The human body is a spectacular thing and as much as we know that our bodies no longer require a thick coating of hair to keep us warm, it’s taken a bit of time for them to get the memo.
Back hair is one of the most pressing issues when it comes to male grooming and this throwback to our ancestors seems to be clinging on for dear life, causing lots of men to stress about how to get rid of it.
So, what is the best way to remove back hair?
For men, there are plenty of options for hair removal including waxing, shaving, and depilatory creams, but choosing the best one will be different for everyone.
Shaving is fast but grows back quicker whereas waxing is more painful but a longer-lasting solution, so it’ll be up to the man to decide what works best.
Back hair is notoriously pesky and if you’re one of the unlucky ones who has a whole lot to deal with, you’ll be searching for a solution.
We’ve compared all of the modern ways to remove back hair along with their best and worst points so you can start to tackle that furry rug and feel more confident hitting the beach without a shirt on.
Why Do Some Men Have Back Hair?
Back hair is just like all other hair on our body, it can be unruly and unpredictable.
But why is it that some men seem to be covered in fur and others just have a few stray bits here and there? Why do we even have all of this hair in the first place, and was it ever useful rather than just being an annoyance that we have to now tend to regularly?
The answer to this can be traced back to our ancestors, and although scientists and evolutionists aren’t entirely sure of the answer, they can speculate.
Some thoughts are that we shed the hair of our ancestors as a way to stay cool and sweat when temperatures around the world heated up.
Others think that having bare skin helps other humans read our emotional responses. For some, they believe humans shed their layer of fur as we started to live in semi-aquatic environments.
We might never know the reasoning for sure but what is known is that most men (and some women) still have a lot of back hair to this day.
If you’re someone who suffers from an excess amount, you probably don’t care much about why it’s there, but more what you can do to get rid of it.
The Methods to Remove Back Hair and Their Pros and Cons
Back hair is one of the toughest to remove, just from a geographical standpoint. It’s hard to reach your back if you’re going it alone, so you need to know what solutions are out there.
If you’re ready to get rid of the shaggy rug you’re carrying around, consider these options for removing back hair and the best and worst parts about them.
Shaving
Shaving is the universal approach to hair growth, no matter where it is on the body. Using a sharp razor, shaving cuts the hair off at the skin surface level.
Men might choose this method for back hair if there isn’t much to do or if they prefer something they can do in the shower.
To get the closest shave possible, you should use a dedicated shaving cream or balm and have someone help you to reach the trouble areas.
Pros
- Relatively easy to do
- Cheap and effective
- A quick fix when you need fast hair removal
Cons
- Grows back quickly within a day or two
- Can become itchy or irritated
- Leads to ingrown hairs
Waxing
Waxing or sugaring refers to a method where hot wax is applied to the hairs in the direction of their growth, and then remove swiftly once it’s dried and attached to the hair.
This results in the hair being pulled out completely from the follicle. It’s best to have someone else wax your back at home or to do it professionally and keep skin well exfoliated to prevent ingrown hairs.
Pros
- Longer lasting hair removal that doesn’t grow back for 2-3 weeks
- Smoother and cleaner finish without stubble
Cons
- Waxing can be painful
- Being waxed professionally is expensive
- Waxing yourself at home creates a lot of mess
Plucking
Not all men have hair that covers their whole back, so plucking might be a more viable option. Plucking uses special tweezers that allow you to pull the hair out from its follicle, like waxing but on a smaller scale of just one hair at a time.
Plucking is only recommended if you have a few stray hairs and you should continue to exfoliate the area to stop ingrown hairs and infection.
Pros
- A quick and easy solution if you have urgent hairs to remove
- Can easily be done on your own without assistance
Cons
- Plucking can be painful for some people
- Isn’t ideal if you have more than a few hairs to take care of
The Natural Approach
There are no rules that state men have to shave their backs, and if you fall into this category of thinking then you’ll want to go for the natural approach.
Depending on the pattern and length of hair growth, this could look different for every man, but will usually require trimming.
Rather than letting it grow all unruly, a naturally kept back should still be trimmed with an electric razor to keep it neat, unless you don’t have much hair to manage.
Pros
- Does not irritate because you’re not shaving down to the skin
- Lets you keep your back hair without it looking messy
Cons
- Electric trimmers are expensive to purchase if you get a good quality one
- It makes a lot of mess to trim back hair and should be done in the shower or outside
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is a more serious approach to hair removal and is becoming more common these days for men to use on their back.
This method uses a laser to zap the hair follicle at the root which slows down its growth so that it’s more manageable. It’s used as a way to reduce the overall hair growth and reduce the other efforts you have to do.
Not to be confused with electrolysis which is permanent hair removal, men prefer this as it gives them the option to grow it back one day if they wish to.
Pros
- Very effective in reducing the amount of hair on the back
- Makes other hair removal efforts easier and more effective
Cons
- Expensive to do and requires multiple sessions with a trained professional to see results
- May not be as effective on some people as it is on others due to hormones
Depilatory Creams
Depilatory cream is another word for hair removal cream and a popular choice for men with trouble back hair.
These creams are applied to the hair and skin and left for a set amount of time. The cream breaks down the proteins of the hair so they break off, and then it can be wiped off and the hairs removed with it.
Pros
- These creams are applied quickly with results in minutes
- There’s no stubble left and it gives a smooth finish
Cons
- Hair removal creams have an unpleasant smell that can linger on the skin
- The entire process is messy and you’ll need someone to help with it
Related Questions
Back hair is something that every man has, whether it’s wild and overgrown or sparse and unnoticeable.
We each prefer different methods for dealing with it and you can expect some trial and error until you find one that works for you. We’ve answered some FAQ about back hair and how it grows to give you some more information on these pesky hairs.
Can You Get Ingrown Hairs on Your Back?
Any part of the body can develop ingrown hairs and there are some risk factors associated that make it more likely. The removal of hair with shaving, waxing, and plucking can cause irritation and lead the hair to grow underneath the skin.
The key to reducing ingrown hairs is to exfoliate regularly to prevent them from being trapped under the skin.
What Age Does Back Hair Grow?
Body hair starts to develop thicker and darker during puberty, which occurs between 12 and 18 for most men.
Back hair can take longer to grow though, with most men developing persistent hair in this area from their 30s when full-body hair development begins.
