5 Best Ways to Remove Body Hair At Home for Men: Ranked By Pain Levels

Not all of us want to sport a hairy chest, back, arms or legs, and the choice is a completely personal one. And luckily, there are many easy ways to remove body hair at home for men.

A lot of men prefer not to keep the body fuzz for various reasons. It could be because they are athletes, or they prefer a cleaner look, or simply because it makes them feel more comfortable in their own skin.

Shaving, trimming, waxing, and using depilatory creams are all ways to get rid of body hair. And the one that you find to be the most effective (and least painful) varies from person to person. Of course, pain is subjective, and what might feel like a breeze to one person might be excruciating for another.

However, the pain levels for each of these methods are generally considered the same by most men. So, we have ranked them in descending order – from the least painful to the most.

This topic always tosses up the question of whether it is necessary for men to remove their body hair. There is no right or wrong answer.

It ultimately comes down to personal preference and what makes you feel comfortable in your own skin.

While some men much prefer the look and feel of a clean-shaven body, others may not mind the hair at all. And that's completely okay!

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to personal grooming, and everyone should do what makes them feel confident and comfortable.

Some reasons why men might choose to shave their body hair include:

There are a number of ways to remove body hair, but we're going to focus on the ones that you can easily do at home. Doing the process yourself can save you time and money, and it can just be a lot more convenient.

We've ranked 5 common at-home methods for removing body hair, based on pain levels. Keep in mind that these are general rankings and may vary from person to person.

Starting at number 5, we have shaving – the most common and easiest method for removing body hair.

It involves using a razor to cut off the hair at the skin's surface, making it a painless method. You can use an electric or manual razor, depending on your preference, but both are relatively pain-free.

Shaving will last you for 1 to 3 days, depending on how quickly your hair grows back (on average, hair grows back at about half an inch per month). And while it does require the most upkeep of any method on this list, a lot of men prefer it because it's the most convenient and painless.

However, you can sometimes experience razor burn or rashes if you have sensitive skin, which can make shaving slightly uncomfortable.

Nicks and cuts can also happen if you're not careful, which is why using a shaving foam, gel, or cream is recommended for a smooth and safe shave.

Depilatory creams (or hair removal creams) are another pain-free method for removing body hair. These creams are formulated with strong chemicals which dissolve hair at the skin's surface, making it easy to wipe away.

They are quick and easy to use, but the results only last for a few days, similar to shaving.

Plus, depending on your skin's sensitivity and the strength of the cream, you may experience a slight tingling or burning sensation when using it.

But in terms of pain level when removing the hair, depilatory creams are generally painless. Just be sure to do a patch test before using it on larger areas of your body, and always follow the instructions carefully.

Laser hair removal was once an appointment-only procedure, but now there are at-home laser devices available for purchase.

Unlike shaving and hair removal creams, laser hair removal offers long-lasting results. It uses concentrated light beams to destroy your hair's follicles, preventing them from growing back.

So instead of just removing hair at the surface, it targets the root of the hair. This can cause a mild to moderate level of discomfort, similar to a rubber band snapping against your skin.

It may also take several sessions before you see permanent results, and some areas of the body may be more sensitive than others.

You can use laser hair removal on small and large areas of the body, but it does require patience and consistency for long-term hair reduction.

Sugaring is a natural hair removal method that involves using a lemon juice, sugar, and water mixture to create a sticky paste that is then applied to the skin and pulled off, removing the hair with it.

Sugaring is similar to waxing in terms of pain levels, but some people find it less painful because the sugar mixture adheres only to the hair and not the skin.

However, sugaring can still cause mild to moderate discomfort, and it may take a few tries before you get the technique down. But the results can last for up to 4-6 weeks.

And finally, at the top of the list, we have waxing.

Again, pain levels vary from person to person, but most people do consider this to be one of the more painful methods for removing body hair.

Waxing can be done using either stripless wax or wax strips, but both methods involve applying hot wax to the skin and then pulling it off, which removes the hair from the root.

The level of pain you experience depends on your pain tolerance and the area of the body being waxed. Some areas, like the chest and back, may be more sensitive than others.

However, the results can last for up to 6 weeks, and the more you wax regularly, the less painful it becomes as you get used to the sensation.

As we've mentioned a couple of times, the length of time that your hair-free skin lasts will depend on the method you choose.

Shaving and depilatory creams are quick and easy but offer short-term results. Laser hair removal and waxing provide longer-lasting results, with laser hair removal being the only method that offers permanent hair reduction.

While sugaring falls somewhere in the middle, with results lasting for about 4-6 weeks.

Your hair growth rate will also affect how long it takes for the hair to grow back, so it's not really possible to put a definite time stamp on any of these. Where shaving for some guys may only last for 1 day, for others, it may last for 3 days.

As for the best method? We can't really be the ones to tell you that.

It ultimately boils down to personal preference and what you find most effective and comfortable.

But if pain is your main concern, we recommend starting with shaving or depilatory creams. If you're looking for longer-lasting results, waxing or laser hair removal may be better options.

You might even want to use a combination of methods, depending on the area of your body you're removing hair from.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. The important thing is to do what makes you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin.

For more guides and tips on men's grooming and self-care, head on over to the rest of the Salt Grooming blog.