Male grooming 'on the up' (time to start waxing our legs, guys!)

u.tv ^ | January 13, 2003

[Timesink]

MONDAY 13/01/2003 14:43:35

Male grooming 'on the up'

Men are waxing their legs and having their eyebrows plucked in increasing numbers as attitudes to body hair change, according to a study published today.

Body hair is seen as dirty and ``getting in the way`` by men anxious to show off their physiques, interviews conducted by a Nottingham Trent University researcher have shown.

Marsha Smith, of the Department of English and Media Studies, said gay culture, widespread gym membership and sports such as body-building and cycling had made shaving body hair more popular with men.

Men were waxing their legs, backs and chests and were removing hair from their armpits, eyebrows, noses and ears, she said.

She added: ``There is a whole culture that has grown up around bodies being very clean and almost sterile and hair is traditionally seen as dirty - body hair would be removed before surgery because it is seen as potentially harbouring dirt.``

Her findings were based on interviews and on analysis of beauty treatments.

[Willie Green]

Usually a baseball cap.
When I use to live in Michigan/Pennsylvania, I'd switch to
a knit stocking cap in winter to keep my ears warm,
but there's not much need for those here in Las Vegas. :-)

[Maedhros]