Manscaping 101: How to Do It Right

Be the smoothest man around with these tips.

Hairy Situation - Whether you’re looking to wax your chest or tame a unibrow, hair removal is serious business. So we went to an expert for tips on how to make manscaping quick and easy. Here’s how to uncover your smoothest skin yet. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Mike Watson/Corbis Images)

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Hairy Situation - Whether you’re looking to wax your chest or tame a unibrow, hair removal is serious business. So we went to an expert for tips on how to make manscaping quick and easy. Here’s how to uncover your smoothest skin yet. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Mike Watson/Corbis Images)

Go Pro - The idea of doing anything other than shaving might freak you out, but the experts agree that it’s not the ideal way to go hair-free. “The best method of body hair removal for black skin is to remove it from the root, because it decreases the possibility of ingrown hairs,” says Wanda Sossa, owner of The White Peacock Spa in Washington, D.C. “This can be achieved with waxing, threading, tweezing or sugaring.” (Photo: Dylan Ellis/Corbis)

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Go Pro - The idea of doing anything other than shaving might freak you out, but the experts agree that it’s not the ideal way to go hair-free. “The best method of body hair removal for black skin is to remove it from the root, because it decreases the possibility of ingrown hairs,” says Wanda Sossa, owner of The White Peacock Spa in Washington, D.C. “This can be achieved with waxing, threading, tweezing or sugaring.” (Photo: Dylan Ellis/Corbis)

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Wax On - If you’re looking to remove hair from a large area — say your back or below the belt — waxing is probably the most efficient way to go. But you need to prep right. First, your hair needs to be the correct length. “Coarser hair is more easily removed if it is a little longer than one quarter of an inch in length,” Sossa explains. Next, exfoliate daily in the shower with a buffing cloth that you can pick up at any drugstore. “This will help remove dead skin cells and prepare the area for waxing,” says Sossa.  (Photo: jo unruh/GettyImages)

Find the Right Expert - Make sure you book an appointment with someone who is comfortable removing hair like yours — it will make for a much better final result. “Men tend to have coarser and thicker hair, so it is imperative that you inquire if the esthetician is skilled at hair removal in men and in the specific body region you want,” Sossa explains. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Ravella)

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Find the Right Expert - Make sure you book an appointment with someone who is comfortable removing hair like yours — it will make for a much better final result. “Men tend to have coarser and thicker hair, so it is imperative that you inquire if the esthetician is skilled at hair removal in men and in the specific body region you want,” Sossa explains. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Ravella)

Lay Low - Hair removal can be a bit rough on your skin, so follow Sossa’s post-wax tips for the first 24 hours after your appointment: No direct sun exposure, no exercise and no baths or visits to the pool or hot tub. “Immediately after waxing, skin is more sensitive to sun exposure. When it comes to exercise, the friction created during workouts will agitate the area and over production of sweat will produce a skin reaction. Pools and tubs are the perfect breeding ground for germs.” And nobody needs an infection. (Photo: Corbis/RCWW, Inc./Corbis)

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Lay Low - Hair removal can be a bit rough on your skin, so follow Sossa’s post-wax tips for the first 24 hours after your appointment: No direct sun exposure, no exercise and no baths or visits to the pool or hot tub. “Immediately after waxing, skin is more sensitive to sun exposure. When it comes to exercise, the friction created during workouts will agitate the area and over production of sweat will produce a skin reaction. Pools and tubs are the perfect breeding ground for germs.” And nobody needs an infection. (Photo: Corbis/RCWW, Inc./Corbis)

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Set a Mutual Goal - When you first started dating, the two of you probably discussed a variety of dreams and goals you were going to tackle together. So it’s important to set aside time to create a mutual goal and diligently work as a unit in making sure the goal is achieved. (Photo: Nigel Carse/Getty Images)

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Happy Returns - Sossa recommends regular waxing appointments every four to six weeks to keep things smooth. (Photo: Nigel Carse/Getty Images)

