Young gays are convinced they invented everything, including so-called “manscaping.” The truth of the matter is a much longer and more interesting story. BRO-zilians and other names aside, the history of male body hair grooming is almost as old as civilization itself. But, before you run off to get something plucked, shaved, waxed, or lasered, we thought you should know the purpose behind the hair you are ready to remove.

As we always say, the male body is a marvel of architectural invention and should be celebrated and adored. Nature makes no mistakes when it comes to evolution. There would be a valid reason if our bodies had something but no longer do. The exact opposite is also true. We have specific bodily components because, throughout our collective history, it has proven to be helpful. This includes intimate hair.

We will take a walk through history to discuss when and where it is believed male intimate hair grooming was a staple of society in the past. Then move on to the purpose of these patches of hair, how & why gay males are known to trim and shave below the neck and end with the dangers associated with this activity.

Let’s begin…

A Brief history lesson

Researchers have found evidence that men have been shaving their pubic hair for at least 30,000 years, and that’s when the earliest flint razors have been dated back to. Allegedly, our cave-dwelling ancestors used everything from clamshells to sharks’ teeth to perform this task.

It should be no surprise to anyone who has visited a museum that the ancient Greeks and Romans, who were huge fetishists of youthful male beauty, took highly to this practice. It served the initial purpose and supported their belief in their superiority over other cultures known to be much hairier and thus “barbaric and savage.”

Throughout history, pubic hair grooming has gone in and out of fashion. From the priests and noblemen of Ancient Egypt to the teachings of Islam, and the Native Americans, societies have practiced some level of this act.

This leads us to ask why, in ancient times, the lack of pubic hair was seen as desired and even celebrated. As stated earlier, the Greeks and Romans are well known for their fascination with young male beauty, and this is evident throughout the works of art that have survived to our era. The visage of pre-pubescent boys and their natural, clean-shaven look was desired as a connection to lost youthfulness that could still be obtained, in visual effects, with the shaving of adult pubic hair.

For some cultures, this level of perceived innocence drove the cutting and even total removal of pubic hair. This is why priests and male members of some religions made this mandatory. It symbolized a level of holiness and an ability to be closer to god.

And then along came Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. In stark contrast to the religious teachings of humanity’s origin from a God or gods, Darwin was the first to link us to our primate brothers. The fact that we, through evolution, have discarded most of our follicles was viewed as a sign of our intelligence and sophistication. In some ways, mirroring what the Greeks and Romans believed, but without the racial overtones.

Darwin’s theory did not immediately develop or support a mass movement toward pubic hair shaving. But over time, the popularity of electrolysis (1875), safety razors (1901), the “soaring hemlines of the post-World War I flapper generation, and the era of pubic hair grooming on the grounds of taste (specifically, men’s taste) had begun.”

Research on Gay Males

Within the last twenty to twenty-five years, there has been a significant uptick in research conducted on our specific community. Of course, we had been included in studies about males, if not directly credited. But with changes in laws and society’s views on male homosexuality, we have warranted our own findings on a host of issues. This includes our grooming habits.

Within any community, there will be those who, no matter the style of the times, will decide to go their own way. Some will fall into the grooming category, and others outside its purview. For those that follow trends, their actions will change based on the mood of their community and culture. This is how so-called metrosexuals found their footing in the early 2000s.

Society’s view of body hair has not altered much over the last few thousand years. Unkempt and/or natural pubic hair is viewed as everything from barbaric to masculine and even having a sense of individuality and freedom. Whereas grooming and shaving are conflated with youth, innocence, and softness. Gay males, being much more like everyone else in society than those outside of, and even within, our community, follow many of these basic viewpoints. This is most clearly seen within the Leather Community and more mainstream groups like “Twinks.” To the surprise of absolutely no one, those who choose to be receptive partners during anal intercourse are much more likely to ascribe to greater grooming techniques and complete shaving of their intimate body hair. Specifically their anus.

The Influence of Sexual Orientation and Sexual Role on Male Grooming-Related Injuries and Infections was a study published in 2015. It is the largest and most comprehensive on this topic, especially in its relationship with gay males.

“Several studies have looked at psychological factors contributing to pubic hair removal in men and have found the drive for muscularity, gender role conflicts, and physical appearance social comparisons have been correlated with increasing degrees of body hair removal. It has been shown that men who have sex with men (MSM) remove their pubic hair more frequently.”

The following are some of the most relevant and exciting findings from this study regarding our population. It should be noted that the researchers collected the following demographic data: age, race, relationship status, education, and geographic region. Men who reported having sex with men only or men and women were added to the MSM group. Men who reported engaging in penetrative and receptive intercourse were considered receptive partners.

  • Of the original 7,580 subjects, 4,062 (53.6%) men completed the survey. Of these men, there were 3,176 (78.1%) who self-identified as MSW, 688 (16.9%) as not being sexually active, 166 (4.1%) as MSM, and 32 (0.8%) as men who have sex with women and men (MSWM). Of MSM and MSWM, there were 117 (59.1%) receptive partners, 42 (21.1%) insertive partners, and 39 (19.7%) MSM or MSWM who did not report their sexual role.

