Men, do you shave? How much, and why?

[Bonobo]

Since so much is being made of the fact that some women feel pressure to shave their pubic areas, armpits, etc. I thought it would be a good time to ask the men here if they shave, and if they do, do they think it is due to "societal pressure"?

IF it IS due to societal pressure, is it any different than the pressure women complain about?

Have any of you ever had cuts from shaving? How about those nasty "bad shave" weeping pimple things?

Do you ever wish society could just accept you as god made you?

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Yes.

When I am in better shape, I am more likely to shave my chest. I trim under my arms sometimes. If there is a big gay event and I am in shape and might be more liberal with the razor. I have shaved my legs and arms, generally only in the summer or if I am getting pictures taken. I do trim pubes on occasion. I am having some serious body issues at the, so shaving, other than my face, is out, as is any type of manscaping.

To keep weeping pimples and the like away, you need to treat your body like your face. One doesn't just take a razor to the face and start hacking away. The skin on the body needs to be treated like the face. Get the skin warm and moist. Use gel with skin relaxers (opens the pores). If it has been awhile since shaving, use an electric razor first, to shape or get hair to a short status. After shaving, rinse the body really well, then close the pores. To avoid cuts, go slowly, especially over tricky curves. When cutting around the meat and potatoes, always be VERY careful and have LOTS of light. The first time you cut a shadow, thinking it is a clump of hair, you will howl like a beast and be reduced to a pathetic blob. It's a mistake, even the stupid, only make ONCE!

[opiate69]

2. Well... Like I said in the pubic hair thread, I have a 12 inch

Goatee... Jeez, what did you think I was gonna say???
Anyway, being cursed with bad facial hair genes, I'm pretty much unable to grow a full beard.. The hairs on my cheeks are spotty at best... But it also makes it nice because I can just use my electric trimmer on my cheeks every so often instead of having to muck around with razors.
Edit: Just reread and noticed you seem to be asking more about manscaping.... I've shaved in the past, but these days an occasional pass with the trimmer works for me. I don't really feel compelled by any outside forces to do it, I just think it looks better and my wife seems to agree..

[ZenLefty]

3. Couple times a week.

I shave out of preference. I like the way I look better when I'm clean shaven (I keep a trimmed goatee, though). But that being said, I don't really feel any societal pressure to do so as I don't give a rat's buttock what people think of me. If people want to accept me as-is, that's great. If not, I don't really care. Societal pressure is something I've built a little immunity to.

I rarely get shaving cuts. In fact, I haven't had one since I was a teenager.

Funny story told to me by a lady friend: it had been a while since she and her boyfriend had sex and things were kind of rocky. He asked 'so are we going to have sex this weekend?' and she rolled her eyes and said 'ugh, that means I have to shave!'

[Warren DeMontague]

4. God didn't make me.

Skynet did.

[lumberjack_jeff]

24. We T1000's can grow facial hair if we want. Who's the man now?

[Warren DeMontague]

5. I'll have more to add to this thread in approx 15-25 minutes. For the time being, though...

Let me say that I shave about once every 3-4 days. More often than that, and it's rough on my skin, for sure.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. And, the results are in! Yes, someone alerted on this OP.

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service

Mail Message
At Tue Aug 14, 2012, 11:47 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Men, do you shave? How much, and why?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11143182

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

This is sad. Men can choose to wear a moustache or a beard. There is no comparison to the pressure on women to shave their legs and under their arms. This is ridiculing women for discussing their thoughts and feelings about this double standard that men have the option of shaving but they don't at least not in the US without dealing with criticism about being disgusting or gross.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Aug 14, 2012, 11:54 PM, and the Jury voted 0-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick, now I've seen it all. I can't believe someone alerted on this. Thinkpol strikes again!
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: voting to keep, because there are in fact many women who call men with back hair, nose hair or ear hair disgusting or gross. If this had been an alert on some of the responses which seem focused on personal attacks on DU members/feminists, I'd be voting to hide it.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Are most alerts this thin and ridiculous, or am I just lucky? This isn't the type of thread I'd click on, in fact, I'd probably avoid it, for several reasons. But what rules are broken? There's no right to not be offended, overly sensitive or not. Let it stand.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: not a copycat...

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Are you fucking kidding me?!

Is there anything we are allowed to discuss here?!

[opiate69]

8. Every little thing that gets posted in here is under the microscope.

It's no secret that there are some who emphatically believe this group should not exist, and I have no doubts that they are working every angle they can to get it removed.

[Warren DeMontague]

12. And unless someone is on a jury, the alerts that get voted down, you never know about.

Only way to know a particular post has already survived an alert is to alert on it.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. At least this jury did the right thing. I am glad.

I wish the alert system was changed, but I doubt it will happen. Anyway, have to jump in the shower and shave.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. did the same thing, today.

It was that 3rd or 4th day.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

20. Yup

If they are so earnest about the validity of the alert, they should reveal themselves.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. No.

Someone alerted on me not that long ago, for questioning the validity of "objectification" as a scientific concept. I mean, okay, disagree. But to alert?

Un-be-fuckin-lievable.

[Major Nikon]

32. We obviously have someone or a small group that alert trolls here on a daily basis

This is the 2nd failed alert just today from this group that I know about. I'm sure there are more.

