why do american men shave their body hair?

[loretta]

for a german at my age (50 more or less ) it it strange to see that nearly all men under 30 are totally shaved. now this american nonsense has captured the old world.
Why? They look like children!

LorettaI

 

[XMan101]

Fortunately it hasn't infected everyone , nor even all Americans

It's a trend I never liked either. I'm sure some "go with the flow" and think they'll look odd if they don't, I think most look odd when they do

 

[Casanova]

I think its all a matter of preference. I'm not a fan of waxed or smooth bodies as I feel its not manly enough for me. But I know a lot of guys who thinks body hair is unsightly and that a smooth body is easier to touch or make love to.

I am in my 20s and am not shaved as I prefer the older bear type look and also love guys who are hairy and big, but that again is my preference. Anyhow, let's be glad everyone has different tastes, or else the world of 'beauty' wouldn't be such a diverse and exciting place.

 

[DaddyMan]

Real men have hair -- period. I don't buy into it.

 

[jeansGuyOZ]

The preceding few posts in this thread smack of prejudice - something that as gay men I would have thought we can do without, having had enough of being on the receiving end of it.

I don't have a lot of body hair anyway, but as someone who chooses to shave their legs and chest during the hotter months of the year, I take offence at comments like

Real men have hair -- period. I don't buy into it.

Says who? Putting the word "period" after it doesn't necessarily make it true. You wouldn't like it if someone said you looked ugly because you were hairy, yet you seem to have no trouble putting down other people for what is, after all, a personal choice like how to style your hair and whether or not to have a tattoo. Please have a bit of respect for those who are different from yourself and leave us alone.

And incidentally I am not American and I'm not sure on what grounds you assert that it's an American thing. If it's based on what you see in porn movies, you should remember that porn actors are not exactly an average demographic.

 

[Casanova]

The preceding few posts in this thread smack of prejudice - something that as gay men I would have thought we can do without, having had enough of being on the receiving end of it.

Maybe you misread my post, but like I said.. I prefer body hair, as it is my preference, but I know guys who think body hair is ugly, and there is nothing wrong with either liking or disliking body hair as if everyone had the same tastes, the world would be boring.

No prejudice there, just actual facts which am sure you'd agree with

 

[jeansGuyOZ]

Maybe you misread my post, but like I said.. I prefer body hair, as it is my preference, but I know guys who think body hair is ugly, and there is nothing wrong with either liking or disliking body hair as if everyone had the same tastes, the world would be boring.

No prejudice there, just actual facts which am sure you'd agree with

No, your post was fine, it was the others I had a problem with. As you say, everyone is entitled to their preference, but that's a different thing from suggesting that there is something WRONG with shaving (or something wrong with not shaving).

 

[topdog]

loretta, I am an American about the same age as you and I am amazed at how tastes have changed.

And if we back away from talking just about the totally shaved look, and expand the conversation to people who trim or shave any body hair - the culture has really changed. For example, most gay men I encounter (ahem!) shave their balls. Most also at least trim chest hair and pubic hair down a bit ("manscaping").

Now I live in a major east coast US city, so take this for what it's worth, but from my own casual (but thorough ) observations, the numbers of men who trim or shave something are:

• Gay men under 30 - 90%
• Gay men over 40 - 40%
• Straight men under 30 - 70%
• Straight men over 40 - 10%

The big surprise for me is how body hair maintenance has crossed over into the young straight community. Just looking around the gym, I find that completely natural "wild" body hair has become the exception.

On the other hand, the over 40 straights (folks in our age group) are pretty clueless. I guess they just don't look at enough naked men to realize that something has changed.

:thinking:

These are just observations - of course everyone has their own taste. You don't have to run with the herd if you don't want to. As my mother used to say "Just because little Johnny next door shaves his ass, it doesn't mean you have to!" (Well, those weren't her exact words, but it was what she meant.)

 

[XMan101]

First time anyone has ever called me prejudiced )

Biggoted sarcastic bastard perhaps but never prejudiced

Anyway my comment was a bit tongue in cheek, didn't think it would be taken quite that seriously!

 

[ritsuka]

I agree, there is some prejudice, not x-man, but calling people "children" or not "real men" reeks of ageism and sexism. I don't like body hair (or facial hair!), especially not dark body hair, and thankfully I don't have much of it to begin with. I pluck and wax, however, I don't shave my body, because I don't want stubble. I think that is beautiful; and I like to take care of my looks, not let them degrade because of age. I also don't like tans and muscles; everybody should feel free to go with what they like.

 

[name_1]

jeansGuyOZ, I thought your comment was pretty accurate in summing up my feelings when I was reading the previous posts!
But maybe that comment should not be taken offensively but just food for thought.. just for you guys to think about then...

 

[loretta]

sorry guys if you found my words misleading. when i said children i mean that the body hair is one of the "signs of sex" (i hope you understand - my english is not so good) you get when you became a man. and i think if you shave this you loose man-sign so you become a child again optical.
this is what i don't understand. this is no sexism it is just an optical frustration to see the body of a man without the typical marks that makes him am man.
and i was several times in the us, i love the caribean islands, and not only the porn-actors ( i have met some ) were shaved, i suppose there are as many men shaved as in here.

 

[DaddyMan]

No offense intended. I suppose I did over state my opinion. It's just that, my opinion, I happen to like it but it is just an opinion. Cheers mate!

 

[loretta]

greetings to DaddyMan
i am not offended at all.
you see i love discussions, not only the political correct ones, all kinds of. and one of our philosophers, schopenhauer, said that in a discussion everything is allowed and no one has to be offended (except willful insultions) by the opinion and of an other.

enjoy your life and the men whether you want them with or without

 

[bodle]

i prefer smooth, its just soo much hotter to me, i hate hair facial, body, or even long on the head

 

[jeansGuyOZ]

i prefer smooth, its just soo much hotter to me, i hate hair facial, body, or even long on the head

Regarding the hair on the head, when I was younger I tended to wear it fairly long, not shoulder length but almost. I think it suited me, because I have quite a tall head, and the hair sort of rounded it out and disguised that. Now that I am older and the hair is mostly grey I tend to prefer it shorter. I have no intention of dyeing my hair, but I think having a LOT of grey hair flowing about accentuates one's age.

 

[loveless92]

I shave my body hair because quite frankly I find it disgusting!

 

[josh_the_hot_boy]

Chest hair and back hair is nasty to me end of story. Oh yeah and ass crack hair lol.

 

[carsonjl]

I'm not very hairy; no chest hair, stomach hair, back hair, shoulder hair, and a lack of ability to grow thick facial hair. I actually prefer not being hairy and with genetics there is little maintenance needed. I do, however, shave my underarms, and have since I was like 15. Just feels better and is much cooler.

 

[ethanhenderson]

Body hair repulses me. Thankfully I a) barely grow chest hair b) have no back hair and 3) don't have much hair on my legs.