Too many men get one thing wrong about grooming. It’s not just for the sake of attracting, or rather, not repelling, prospective sexual partners. It’s also for them. Grooming is about feeling good, mentally and physically, and that includes the parts of the body that others rarely see. Example: the back. Nobody except a lucky few get to see mens’ backs, but all men should consider elevating their routine with a back scrubber for the shower.
“Everyone talks about exfoliating your face and often forgets about the body. You should definitely exfoliate your whole body from head to toe at least twice a week,” says Erica Marie Gatt, aesthetician and founder of EM Skin. That’s because the most common skin afflictions for the face and hands — acne, dryness, and irritation — also affect the rest of the body, including the back. The only difference is the rest of the body can be easily reached, while the back requires an extra tool or doting partner.
“It’s hard to reach certain areas on your back and not only that, it’s hard to put enough pressure on your back to really get the dead skin off,” Gatt explains. “That’s why I highly suggest a back scrubber with a long handle, so you can reach the areas that are hard to reach like in between your shoulder blades and the middle of your back.”
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Men sweat on their backs, and tight-fitting fabrics work for work or play can cause back-ne if the skin isn’t properly scrubbed and exfoliated. Most back scrubbers can be used wet or dry, typically don’t cost much more than $20-30 — unless they’re electric or particularly eco-friendly — and will help ward off unsightly pimples that are impossible to pop. SPY paneled an extensive team of experts to see which ones are worth trying, and how to use them properly.
The Best Back Scrubbers: At a Glance
What the Experts Say
SPY spoke with an extensive team of experts for this piece, including Gatt and other aestheticians Ian Michael Crumm, Jess Bowers, and Christina Uzzardi. We also consulted board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anna Chacon, Dr. Jodi LoGerfo, a doctor of nursing practice and family nurse practitioner certified in dermatology; Dr. Jenelle Kim, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine (DACM), Lisa Chevalier, founder of SoVous Medical Spa and Laser Center; and celebrity facialist and holistic skin expert Vee Mistry.
Although nobody’s going to die for never having scrubbed his back, all the experts agree the back shouldn’t be ignored because it’s difficult to reach. “Our back typically doesn’t get the exfoliation we give to the rest of our body, especially our face, so performing a regular deep clean with a scrubber helps clear the pores and manually remove dead skin cells and dirt,” Uzzardi says. “Our skin is thicker in this area so it can benefit from an extra scrub.”
Certain materials are better suited for scrubbing efficiently than others. Guys planning to scrub in the shower should use a silicone rubber back scrubber because it’s antimicrobial and less likely to develop mold between uses. Dry scrubbers, on the other hand, should use one with natural bristles and a sturdy wood handle since they won’t be exposing the tool to water. Bristles provide a more intense exfoliation, so they’re better for men with greasy skin or thick hair, whereas silicone is gentle enough on sensitive skin most of the time.
“Personally, I recommend people choose scrubbers based on their skin type, desired level of exfoliation, and material preference,” Dr. Kim says. “Some might opt for a softer, silicone-based scrubber for gentle exfoliation, while others might prefer a natural loofah or bristle brush for a more vigorous scrub. The choice often hinges on personal skin care needs, and ethical considerations (like choosing eco-friendly materials).”
With that in mind, SPY sourced picks from the experts themselves to guide shoppers through the thousands of options.
The Silicone Back Scrubber, Tooletries
There are a lot of similar back scrubbers out there that’ll deliver standard results, but the construction of this one is superlative for a few key reasons. With a roughly 12-inch handle, an all-silicone rubber build, and tight, soft bristles on its 3-inch head, the Tooletries Back Scrubber (and its practically identical Amazon clone, the VWMYQ Shower Back Scrubber) offer everything a guy needs in a shower-friendly back scrubber.
Two of SPY’s consulted experts agreed that this product is their top pick. “This scrubber creates a great lather even though it’s manual,” Crumm says. “It’s got a sizable paddle to make sure all areas of the back are covered, but is thin so it doesn’t feel clunky while holding it.” Gatt adds, “This is a great silicone brush that you can use every day. [It’s] easy to use and easy to clean.”
SPY’s grooming experts recommend using this scrubber with a product, like a cleanser or acne wash, for an even cleaner feeling, rinsing it, and hanging it to dry afterwards.
Sonic Scrubber – Black Wolf
Why It Stands Out: The Black Wolf Sonic Scrubber is a relatively new product but has distinguished itself as a worthy pick quickly thanks to its fair price and combination of useful features, including a vibrating head, telescoping and detachable handle, waterproof silicone build and rechargeable battery with a three-hour runtime. “This one seems to be everywhere and for good reason,” Crumm says. “This is what some call that at-home spa experience. Turn on the warm shower, add some gel to the Sonic Scrubber, and thank yourself every time you use it.”
ROI: The Sonic Scrubber costs $10-$20 more than a decent manual brush, but it’s pretty cheap relative to all its features. It’s worth the money for a guy who plans on scrubbing in the shower often. “The electric feature really makes the additional $10 or so from physical scrubbers worth it,” Crumm says.
Hot Take: Chacon puts it nicely, saying, “This powerful tool provides an intense and thorough clean, thanks to its high-frequency sonic pulses. Despite its power, it’s gentle on the skin, making it suitable for all skin types.”
PMD Clean Body Back Scrubber
Why It Stands Out: PMD gave its Clean Body scrubber a 10-inch length so it could reach all over, including backs, and its sleek design makes it user-friendly as well. It’s built with a rechargeable battery, and comes with three interchangeable magnetic attachments alongside the built-in silicone bristles. “This electric scrubber is amazing because it has a couple of modalities to choose from,” Gatt says. “You can use it every day with the mesh and/or the silicone scrub to always have smooth skin. There is also a more aggressive exfoliation piece you can use once a week.”
