There are many ways to remove body hair; some painful and some less so. But for most men it comes down to razors, electric razors, and body shavers, which can get body hair so short that it all but disappears (except for the stubble). There is no shaver or razor on the market that can compete with wax or Nair over longer time frames, but if it’s all about optimizing for a beach day, no problem.
Body shavers, it should be added, are used to solve one of two problems (and should be purchased with a clear sense of which problem is being solved). The first problem is body hair. The second problem is maintaining the results from solving the first problem. Put differently, anyone buying a body shaver needs to decide if their goal is to shave or stay shaved. Different tools are required.
The Best Body Shavers: At a Glance
What the Experts Say
Mike Gilman of Grooming Lounge and Chad Duval of Honor Initiative, both leaders of grooming companies, prefer trimmers to face shaving products when getting bare. But both acknowledge that some shaving devices meant for the face can be repurposed with minimum ick factor and no blood spilled. The thing about body shaving is that details matter so it’s often best to go with the purpose-built tools.The big question is….
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Manual vs. Electric
The big debate, as with any shave, is whether to use a manual razor or an electric razor.
“With manual razors, you can get a super close shave, and some people like the way that looks for them or in the minds of others,” says Gilman. “However, you run the risk of cutting yourself, plus there’s a greater chance of irritation. You can’t be careful enough down under.”
Both men suggest using a safety razor over cartridge razors. Duval notes that a single-blade safety razor can help reduce the chances of ingrown hairs. “It’s also more cost effective as safety razor blades are inexpensive,” Gilman adds.
Those looking to put a Dylan and go electric, will have to choose between two types of shaving heads: foil and rotary. Gilman suggests sticking with rotary options (the ones with circular panel heads as opposed to wide foil bars). “Rotary shavers are better suited to the contours of one’s body and intimate areas,” he says. This same advice is given to bald-head shavers and guys whose facial hair is especially thick or growing in various directions.
Still, Duval suggests a simple double-foil shaver for travel, especially for minimalists who want to pack less and get the most out of a single compact device.
Philips Norelco Shaver 7200
One of the best rotary razors for facial shaving is also a terrific device for bodily manicuring too (namely the chest, shoulders, and back, and the various joints and curves therein). There’s not an errant hair or thicket of coarse curly stubble that this classic can’t mow over—and it glides across the skin with aplomb.
There are smaller and more ergonomic palm-held options out there (like those used for the scalp), but this shaver has those beat because it has the muscle of any top-shelf Philips Norelco device and that rotary head, which hugs the body’s curves. For the sake of consolidating maintenance devices, it’s worth the extra money. It can do the work of two devices.
Braun MobileShave M-90
Made For: Weekend warriors who need an easy, uncomplicated touchup.
Coolest Feature: “It’s compact and has a [swiveling] protective cap for easy toting,” says Duval.
Brio Beardscape Body & Beard Trimmer
Made For: Anyone who wants to trim their way to a smooth appearance (albeit a very slightly stubbled one); and who wants to use the same trimmer for beard and body alike.
Coolest Feature: “Its extra-wide razor design significantly cuts down on body trimming time, a feature that’s immensely beneficial for those with busy schedules,” Duval notes of his own personal favorite body grooming tool.
Philips Norelco Bodygroom Series 7000
Made For: Guys who like to switch things up aesthetically from one body part to the next, or from one week to the next
Coolest Feature: This double-ended device can shave with its foil head, or trim up with its standard body grooming head (which has a nice buffer to prevent nicking on any loose skin). It’s also 100% waterproof.
Gillette Intimate Manscape Razor (1 Razor with 2 Cartridges)
Made For: These blades are the most sensitive for intimate areas, making them suitable for all areas
Coolest Feature: Duval prefers Gillette razors for any body maintenance needs, and these “Intimate” blades manage to be gentle on skin thanks to two lubrication strips at either end of the razor head, and blades that are seemingly immune to friction and razor drag.
Merkur 34c Double-Edged Safety Razor
Made For: Guys who want the maximum window of smoothness, and with minimal chance for ingrown hairs
Coolest Feature: “This razor is compact for solid maneuverability, but also heavy enough to not slip or make undesired passes,” Gilman says. He says to pair it with Shark blades, which routinely get the best reviews at Grooming Lounge, since they are both super sharp and inexpensive.
BakBlade 2.0 Back Shaver
Made For: Backside self-shavers who need an extra hand
Coolest Feature: “These tools are ergonomically designed to help reach difficult areas,” says Gilman; they can be tweaked and adjusted to basically reach any spot on your back. Gilman says that Grooming Lounge has carried various back shavers over the years, and BakBlade always outsold the competition—even the electric back-trimming competition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Shavers
Are Manual Razors or Electric Razors Better for Shaving the Body?
Manual razors provide a closer shave, but come with a greater risk of irritation or ingrown hairs. Electric razors usually provide a faster shave, but will require more frequent touch ups, since they don’t get the hair quite as close to the skin (still they should get it close enough to feel smooth throughout that same day).
How Do You Shave the Body with a Manual Razor?
“If someone wants to shave his body with a razor, I recommend following the same shaving methods used on the face,” says Gilman. “Clean or scrub the areas in the shower and let hot water open the pores and soften things up. Then, use a shave oil to soften skin and lift scruff, so that it’s ready to be shaved off.” Hold skin tight, go slow and steady with short strokes in the direction of hair growth. Apply a nourishing and toning aftershave after the fact.
Can You Shave Your Body Before Going to the Beach?
If you need smooth skin for the beach—or for, let’s be real, a liaison—then you should give yourself a few days’ buffer to do the shaving before you need to show everything off. (If using a bare razor, that is.) This allows any irritation to subside, should anything go awry. And because of this buffer, you might not have smooth skin anymore when the event comes. So, consider using an electric razor the night before you need to show off the smoothness or, as Duval endorses, consider waxing or using depilatory creams a week ahead of the occasion. These offer longer-lasting results than shaving and leave the skin smooth,” he says. “Remember, though, some people may experience temporary redness or irritation from these methods too, so always do a patch test first.”
