The Ed.
Well-Known Member
A new study by Mintel suggests that men are feeling increasing pressure to remove body hair. Six in ten men say that they now regularly remove body hair.
As the trend for hair free bodies becomes more and more popular, men are increasingly taking to shaving, plucking and even the 'boyzillian' (no explanation needed).
The study suggests that sportsmen and athletes are the ones that have triggered the trend after removing hair to improve performance. Mintel suggests that, "Whilst once it was the preserve of elite athletes, it seems that more men are plucking up the courage to achieve a hair-free body.
"Half of all Brits admit there is more pressure nowadays for men to remove or groom body hair. Indeed, for todays modern man, hair removal has extended past a simple shave of the face."
Gone are the days when a hair chest was considered a sign of masculinity and virality. Now, the groomed, 'metrosexual' look is what's important and Charlotte Libby, senior beauty analyst at Mintel, said, "It is becoming increasingly commonplace for men, particularly the under-30s, to remove hair from their body as behaviours once described as metrosexual are becoming increasingly mainstream.
"Major sporting events such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the media attention given to the swimming team and their hair-free bodies in particular, drew focus to male body hair removal."
She said, "It is younger men in particular who are feeling the pressure to achieve a hair free body, with some six in ten 16-24-year-old men agreeing they feel pressure to remove or groom body hair, compared to 22 per cent of over-65s."
Even the ever-popular beard trend isn't safe from the razor, Libby explains. "And while 42 per cent of Brits believe it is fashionable for men to have beards, almost the same number say they feel pressure from others to keep their facial hair neat and tidy."
So, while recent studies have suggested that the shaving industry may be under pressure from men following the beard trend, it looks like the need to remove all other hair may keep them afloat for a little while yet.
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.
As the trend for hair free bodies becomes more and more popular, men are increasingly taking to shaving, plucking and even the 'boyzillian' (no explanation needed).
The study suggests that sportsmen and athletes are the ones that have triggered the trend after removing hair to improve performance. Mintel suggests that, "Whilst once it was the preserve of elite athletes, it seems that more men are plucking up the courage to achieve a hair-free body.
"Half of all Brits admit there is more pressure nowadays for men to remove or groom body hair. Indeed, for todays modern man, hair removal has extended past a simple shave of the face."
Gone are the days when a hair chest was considered a sign of masculinity and virality. Now, the groomed, 'metrosexual' look is what's important and Charlotte Libby, senior beauty analyst at Mintel, said, "It is becoming increasingly commonplace for men, particularly the under-30s, to remove hair from their body as behaviours once described as metrosexual are becoming increasingly mainstream.
"Major sporting events such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the media attention given to the swimming team and their hair-free bodies in particular, drew focus to male body hair removal."
She said, "It is younger men in particular who are feeling the pressure to achieve a hair free body, with some six in ten 16-24-year-old men agreeing they feel pressure to remove or groom body hair, compared to 22 per cent of over-65s."
Even the ever-popular beard trend isn't safe from the razor, Libby explains. "And while 42 per cent of Brits believe it is fashionable for men to have beards, almost the same number say they feel pressure from others to keep their facial hair neat and tidy."
So, while recent studies have suggested that the shaving industry may be under pressure from men following the beard trend, it looks like the need to remove all other hair may keep them afloat for a little while yet.
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.