ROI: Unfortunately, the PMD Clean Body is almost certainly overpriced, running over $150. However, it’ll likely be the last back and body scrubber a guy would need.
Hot Take: Most guys will probably be OK with a cheap manual back scrubber, but guys who want a more dedicated body + back scrubber will appreciate the top design, easy maintenance, and efficient yet gentle cleansing of the PMD Clean Body. Also it’ll look better sitting in the shower between uses.
Eaxun Exfoliating Back Scrubber
Why It Stands Out: The Eaxun Exfoliating Back Scrubber takes a different approach to back scrubbing. Instead of awkwardly angling a traditional back scrubber with a handle, guys can use this two-handled, exfoliating towel that gets the same results with a lot less effort and discomfort. “The design is clever and practical, with sturdy handles at both ends that make it easy to reach those difficult areas on the back,” Chacon says. “The dual-texture design is a standout feature, offering a smooth side for gentle cleansing and a rougher side for effective exfoliation. This scrubber is excellent at removing dead skin cells and promoting blood circulation.”
ROI: This back scrubber is mighty cheap at well under $10. However, it’s not bound to last as long as a traditional back scrubber and could get pretty gross after a while. This makes it more of a short-term solution or suitable for travel.
Hot Take: Because of how they are used, that is, rapidly rubbed across large swaths of the back, these kinds of towelesque back scrubbers are excellent exfoliators. That means guys with sensitive skin may wish to try something gentler. “[This is a] great in-shower exfoliator,” Bowers says. “[It] needs to be hung to dry after each use and those with sensitive skin should avoid it.”
Goodee-Takada-Long Japanese Cypress Handle Body Wash
Why It Stands Out: Most back scrubbers are a dime a dozen. The Takada-Long Japanese Cypress Handle Body Brush is not. “I love this option because it’s a unique and sustainable choice, seeing that the materials come from preserved windmill palm forests,” Chevalier says. “The bristles are soft enough to use on delicate skin, yet effective. Additionally, the way that this company manufactures its products is free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
ROI: This isn’t the scrubber we recommend for a great monetary return on investment, even though it’ll last a long time with proper care. By paying over $100, you’re buying this scrubber because it’s an eco-friendly alternative and made from natural materials that are gentler on the planet. It’s an eco-tax.
Hot Take: Grooming can become a rushed chore in which the art and joy of self-maintenance can be lost. This back scrubber isn’t meant to last forever; it’s not made from plastic; it might not even scrub the best, but guys will feel great using it, knowing they’re wielding a culturally-backed, environmentally friendly tool that’s been cleaning backs and bodies for centuries. Just make sure to hang it to dry after showering, otherwise, this back scrubber and its natural materials could be prime vectors for mold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Back Scrubbers
Why should you use a back scrubber?
To clean the back, of course! More specifically, back scrubbers exfoliate the skin and help get rid of dead skin, grime, and bacteria. “Manually or mechanically exfoliating using a brush can help clear the dead skin cells away and improve the look and feel of your skin,” LoGerfo says. “Using a back brush can improve skin texture by removing the ‘dead’ skin surface cells and reveal ‘new’ skin that is better, fresher, and brighter.”
She adds that back scrubbers can be particularly useful for back acne. “Dead skin cells and debris can accumulate in the pores of your skin, clogging and causing acne breakouts,” she says. “By exfoliating regularly, the dead skin cells and debris can be removed, preventing pore clogging and subsequent breakouts.”
What makes a back scrubber great for the shower?
The best back scrubbers for the shower will often be made of silicone rubber for its non-porous, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial properties, Kim says, and feature a hole or loop of string to hang the brush to dry.
Can I use products with a back scrubber?
Yes! Scrubbers are designed to work with and handle products like body washes, acne scrubs, and the like, though the same rules of care apply: Be sure to rinse the scrubber clean of any lingering product and hang it to dry.
How often should you use a backscrubber?
The answer to this depends on multiple factors, but the gist is pretty simple: Guys who feel they need to scrub more often should scrub more often and everyone else should stick to a couple of times a week. If the scrubber head is softer and less abrasive, like a silicone rubber one, it can be used more often, even daily. Brushes with actual stiff bristles are probably better off being used closer to once or twice per week.
Is it better to scrub a back that’s dry or wet?
There’s no correct answer here, but there are pros and cons to both. The primary issue is bacteria: Wet scrubbing can allow bacteria to develop on brushes that don’t or cannot dry properly. “That’s why I’m a proponent of dry brushing,” Mistry says. “A wooden brush with horsehair bristles can be particularly effective for the thicker skin on the back. Dry brushing not only exfoliates but also aids in lymph removal and oxygenates the skin, promoting clearer and healthier back skin.”
At the same time, a shower also helps clean that brush every time, whereas a brush used for dry scrubbing would need to be occasionally cleaned. Kim adds that the wet conditions in the shower can also help the scrubber glide more easily as well as more effectively remove dead skin cells in combination with the water and any products.
Is a manual back scrubber or electric back scrubber better?
This ultimately boils down to personal preference: Some guys want the electric power to minimize effort while others might find that to be too aggressive of a scrubbing.
Mistry, for one, suggests sticking to manual brushing: “As for electric back brushes, I’m not a fan. They pose the same bacterial risks as other scrubbers and aren’t as effective as dry brushing.”
But as long as the scrubbers remain clean, guys aren’t likely to run into any issues using manual or electric scrubbers in the shower.
