Many consider men with hairy faces, arms, or chests, to be more attractive compared to having back hair. This can pressure those with hairy backs to want to remove the hair. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the opinion that matters most of all is your own. With so many different hair removal treatments, it's hard to know where to begin. Will you choose laser hair removal? Wax? Hair removal cream? Or maybe an electric trimmer in the shower. Let's dive in and figure out your options. Why Men Get Back Hair? As you probably could guess, genetics is the most common cause of a hairy back. While all men (and women) have a certain level of testosterone, certain genes can make men more sensitive to the effects of testosterone, which is one of the main hormones that encourages growth of body hair. This can make back hair more present and thicker. You might be surprised to know that Caucasians are the hairiest ethnic group, with Semitic and Mediterranean people being the hairiest out of all Caucasians. On the other end of the spectrum are American Indians and Asians, who have the least hair on their bodies out of all ethnicities. All of the other races fall somewhere in between. These claims are echoed by the American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Why Men Want To Remove Back Hair For better or worse, there are certain beauty standards around the world that would leave men wanting to remove the hair on their backs. As mentioned earlier, certain parts of the body with hair are looked upon as more desireable and sadly, the back is not one of them. (Though, there is a lid for every pot and there are likely MANY people who find a hairy back attractive). Beyond the shallow concern of how attractive one looks, there is also the issue of comfort. Having a hair back can increase body heat and be uncomfortable during warm weather. Back hair can also be the cause of itching, uncomfortable ingrown hairs, and even lead to back acne if there is too much bacteria building up. How men can remove back hair Sadly, there isn't much that can be done to change your genetics, so if you are one of the lucky men who has more body hair than you would like, our apologies. Luckily, there is more than one solution to your thick and hairy problem. Let's explore some of the most effective routes to back hair removal. Hair Removal Creams (Pros & Cons) Hair removal cream is also called depilatory cream. They work the same as hair removal cream for legs and other body hair and the price is close to the cost of shaving. To get rid of your hair, you'd have to have a partner or friend apply the cream like a lotion to your back and leave on for five minutes. You'll then have to have them wipe it away to remove the hair then jump in the shower. Not only that, back hair removal cream would need to be reapplied every few day. Especially if your grow back rate is high. One big advantage of back hair removal cream is that compared with shaving, there’s not a risk of cutting yourself. On the other hand, some of the chemicals within depilatory creams or lotions can have harsh effects on sensitive skin. They often don't smell great and can cause irritation. Shaving (Pros & Cons) One advantage of shaving your back is that you most likely already own a razor, so you wouldn't need to invest in any new products. However, how do you reach your entire back for a full and smooth shave? Again, a partner may need to be involved. Condolences to you if you are super hairy AND single. There are actually some specialty razors with handles designed to reach back hair. If shaving is your preferred method, it might be worth taking time to shop and invest in one of them. However, how will you prevent your back from getting razor burn if you can't reach to apply shaving gel to your back skin? Also, keep in mind that shaving will need to be kept up regularly for best results. Your razor will become duller much faster when you add in all your back hair. You also have the risk of cutting yourself. But that post-shave smooth feeling is pretty amazing. Lazer (Pros & Cons) Another option for back hair removal is to pay for professional services, a common one being laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is a procedure where a specific beam of light bypasses the epidermis and targets the follicle, disabling the reproductive cycle of the hair without hurting the skin. As the follicle gets destroyed, the hair shaft becomes weak and limp, and eventually—with pre-prescribed periods of treatment—that follicle dies and no hair grows. Science jargon aside, the laser’s light is absorbed by the pigment in your hair; that light is converted into heat, delaying future hair growth. As a general rule of thumb, the majority of patients need eight to ten sessions. Most patients will see results after three to six visits. Additionally, treatments are spaced out about every six weeks since individual hairs grow in cycles In other words, it is a time commitment as well as a financial investment and you don't get the satisfaction of seeing results right away. But, if you stick to the plan, it might mean a permanent solution to pesky back hair! Laser hair removal to remove back hair will likely be between $600-$800 dollars. It's a slower process and can be done on your shoulders, chest, or pretty much anywhere else on your body. Waxing (Pros and Cons) Back hair removal regrowth can vary from person to person, but generally, back waxing can last a solid two to three smooth weeks. Waxing, over time, can dull the follicles and inhibit growth, offering longer stretches of smoothness and hair that grows back thinner. Some report that waxing can be painful, but pouring hot wax on your back is far less painful than many other areas of the body. There are several different types of wax, skin types, and grooming techniques when it comes to waxing so you'll want to make sure you find an aesthetician you like so your skin doesn't react too poorly. Results from waxing are delivered right away and you can leave the salon feeling like a new born baby. However, you will need to set up regular appointments about once a month. Even though hair starts to grow back above the skin’s surface in about two to three weeks, hair strands need to be at least ¼ an inch long before back waxing again. BALLS Trimmer (Pros & Cons) A final way to address hair removal, specifically, back hair removal, is by using an electric trimmer. No matter your skin type, a trimmer with a short guard on it will get the job done quickly, in about 10 minutes. However, you will likely need a partner to help you remove back hair in some of those hard to reach places. The great thing about the BALLS trimmer is that it can be used on your private bits as well as your back. Something designed to remove hair from such a sensitive area will definitely be safe for your back. Using a BALLS trimmer on your back is also a painless approach to removing many hairs at once. It's waterproof so it can be used in the shower and is an easy way to stay on top of your hair removal game in between appointments at the salon. It has a 6200 rpm motor designed to trim hair of varying lengths and thicknesses. There is no risk of razor burn, uncomfortable hot wax, or negative skin reactions. You won't be extremely squeaky and hairless, but you can trim back much of your back hair without a fuss. Plus, the trimmer has fantastic reviews and customer service. So whether you subscribe to modern beauty standards or not, there are so many different ways to treat your skin and hair with love and care. Hair removal creams don't always work as well you you hope and can be stinky. But some men like them! You can experiment. Laser hair removal is slow, expensive, but permanent. Shaving with a razor gives immediate results but can irritate your skin and you run the risk of cutting yourself. Waxing may upset your skin and will need to be done regularly. And an electric trimmer is quick and easy but won't leave you smooth as a seal. Pick your poison! No matter what method you use to remove your back hair, just remember to take care of your health, the health of your skin, and clearly, the health of your relationships so you have someone to do the dirty work for you!