First things first, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with hairy men. However, having said that, some gay men are not at one with their hairy bodies. The days of Tom Selleck’s sexy chest hair are, alas, long gone and today’s chic tends to be more on the smoother side of things. Indeed, this distaste for follicle fashion has lead to all manner of shaving, waxing and plucking routines for the gay man to master. So, if you have hairy bush where you want silky smooth, read on.

The sophistication of depilatory tools available means that going to a salon for regular hair removal is no longer a necessity. Getting rid of excess hair is a fast, effective procedure that keeps mess to a minimum. It can be done at home using waxing kits, depilatory creams, a friend’s teeth or a razor. So why not chose your route to smoothness, then lock yourselves away in your bathroom for an evening of top depilatory action


Waxing
Easy-to-use wax strips take just 15 minutes and the minor discomfort involved can be well worth up to six weeks of smoothness before the hair grows back. Roll-on wax formulas and `salon formula` products that are heated to melt the wax onto cotton strips, are also available. However, extreme care needs to be taken when applying scalding hot wax to any areas of your body. Forget Madonna’s ‘Body Of Evidence’, believe me, there’s nothing erotic about burning your nancy. Waxing tends to be good for backs and chests. Memorise the following phrase, it will serve you well: ‘Ow, sweetie, Ow.’

Sugaring
Sugaring is an all-natural method of removing unwanted hair which originated in Egypt (the method that is, not the hair!) at least three centuries ago. Because the process is so simple, salon quality results can be achieved at home with very little practice. The sugaring method is similar to the waxing method.

However, since the sugaring compound adheres only to the hair and not the skin, as wax does, there is less discomfort than with waxing. Sugaring falls into the category of epilation. This means that the hair is removed by its roots, below the skin`s surface. This is one of the reasons sugaring is preferable to shaving. Because the hair is removed below the skin`s surface, it is not uncommon for one application to last four to six weeks. Sugaring is also very safe, since no harsh chemicals are used.

Depilatory creams
The chemicals in depilatories dissolve the hair into a thick, gloppy mess that is then washed away. The outermost layer of skin is also removed, leaving the skin smoother. This outer skin layer is normally replaced every 28 days, so to use a depilatory more often than that may damage the underlying layers of skin. This method is popular because it is pain-free and the effects are long lasting. Regrowth hair will not appear as rapidly as it does with shaving because the hair is dissolved below the skin`s surface.
Like most carpet cleaners, it’s best to test on a small unnoticeable area first to be sure of no adverse skin reactions.

Shaving
It’s simple, it’s cheap and for small jobs it’s ideal. Taking a razor to those little bits of fuzz around your nipples is one thing but to mastermind shaving your back can be rather more tricky. Top shaving tips are to get the skin nice and warm as well as a good shave foam lather. Always use a sharp razor and to avoid a nasty razor rash a skin soothing balm will work wonders. Doing it in the bath is always a good idea.


Right then, so you’re up on ways to be a hairy mary no more. But which method works best for which body part. Well, our top tips are:

Hairy Chest
Shaving is ideal for light fuzz but if you really do have a carpet attached to you then how about the sugaring? Wax is for those who like a bit of pain

Hairy Back
How about a depilatory cream if you intend to do it alone or perhaps you can invite a few friends over and get them to wax you. We reckon that it’s worth doing this one right as you don’t want to be doing this malarkey every week

Hairy Bum
We say cream for this one if you don’t have a steady hand, else have a bash with a razor whilst taking a bath.

Hairy love bits
Yes we know that we all have hairy love bits, but if you want to be a smoothie, we say have a go with a razor and then if your skin isn’t all that sensitive, whack some cream on your nancy. When shaving your little sacks, boys, remember to stretch it out first to avoid any nips and tucks. Taking things slowly is a must !

Hairy Pits
Well did I tell you about my friend Theresa who was shaving her armpits in the shower, slipped and neigh on sliced her nipple off. ‘Ow sweetie Ow.’ It can be quite difficult so get some Immac and marvel as your plughole becomes hairier than you.

Smooth Cheeks!
Now your body hair’s gone from gruff shagginess to buff beauty, what about the daily ritual of keeping your face silky smooth which, let’s face it, is a bit of a chore. A top tip is to use a mixture of products that protect and soothe the skin at every step. As every woman repeats the ‘Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise’ mantra, so should men remember to ‘Prepare, Shave, Protect’.

So what to use? Well, Cariad has based an excellent range around all the stages of shaving - a pre-shave facial scrub, shaving oil and gel, and a post-shave moisturiser  contains Tea Tree and Lavender to aid skin recovery plus UV filters to protect the skin from the sun and added softeners keep skin super-smooth for over 12 hours. Perfect.

Cariad products are available from www.cariadshave.com or by calling 0870 3501095.

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