  •  In the MSM group, there were 50.8% white, 9.0% black, and 27.1% Hispanic men. No statistical racial differences were found between receptive and insertive partners. 

  • We found increased grooming frequency in annual grooming, daily grooming, and removing all of one’s pubic hair in MSM compared to MSW.

  • MSM report grooming more for sex and vacation. This association is likely due to particular physical appearance concerns pertinent to these activities. 

  • Among MSM, we found no statistical difference in preferences of partner grooming between receptive and insertive sexual roles. It, therefore, seems that partner grooming preference may be more dependent on sexual orientation than a sexual role in anal intercourse.

  • The majority of injuries for both MSM and MSW were to the scrotum, pubis, or penis, but MSM also had more wounds to the anus and more infections and abscesses due to their grooming. 

  • Increased frequency of grooming, in particular removing all pubic hair among MSM, is associated with an increased prevalence of infections and abscesses. Removing pubic hair may lead to microscopic lacerations and abrasions, predisposing an individual to infection. Although the number of grooming injuries between MSM and MSW did not differ, MSM did seek more medical attention for their injuries. Increased reported infections and abscesses due to pubic hair grooming in MSM might be a reason for seeking medical advice.

  • Male receptive partners groomed more frequently, groomed more for sex, and groomed the hair from penis to navel, scrotum, and between the scrotum and anus more than insertive partners. 

  •  The receptive partners in our study were also younger, and age may influence depilatory practices. Newcomb et al. also found MSM bottoms (receptive partners) to be younger.

  •  Interestingly, more than four times as many MSM were grooming at the time of STI and using nonelectric blades to groom. This could result from the baseline increase in grooming in MSM that grooming might predicate riskier sexual behavior or that grooming actually increases the likelihood of an STI. Still, using nonelectric blades to groom in MSM may not be advisable. 

  • Going further, three times as many receptive partners reported grooming at the time of STI. As such, sexual roles and grooming together may harbor an environment for an STI infection; however, given the small sample size, the results are inconclusive.

  • The role of grooming and the risk of acquiring an STI is still uncertain and requires further study with more robust controls to assess safe sex behavior. However, electric razors may be safer for anogenital grooming.

Intimate hair removal

Even as some gay guys rush to remove everything from the slightest to the most significant amount of body hair possible, many have no clear understanding of what they are getting rid of. The human form has developed many natural defenses to disease and infection as well as adapted to our differing ways of life and lifestyle by making changes to our bodies. This includes the amount of hair on them.

On average, pubic hair ranges between 0.5 to 1.5 inches and is usually a thicker/curly texture than the hair over the rest of our body. Biologists have discovered a myriad of reasons for why we still have pubic hair when the majority of hair over the rest of our bodies has decreased with evolution.

Pubic hair, consisting of your underarm, genital area, scrotal section, and anus, first manifests during puberty. It is a physical manifestation of your new adult status and sexual maturity. For these reasons, some cultures celebrate pubic hair as a sign of virality and masculinity, and Victorians were among this lot. This new crop of hair provides specific benefits to your sexual health and enjoyment, including providing a natural cushion during intercourse and preventing friction burns during sex. Pubic hair is curly because curly hair does a better job capturing the pheromones from one’s sweat glands, ensuring that each person has a unique genital odor.

So, if intimate hair is so important, why has it had such an uneasy relationship with human culture for tens of thousands of years? The answer for those in the past was simple: PUBIC LICE. They are now known more commonly as CRABS.

“Pubic lice aren’t related to poor personal hygiene, and they’re usually spread through close bodily contact with an infected person. The lice crawl from hair to hair but can’t fly or jump. They need human blood to survive, so they will only leave the body to move from one person to another. The most common way pubic lice are spread is through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.”

In the Victorian era, pubic lice was a very large social ill, but these nasty buggers have been humanity’s constant traveling partner for a long time.  In 2002, researchers found Phthirus pubis (pubic lice) eggs attached to the pubic hairs of a 2000-year-old Chilean mummy, and adult pubic lice have been found in clothing from a 1000-year-old Peruvian mummy.

For this reason, and the obvious smooth aesthetics, shaving pubic hair developed a reputation of being “cleaner.” Especially desired when the treatment for pubic lice had been severe and long endured by the infected.

In more modern times, the clean look is still cited as a rationale for having groomed naughty bits. But also for sexual reasons, personal preferences, and a belief in increased physical sensations. Some believe that removing hair from around the anus provides for a reduction in the chances of anal yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTI) but there is no scientific backing for this. Also, shaving the hair from around the anus is erroneously believed to reduce bacteria, but bacteria lives on the skin surface and hair follicles. With this being said, shaving has been proven to be an effective treatment for anal itch.

