Hairy or Smooth? The Trend Toward Male Hair Removal in Russia and the West

There’s been more and more discussion about whether to shave or not. Recently, our magazine published a long article that pubic hair removal is no longer in style among European men, and that being hairy is popular. Until recently, the metrosexual movement was popular, leading to the widespread practice among men of removing hair from various parts of the body. In Europe, a reverse trend has been gaining momentum lately. Let's take a closer look at why this is happening in Europe and how men in Russia feel about this issue.

read more

Read More on This Topic

Hair vs Depilation: How Men's Fashion Trends Are Changing

Men's fashion is like a pendulum: just yesterday, a well-groomed appearance was a sign of style, but today, the trend is toward naturalness and body hair. What caused this shift?

In Western Europe and the United States

Many European men are giving up shaving, preferring a natural look. I live in one of the EU countries and go to the gym almost every day. I can say with confidence that this is true: young and adult men often don’t shave their pubic hair and leave their underarm hair unshaven. About 3 out of 10 guys do, however, choose to shave completely. In the U.S. and other Western countries The absence of underarm hair in men is not considered a standard of beauty or hygiene. This differs from some other cultures, where hair removal is considered the norm.

By the way, things used to be the other way around. For example, in 1985, one in four Europeans bought a shaving kit for personal care, and in 1988 — one in two. In 2015, about 70% of men in the U.S. and the EU removed hair from their underarms and groin areas (using a razor, laser, or wax).

Why does this happen?

Ecology and Minimalism: Many people in Europe care about nature and try to consume less, which means they produce less garbage. Razors, depilatory creams - all this is unnecessary waste and waste.

Freedom from Stereotypes: The natural beauty movement, which began with women, has now spread to men as well. “Natural hair movement” is about accepting yourself as you are, and rejecting the imposed standards of beauty.

Movies and TV Shows: Western movies and TV shows almost always depict men with hairy armpits. This helps people get used to the natural look and understand that this is what most men look like.

Health: Some studies suggest that pubic hair may protect against infections.

And what about Russia (and other Eastern countries)?

In Russia, everything is more complicated: on the one hand, many men strive for smoothness, and on the other hand, they do not shave and do not see it as a problem.

In Russia, it is difficult to find accurate statistics on how many men choose to shave their pubic hair and underarms. The only recent large-scale survey was conducted in 2017 on the website of the magazine Mean's Heals (российское издание закрыто с 2022 года, прим. Doberman.media) in collaboration with a women's magazine Cosmopolitan на тему удаления волос с тела у мужчин и отношения к этому у мужчин и у женщин. Результаты опроса оказались очень интересными. Так, 68% мужчин в РФ так или иначе избавляются от растительности на своем теле. Фактически 7 из 10 мужчин регулярно укорачивают, либо начисто сбривают волосы в интимных местах.

Should Men Shave Their Groin? Women's Opinions (Cosmopolitan magazine). Мнение женщин по этому вопросу разделилось так: 66% считают, что мужчина должен начисто брить лобок, 25% убеждены, что должен как минимум регулярно укорачивать, остальные любят заросли (около 9%).

It is interesting to note that the percentage of men who shave their groin area can vary depending on their age group. For example, among young men under 30, this percentage can reach 90%, while among men over 50, it may be lower.

For example, in Islam For both men and women, pubic hair removal is a must. This is practiced as part of the concept "Fitra" — a natural state of purity and hygiene. According to Islamic traditions and hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), removing hair from the pubic and underarm areas is considered an important part of personal hygiene. Such guidelines help maintain health and personal hygiene, which in Islam is considered an important part of religious purity (tahara).

A Little History (Boring, but Useful):

In Ancient Egypt, it was customary for members of the upper classes to remove hair from their entire bodies, including their private parts. To do this, the Egyptians used razors made of bronze and precious metals, as well as waxing, resin, and other methods, or they simply plucked the hair from unwanted areas.

In Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, having body hair was considered the prerogative of the lower classes; the nobility preferred to remove body hair using copper or bronze razors, or with special tweezers, and pubic hair was considered a source of disease, so they even preferred to have a servant remove it to avoid touching it with their own hands.

In ancient India, it was also customary among the upper classes to pay close attention to hygiene and to remove body and facial hair.

Survey

At the request of Doberman.media magazine, the administrator of the Telegram channel "Little Ones in Bed" conducted a survey among his subscribers. The majority of the channel's audience consists of men who have sex with men and who live in Russia. A total of 264 respondents took part in the survey.

The survey results showed that 62% of respondents prefer pubic hair to be neatly trimmed, while 37% of participants prefer a completely smooth, shaved groin. At the same time, only 16% expressed a preference for a fully hairy groin. As for the armpits, the majority — 58% — prefer smooth skin. 45% of respondents find a hairy chest attractive, while 51% prefer a hairless chest.

Smooth vs. Hairy

In Russia, both trends exist simultaneously. Women are more likely to choose smoothness because it is considered a sign of well-groomed. But for most men, hair is the norm.

Although Russians have traditionally been more relaxed about body hair, Western beauty standards from the 2000s still influence people: both women and men strive for smoothness. At the same time, just as in the West, more and more people in Russia, Belarus, and other Eastern countries are becoming environmentally conscious and are beginning to avoid unnecessary procedures—including hair removal.

Why is it so hard to make up my mind?

Beauty trends are not just whims, but a reflection of what is happening in society. The attitude to depilation is influenced by many factors: Culture, stereotypes, Fashion and Media (глянцевые журналы, социальные сети – все это формирует наши представления о красоте) and, of course, a person's personal choice, because, after all, it's up to each person to decide whether or not to shave.

There is no unambiguous answer to the question of male hair removal. In the West, men are increasingly choosing naturalness, and in Russia, both trends still coexist. The main thing is to respect everyone's choice.