For some reason, it has become very unattractive for men to have any sign of chest hair or back hair in today’s society. Now, mind you, there are women out there who do like a hairy chest, and some are impartial. But from advertisements and the way men are portrayed in the media, it appears as though the “ideal man” today is almost completely hairless when it comes to their chests and backs.
Chest and back hair are actually signs of higher testosterone levels, with this chemical acting as the lifeblood of all masculinity. So, how is it possible that, in today’s age, this sign of masculinity is often frowned upon by both men and women? As with many different ideals of beauty, there are certain factors socialized into people’s psyche that help them conclude what “attractive” is. No matter how it came to be, the truth of the matter is that back hair, in this day and age, is considered unattractive and even disgusting. For millions of men—and even some women—it is a real problem that they must deal with.
The Personal Struggle: A Shared Experience
My Story:
I used to love teasing my dad about three things: his hairy graying chest hair, his hairy graying back hair, and his little beer gut. I still continue to do so to this day. However, now I am developing two out of these three traits, which he has passed on to me—and for which he can now fire back comments at me about.
From teasing my dad about these traits, I also moved on to my older brother (by almost three years), who has progressed through the stages of life a little faster than me. He actually provided me with a glimpse of my physical future (a point which I didn’t really think about at the time). As he began to develop certain qualities of my father, such as “chest hair,” I would make fun of him as he attempted to groom this hair he disliked. “What, you’re shaving your chest?” or “What? Are you going to maybe wax your chest?” I would ask him in a teasing manner, laughing along the way. At first, he would get really angry at me.
Then, he realized something. I recall one time when I was teasing him, and he stopped, looked at me, and said, “Well, it will happen to you one day too.” I stopped chirping him and paused. ‘He was right,’ I thought, ‘it would hit me one day too.’ And sure enough, a couple of years later, I was trying the same things he had to do to rid myself of a hairy chest: trimming it, shaving it occasionally, and even trying some “Nair” hair removal cream. However, I am not really that hairy, so it wasn’t too bad. But I did notice that every time I tried to do something to rid myself of it, the chest hair would grow back a little thicker and darker. ‘The rumors were true; it comes back like this,’ I thought. No big deal though, chest hair isn’t that bad—some girls even like it. If I wanted to, I could just shave it off.
Then, one day, the worst possible thing happened. My brother and I were shooting hoops outside with our shirts off, and I noticed something. I noticed a long, black hair sprouting out of his back. I thought, “Oh no!” Then I noticed two or three more. I told him about the hair, and he was like, “Yeah, I know, it sucks, doesn’t it?” He paused and then looked at me and said, “Thanks a lot, Dad!” as he shook his fist in the air. Good old genetics. (We owed it all to our father: our bowed legs, our muscular physiques, our speed, our athleticism, our modesty [ha, ha], our chest hair, and now, the crème de la crème—our back hair.) We both laughed. But neither of us were really laughing on the inside.
This time, I didn’t make fun of him, because I knew these little devils would soon be in my future. Sure enough, a couple of years later, I mentioned my brother’s back hair to my girlfriend, and she said, “Well, you have it too.” I was shocked. “I do?” Nobody had told me before that I had back hair—not even her. How would I have known? It’s not that often that you examine your own back. I ran to the bathroom to check. It was true. I had two little patches of hair, with a couple of longer, black, thick ones growing in random spots on my back. The same patches and random hairs still sprout up today, a couple of years later. I thought, “No!!!!!” and wondered why she or no one else had pointed them out to me before.
That was it—the beginning of my life with back hair. “So now what?” I thought.
The Truth:
If you are one of us—the hundreds of millions of men out there who suffer from this affliction—know that you are not alone. And if you ask, “Why do I have back hair?” realize that your ancestors welcomed it when living in caves and hunting dinosaurs. Some men suffer from much hairier backs than others, which can cause more problems depending on how hairy you are. But know that even those of us who sprout small, occasional patches of hair understand your pain and support you in your acceptance and embracement of it—or your attempt to eliminate it!
The truth also involves the fact that women are generally not going to find back hair attractive. It can also end up smelling, as hair traps odors, especially during and after exercise. You might ask yourself, “Why can’t people just accept me for who I am and stop being so superficial?” Well, if you ask that, you’d be the biggest hypocrite in the world. Would you date a woman with extremely hairy legs or want to look at a magazine full of extremely obese women? You probably answered “NO” to this. It doesn’t make you a bad person; it’s just part of the reality that we, as humans, are programmed to be attracted to healthy, fit, and groomed members of the opposite sex. And in today’s world, a ton of back hair doesn’t fit into this mold.
Your Options:
When it comes to your back hair, you should be aware that there are a few solid options:
- **Accept it and live with it.** Maybe you’re not the self-conscious type, or maybe you even like the idea of having some extra coverage on your back during the winter months. If you are secure enough with yourself to simply leave it and live with your back hair, then I salute you. My father shares a similar sentiment. He is a “true man” in my eyes, not caring what anyone thinks of his hairy chest or back. He has actually never touched his chest hair or back hair. He grew up in a different generation, but I can’t help but respect his lack of caring. Every summer, he’s outside cutting the grass with his shirt off, chest hair and back hair and all. Mind you, he works out and keeps in good shape, but if I were so hairy, I don’t think I’d feel as comfortable.
- **For those who are more self-conscious and want to rid themselves of their back hair, here are some treatment options…**
- **Shave it off!** This sounds easier said than done. Using a traditional razor or an electric razor, you can easily remove the hair from your back—as long as there’s someone to do it for you or if you’re very flexible. There are also products that can help you shave your back, such as the “Razorba.” This product acts as a long handle that holds your razor and allows you to shave your back while looking into the mirror. It works similarly to a back-scratcher. You place your razor into a slot at one end of the handle and reach behind you to shave your back (www.razorba.com). Shaving is a fairly painless, quick, inexpensive, do-it-yourself, non-permanent way to remove the hair.
- **Tweeze it out!** You could also use the old technique of tweezing, which is often used for eyebrow hair removal. This would be very difficult to do yourself, so you’d need a good friend, spouse, or family member (in my case, my older brother, who has “got my back” so to speak) to remove the hairs for you. It can be a little painful, as this method removes the root, and while it won’t prevent regrowth, it will slow the process. Tweezing has the same benefits as shaving—minus the painless aspect.
- **Wax that back!** Another option for hair removal is waxing. If you’re not familiar with what this involves, rent *The Forty-Year-Old Virgin* for a great scene involving waxing. It’s a painful, sometimes expensive, and potentially embarrassing experience. But it works, and it’s not permanent. You could buy a DIY waxing kit or visit your local spa for a professional job. The second option is the best suggestion. While it costs more, it will be done right.
- **Try a cream?** This option is fairly inexpensive and non-permanent. It involves applying a cream that dissolves the hair and causes it to “fall off.” It’s painless, but the creams can leave scars. Popular creams include “Nair.”
- Electrolysis: This is the most costly method of hair removal (it could cost thousands of dollars) but provides the most permanent hair removal. It’s painless, though the long-term effects are unknown. Consult your doctor and a professional before considering this option.