As expected, a cottage industry has risen to assist you in getting rid of your unwanted private hair. From razors and waxes to creams and lasers, there seems to be no end in sight for the list of products seeking a place in your bathroom medicine cabinet.

By now, you should be asking yourself if there are any risks or dangers to removing your pubic hair. But first…

Some stats on who’s grooming and from where

2016 saw the American Journal of Men’s health publish Prevalence and Motivation: Pubic Hair Grooming Among Men in the United States. This was based on research where four thousand one hundred and ninety-eight men completed the survey. Of these men, 2,120 (50.5%) reported regular pubic hair grooming. 

(Pubic hair growth in men peaks in the mid-20s and later declines (Ayob & Messenger, 2015; Hamilton, 1958). Increased hair growth at these earlier ages may partly explain a greater prevalence of grooming at younger ages.)

  • Men who groomed were younger than men who did not groom
  • More groomers had a bachelor’s degree or higher than nongroomers
  • Groomers report more lifetime sexual partners compared with nongroomers
  •  A more significant proportion of groomers report daily sex compared with nongroomers
  • There was no association of grooming with race
  •  The majority of men report grooming in preparation for sexual activity, with a peak prevalence of 73% among men aged 25 to 34 years
  • Most (91%) of groomers remove the hair above the penis.
  • Scrotal grooming was more prevalent among men aged 34 to 44 years, with a peak prevalence of 72%
  • Removing inner thigh hair seems to decrease with age, with a prevalence of 45% in 18- to 24-year-olds and a majority of 26% in 55- to 65-year-olds
  • Although less common, more than 10% of groomers in all age categories report grooming the hair around the anus
  • Twenty-four percent of groomers aged 25 to 34 years groom the area around the anus, and 11% of the groomers aged 55 to 65 groomed the area around the anus.
  • Grooming may play a role in male body image, as many college males report grooming for a drive of muscularity and physical appearance
  •  About one in five men report grooming because it makes their penis look longer, which may be another reason that so many men groom for sex
  • Whether grooming decreases perspiration and odor has not been studied

Risks from pubic hair removal

Considering our current place in human history, removing hair from your genital area is relatively safe. Of course, one must consider the manner and method used, but overall, it won’t kill you. Also, when reading articles about hair removal, you should make sure to separate GROOMING from SHAVING. Grooming usually means cleaning up, trimming around the hedges, and making sure the boys look nice and tidy for company.

On the other hand, shaving is exactly what it says on the tin—the total removal of hair from a particular area.

Thomas Gaither, a medical student at the UCSF School of Medicine, has authored or led many of the recent research papers on pubic hair grooming trends in America, including forthcoming studies on male habits. “If there is anybody who knows things about men’s grooming, it’s me,” he says.

“Most men are trimming, so not removing all of their hair. But there is a select group of men who remove all their hair. If you look at men who have sex with men, they groom much more often than straight men and are much more likely to remove all their pubic hair.”

This more significant amount of grooming has led to an increase in emergency visits and STIs. When men remove all their pubic hair, it’s usually with nonelectric razors. And the following most common method would be electric razors. The most common injury is little lacerations, and scrotal injuries are widespread. Men who have sex with men are more likely to groom their anus and report injuries to the anus as well.

If you groom before sex, you might disrupt your epithelial barrier, tissues, including the skin, that protect the body from damage. You might be more susceptible to things transmitted via the epithelial barrier. So that’s all the sexually transmitted infections that are cutaneous — HPV, genital warts, syphilis.

“The hypothesis is that if [shaving causes] small cuts, and you’re grooming before you have sex, and then you do have sex — you rub up on somebody else — that’s how diseases like HPV are transmitted. They are not transmitted through ejaculations and other secretions the way HIV or gonorrhea are. So we don’t think grooming puts you at higher risk for those diseases. But with HPV, genital warts, syphilis — we think there might be more of an increased risk associated with grooming.”

What does this all mean?

Humans have been grooming their intimate private hair for thousands of years. Societies will see this act go in and out of fashion and change based on public perceptions, new technologies, and inventions. Because pubic hair does not develop until puberty, it has been, and will always be, viewed with a connection to adulthood, maleness, and masculinity. Gay males have traveled differing roads along this highway, teetering from no grooming to complete shaving, depending on the era and man in question. And finally, our collective views about pubic hair are, on some level, dictated by the media, advertising, and pornography.

The most prominent concerns for gay males who choose to groom their nether regions should be which products they use, their skill in using them, and the risks of physical danger they may create. Any positives one may believe occur due to this act must also be tempered with the knowledge that shaving, especially of and around the anus, carries a great risk of increasing the chances of infection with certain STIs. Especially if you use a razor blade and do not wait at least two days before sexual activity.

Finally, this is your body. You and only you should decide what to do with your pubic hair. Gay males are stuck in the middle between choosing what we prefer our own male bodies to look like and what we prefer the bodies of our male sexual partners to look like. These will not always be the same. And that’s ok.

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