This article was written by JC Dombrowski, resident skincare expert at So.Gay. You can join JC and his millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok.
Let’s face it, manscaping is at best a down pat routine of shower yoga with a razor, and at its worst, the aftermath of a weed whacker gone rogue. Now, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it natural, but some people like their body smooth, so here are some of the best tips and products you might not know about to become a manscaping expert.
When it comes to shaving my face, I always use a single blade razor, specifically a double edge stainless steel model that allows you to dispose of the blade after 1-2 uses. This greatly reduced my razor burn (or post shaving folliculitis) and painful knicks my teenage self used to wear like a badge of honor in junior high. However, when it comes to my body, it has been trial and error for a decade and I can confidently tell you if you want a completely smooth shave absent of razor bumps or irritation here’s what you’ll need:
For both face and body the only shaving cream I will ever use is the Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel (fragrance free). This shave gel contains four ingredients that are proven to calm and soothe the skin. That includes oat flour, which might sound abnormal, but believe it or not, oat extracts are some of the best at keeping skin irritation down and speeding up healing. Not only is it recommended by the National Eczema society, but colloidal catmeal is actually an FDA-approved skin protectant meaning it has been tested for efficacy and safety. This gel also contains one of the most underhyped ingredients known as Allantoin which is actually produced by the degradation of uric acid and is great for protecting skin around even the most sensitive areas. It is a water soluble chemical so it doesn’t easily penetrate allowing it to sit on the surface layer to protect and restore your skin. Two other final ingredient callouts are Aloe and Panthenol (or Pro-Vitamin B5). Aloe is an obvious choice, but Panthenol is another ingredient I recommend you look out for in skincare as it’s a favorite of mine and used in a plethora of applications outside of cosmetics such as wound and burn healing, and even has medical applications in treating more serious wounds based on new studies.
On the other hand, while I ardently stick to a double edge for my face I would not recommend using it on the body. My ride or die body razor is the Venus Sensitive Skin Razor. The razor has a gel strip on the top to aid in gentle and steady blade movement along the skin, and even when I go against the grain for the closest shave, not only do I avoid cuts, but my irritation afterwards is little to none. I tend to avoid men’s razors altogether, especially for the body, because they just aren’t made with the idea of shaving the body or genitals, nor are they ever as flexible and gentle on the skin.
Now that you’re all smooth there is a final step most people don’t do but is incredibly important for your skin: after-care. Immediately after shaving, it’s super important to make sure you are using a hydrating and barrier restoring product especially around any extra sensitive private areas. One of my favorites is the Cocokind Ceramide Body Oil stick because it’s sensitive skin friendly and easy to apply. Ceramides are essential parts of the skin itself and topical application helps our skin reproduce our own natural ones!
Another after care go-to is the Aveeno Calm & Restore Oat Repairing Sensitive Daily Lotion.
After a day or two (once your hair follicles, any nicks or cuts, and skin barrier are back to normal), the way to prevent razor bumps or folliculitis from occurring as your hair grows in is to use a chemical exfoliant. I recommend waiting because using it right after will probably burn like hell and it’s a mistake I’ve made before. An affordable tried and true for me is the AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion. It contains 15% Lactic Acid which is a great option for sensitive or delicate skin because this acid has a larger molecular size and won’t penetrate super deep which is often the cause of the redness, burning, or itching sensation from other products!
Beyond these products, there are additional noteworthy points when it comes to post-manscaping care that not a lot of people talk about! One is ensuring you keep your down stairs clean and dry for at least a day. It might be a bit unsavory to think about but make sure you wipe extra well or even shower after shaving around your butt. Your pores may be more open, and any tiny cuts or scrapes are susceptible to germs or bacteria which can worsen the appearance of bumps, butt acne, or lead to a skin infection that may need to be treated by a dermatologist.
If you plan on working out the same day that you manscape, make sure you have a fresh towel, clothes, and shower right after as this humidity around the body can worsen skin issues or aid in the development of infections like ringworm (which is a fungus not a worm despite the unpleasant name).
Manscaping can definitely be a process, and in my opinion you should only do it if you want to for yourself. Some people have it easier and some people struggle from beginning to end, but with these practices my routine has never been easier!
