairs — which can lead to abscesses.”
Folliculitis, or inflammation of hair follicles, is common among men removing body hair. Known as ‘barber’s itch,’ it appears as small pimples around hair follicles. Usually, it clears up in days, but severe cases may need antibiotics.
If untreated, repeated infections can cause hair loss and permanent scars. Despite the risks, the manscaping trend shows no signs of slowing down.