Hands Off - “You may be tempted to remove hair at home between waxing appointments, but it is best to leave it to the professionals. This will allow for even growth and an easier hair removal experience,” Sossa says. “If you insist on doing it yourself, then it’s best to tweeze, not shave, because pulling hair from the root is always the best option.” (Photo: Charlie Nucci/Corbis)

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Hands Off - “You may be tempted to remove hair at home between waxing appointments, but it is best to leave it to the professionals. This will allow for even growth and an easier hair removal experience,” Sossa says. “If you insist on doing it yourself, then it’s best to tweeze, not shave, because pulling hair from the root is always the best option.” (Photo: Charlie Nucci/Corbis)

Prevention Is Key - While black skin is often prone to ingrown hairs, there are some things you can do to avoid this uncomfortable condition. “Exfoliate daily or at least a couple of times a week. It’s important to get rid of dead skin cells, which will allow hair to more easily break through the surface of the skin,” Sossa says. You can also try using a topical product, such as Finipil or Tend Skin, to remove dead skin cells. “Some topicals need to be stopped at least one week before waxing, so discuss these products with your esthetician for the best results.”  (Photo: Tomas Rodriguez/Corbis)

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Prevention Is Key - While black skin is often prone to ingrown hairs, there are some things you can do to avoid this uncomfortable condition. “Exfoliate daily or at least a couple of times a week. It’s important to get rid of dead skin cells, which will allow hair to more easily break through the surface of the skin,” Sossa says. You can also try using a topical product, such as Finipil or Tend Skin, to remove dead skin cells. “Some topicals need to be stopped at least one week before waxing, so discuss these products with your esthetician for the best results.”  (Photo: Tomas Rodriguez/Corbis)

Be Vigilant - If you discover ingrown hairs, don’t pick at them. “This will only lead to an infection, scabbing or scarring,” Sossa says. “If the ingrown hair is visible and easy to pull, then carefully do so with tweezers. Otherwise, leave it alone and the hair will naturally break through on its own. Consult a dermatologist if there is an infected, persistent or reoccurring ingrown.”  (Photo: 68/George Doyle/Ocean/Corbis)

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Be Vigilant - If you discover ingrown hairs, don’t pick at them. “This will only lead to an infection, scabbing or scarring,” Sossa says. “If the ingrown hair is visible and easy to pull, then carefully do so with tweezers. Otherwise, leave it alone and the hair will naturally break through on its own. Consult a dermatologist if there is an infected, persistent or reoccurring ingrown.”  (Photo: 68/George Doyle/Ocean/Corbis)

Shave Right - If you must remove your body hair with a razor, Sossa says it’s even more important to exfoliate. And don’t forget her number one shaving tip to get a smooth result: “While it is tempting to go against the hair grain to get a closer shave, a careful shave that follows the direction that the hair grows will result in fewer nicks and ingrowns, less trauma to the skin, and better overall skin condition.”(Photo: Rubberball/Corbis Images)

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Shave Right - If you must remove your body hair with a razor, Sossa says it’s even more important to exfoliate. And don’t forget her number one shaving tip to get a smooth result: “While it is tempting to go against the hair grain to get a closer shave, a careful shave that follows the direction that the hair grows will result in fewer nicks and ingrowns, less trauma to the skin, and better overall skin condition.”(Photo: Rubberball/Corbis Images)

Tools of the Trade - Your at-home manscaping kit should include the following items: a buffing cloth, tweezers with a good grip, a shaving cream with rich lubrication, Neosporin (in case of an infected ingrown or shaving nick) and clean, sharp razors. “My favorite tweezer is TweezerMan Slant Stainless Steel,” Sossa says. Or try the Bevel Shaving System, which was designed specifically for black men’s hair. (Photo: Bevel)

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Tools of the Trade - Your at-home manscaping kit should include the following items: a buffing cloth, tweezers with a good grip, a shaving cream with rich lubrication, Neosporin (in case of an infected ingrown or shaving nick) and clean, sharp razors. “My favorite tweezer is TweezerMan Slant Stainless Steel,” Sossa says. Or try the Bevel Shaving System, which was designed specifically for black men’s hair. (Photo: Bevel)