DIY$20–$100 for a good trimmer
✂️ Trimming & shaving
The 90% solution. Cheap, quick, and nobody has to see you naked except you.
A body trimmer with a guard gets you tidy without the risks of a razor. If you shave, do it after a warm shower, with gel, in the direction the hair grows, with a fresh blade (swap every 5–7 shaves).
Realistically: Trimming covers what most guys actually want. Shaving the scrotum or around the butt is where most nicks, razor burn and ingrown hairs happen: in one large US survey about a quarter of groomers had injured themselves at some point.
Downtime, risks, who to see
Downtime: None. Razor burn settles in a day or two; ingrown hairs can hang around for a week or three.
Risks:
- Nicks and cuts, especially on the scrotum
- Razor burn and ingrown hairs
- Folliculitis (infected hair follicles)
- Passing on skin infections by sharing razors
Who should do it: You. Stand up so you can see what you're doing, use clean tools you don't share, and moisturise after with something fragrance-free. See a dermatologist for bumps that keep coming back or look unusual (warts and herpes can look like ingrowns).
Ask them:
- Are these ingrown hairs, folliculitis, or something else?
- Would a prescription wash help my recurring bumps?
- Would laser make more sense for me?
Salon / spa~$60–$120+ for a male Brazilian
🍯 Waxing & sugaring
Smooth for 3–6 weeks, in exchange for about ten seconds of regret.
Both pull hair out at the root. Sugaring uses a paste of sugar, lemon and water; waxing uses warm wax. You need about a quarter inch of growth between sessions.
Realistically: Smoother and longer-lasting than shaving, but not permanent. Claims that sugaring causes fewer ingrown hairs are mostly salon lore, not research.
Heads up: Waxing is one of the common causes of folliculitis. Pick a clean salon that never double-dips its applicator sticks.
Downtime, risks, who to see
Downtime: Redness or bumps for a few hours to a day or two. Skip sex, saunas, the gym and tight clothes for 24–48 hours.
Risks:
- Ingrown hairs and folliculitis
- Burns from wax that's too hot
- Skin tearing if you use retinoids or isotretinoin
- Infection if hygiene is poor
Who should do it: A licensed esthetician with real experience doing men, especially for intimate areas.
Ask them:
- Do you use a fresh stick every time you dip into the wax?
- How many male Brazilians do you do?
- What should I avoid before and after?
Clinic~$300–$1,000 per session; full series into the thousands
🔦 Laser hair removal
Much less hair, for a long time. Not quite “forever.”
Laser light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair and heats the follicle. Most people need several sessions 4–6 weeks apart, then occasional touch-ups.
Realistically: A big, lasting reduction, often most of the treated hair, with regrowth finer and lighter. The FDA calls it permanent hair reduction, not removal. Works best on dark hair; blond, red, grey and white hair barely respond.
Heads up: Darker skin can be treated safely, but it needs the right laser (usually a long-pulsed Nd:YAG) and an experienced operator.
Downtime, risks, who to see
Downtime: Usually none. Redness and swelling like a mild sunburn for 1–3 days.
Risks:
- Burns or blisters, more likely with inexperienced operators or the wrong settings for darker skin
- Lighter or darker patches, occasionally permanent
- Cold sore or herpes flare in the treated area
- Eye injury without proper eyewear
Who should do it: A board-certified dermatologist or a clinic where a physician experienced with lasers supervises. In many states a technician fires the laser, so ask who that is.
Ask them:
- Which laser will you use for my skin tone and hair colour?
- How many male intimate-area treatments have you done?
- Will you do a test spot, and what happens if I get a burn?
Clinic~$650 per area; multi-area series several thousand
🧊 Fat freezing (CoolSculpting)
A small bulge, a bit smaller, slowly. Not weight loss.
A device chills a pinched bulge of fat until some fat cells die; your body clears them over 1–3 months. Cleared for areas like belly, flanks, thighs, back, upper arms and under the chin.
Realistically: Up to about a fifth less fat in the treated bulge per session. Modest and gradual.
Heads up: A rare reaction, where the area grows a larger, firm bulge months later, was once quoted as 1 in 20,000. A 2025 review put it nearer 1 in 450, and it seems more common in men. Fixing it usually means liposuction.
Downtime, risks, who to see
Downtime: None to a few days of soreness or numbness.
Risks:
- Temporary numbness, bruising, pain
- Paradoxical fat growth (see above)
Who should do it: A dermatologist, plastic surgeon or closely supervised clinic.
Ask them:
- What's your rate of paradoxical fat growth, and what happens if I get it?
- How many sessions will my area need?
- Am I a better candidate for something else?
MedicalThousands per area
🏥 Liposuction
Real surgery for real contour change.
A surgeon removes fat through small cannulas. Bigger, faster change than non-surgical options.
Realistically: Noticeable contour change, but it isn't a weight-loss tool, and fat can return elsewhere if weight goes up.
Downtime, risks, who to see
Downtime: Days to a couple of weeks, plus weeks in compression garments.
Risks:
- Lumpy or uneven contours
- Fluid collections and infection
- Blood clots and other rare serious complications
Who should do it: A board-certified plastic surgeon operating in an accredited facility.
Ask them:
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Is your operating facility accredited?
- What's a realistic result for my body?