Last week a writer contacted me because he wanted to interview an image consultant about men’s proper body grooming habits. He provided the name of the website where the interview would be published along with a list of intended questions. I was prepared to give an interview worthy of my reputation as a men’s image expert.
But here’s how the situation turned hairy, in more ways than one. When the website popped up on my handy dandy MacBook screen, I immediately could tell the website was a glorified marketing site for one of the world’s most well known shaving brands. Then I put two and two together when I reviewed the writer’s questions. Their intention was to lead me to agree with the notion that a man should shave his hair – everywhere!
Under the veil that the website is geared toward men in their 20’s and 30’s the posed questions would have been better asked to a narcissistic poser than to a real honest to goodness image professional whose driving force is to encourage clients to develop a real style based on their personality and goals.
He wanted to know what tips would I offer to men who have excessive hair, not just on their chest – but on their abdomen. How does having more hair on the abdomen adversely affect a man’s job performance? Not one bit unless he’s a swimmer.
He wanted to know how viable waxing and laser treatments are versus the cheap and easy shaving method. Objection! Leading the witness. Sustained.
He wondered if it really mattered how one’s torso looks in the locker room. This question, loaded with homoerotic undertones, is beyond the scope of my work as an image consultant.
He’s heard that a lot of men are completely shaving the body hair off their torsos, claiming this as an advantage to guys who work out. I said that historically this notion comes from the world of men’s competitive bodybuilding. Points would be deducted if a man’s musculature could be obscured by body hair. He’d also apply oils to the skin to make his body glisten for more added points. But I don’t see how this is adds an “advantage.”
He even asked if a man decided to keep his chest hair what length should it be? Am I an esthetician? I do not want to be responsible for any itching or rashes!
You might know that I work with a lot of men, in their 20’s, 30’s, and beyond. Few of my clients have such body hair issues. What does matter is when hair grows out of their nose or ears, when the eyebrows become too bushy, when facial hair resembles that of a caveman, or when chest hair heaves over the top of an opened collar. These distractions are image breakers for men at the workplace, at home, and while socializing.
Whether a man trims or shaves his body hair depends on his personality and goals. A self-identified low maintenance guy won’t tend to keep up on a grooming regimen, no matter how supposedly easy a product marketer claims it is. Even if that same guy is into working out, he may not want to take additional grooming steps. Still some men are very body conscious and groom themselves to “within an inch of their lives” and it always shows, but not just when they’re in the buff. They’ve got the perfect hair, the perfect smile, the clothes fit just perfectly, the shoes are always shined perfectly; everything matches perfectly. He even washes his car all the time.
What’s with this push to get men to “shave it all off” because men “weren’t born that way” to begin with? Maturing is part of the beauty and the miracle of life. Why try to get all men to look like the miracle hasn’t taken place?
Surely not all men are created equal when it comes to body hair. Some have more than others. But encouraging men with body hair to eliminate theirs because “it’s trendy” comes dangerously close to feminizing men’s bodies and men’s minds all in the name of consumer marketing.
Designing and managing your image is the secret science to your success.
Joseph Rosenfeld helps professional men, women, and corporate workgroups create effective visual brands. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.