This crap is crossing the line between just being an annoyance and misandry. I think the hosts should probably take this up with the powers that be so this BS can be ferreted out and the guilty parties either instructed to cease and desist or get shown the door, but you guys can handle this as you see fit.

To the person(s) responsible (and I know you're reading this), please find a new outlet for your frustrations or seek professional help for your own sake if nothing else. This level of hate is not healthy.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. Actually, the madder they get, the funnier I think it is.

Is that wrong?

[Major Nikon]

36. Normally I would agree

However, in this case I think we're dealing with a deeply disturbed individual. It's not as if they are targeting specific individuals with some sort of personal vendetta. They are targeting everyone in the men's group, and that just reeks of a deeply seeded hatred of men. I would say the same thing if I knew of someone who alert trolls HOF. That type of hate is toxic, and it shouldn't be allowed to flourish on DU unchecked. That's just my $0.02 worth.

[ZenLefty]

9. Time for painful reflection again?

[Warren DeMontague]

11. At 6-0 against hiding

the reflectin' isn't that painful.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

19. Unreal

Just fucking unbelievable.

[4th law of robotics]

25. 6 decent jurors

good for them.

And women can't choose their hair-configuration?

Because there are plenty of women with any kind of hair you like. Completely natural, completely removed, everything in between.


There aren't a lot of Sean Connery's gracing the front of women's magazines in the buff. Most male models are clean shaven (not just the face).

So yeah . . . that swings both ways.

Also I've never heard a woman being accused of sexual deviancy for preferring a shaved man. But any man that prefers a woman with less hair is de facto a pedophile in some circles.

[hifiguy]

28. Gee, I wonder who alerted on that and what

group they might frequent? Jeebus H. Sassoon on Tabatha's Salon Takeover, some people are batshit.

[Major Nikon]

33. I have a pretty good idea who it is

I'm sure others here do too.

You can read the alerter's comments and get a pretty good idea of the warped mindset. There's not that many people on DU who fit that mold.

[hifiguy]

34. The prose style is a dead giveaway,

ain't it?

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Let me say this: One, I suspect there are more jobs that require men to shave their faces

than there are jobs that require women to shave their legs. And there are probably even fewer jobs that require women to shave their armpits. And there are even fewer jobs that require either gender to shave their pubic hairs.

So, all the hand-wringing over being "forced" to do something.. let's get real. Maybe there is a societal expectation for some people to do some things, but that's not the same thing as, for instance, having to do so to continue to keep your livelihood.

So many of these "issues" revolve around people feeling like "society" is making them do something. Let me be clear: Okay, to some extent, perhaps there are pressures in certain directions, but society is inside your head. Society can't make you do this, make you do that, make you shave, make you feel a certain way.

And interestingly enough, many of the folks complaining in other threads about society making people do things, themselves, wear it as a sort of point of pride that they don't listen, and don't shave.

So, again, it's a question of those other people being brainwashed, and the deprogrammed few who can see through "the matrix", and who believe themselves to be tasked with "saving" everyone else- often, from themselves.

As for the anecdotal people whose SO's 'force' them to shave this that or the other- that's a sign of a fucked up relationship, IMHO, and might be a clue that it's time to leave it.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

22. A doughnut and...

...a social pressure t-shirt for you:

[Tireman]

16. Yes I do

Every other day generally, just like being clean shaven (my daughter always reminds me that I "need to shave daddy....&quot

[SilveryMoon]

17. I prefer having a smooth face

I don't shave. I use something similar to Nair designed for men's facial hair. Once a week is good enough to keep almost hair free.

It's not required of me. I just think it looks much better.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

21. Almost everyday

On my days off, I'll skip. I look better with a bit of stubble to be honest, but the job will not allow it. No goatees or beards, only a mustache is allowed, which I wouldn't do.

And yeah, I trim (but not totally shave) the other area from time to time. Not going to lie, it does make things look more substantial down there for one. Also found it's been preferred by others for the most part.

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. Trimming, yes. Periodically. To prevent interference with the feeding process.

To be more accurate, I use one of those beard trimmer things with the guard removed to mow the cheeks and neck every 4-5 days.

I avoid razors except for funerals and weddings.

[4th law of robotics]

26. Pretty regularly

although I do get lazy at times.

/I worry my wife is only attracted to me because I look underage due to the shaving. Should I report her?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

27. I shave with an electric...

...most days.

[MineralMan]

29. Have not shaved since 1969, shortly

after getting out of the USAF. My beard grows as it grows. Every three months or so, my barber cuts it back to 1" long. It has been very long. Now it gets moderately long. I will never willingly shave my face again.

[Warren DeMontague]

30. Last time I paid for a haircut was 1994, so I hear ya.

And no, I'm not bald.

[Broken_Hero]

31. I haven't shaved my face since

January 1st of 2008. My wife likes the beard so I let it grow/grow/grow. Been thinking about shaving though, I've had this Crazy Wild Mountain Man look for a while...perhaps I need a change.

[caseymoz]

37. I'm surprised nobody has asked.

Face, or other areas?

I shave my face everyday, because I have a rather fast-growing, coarse, beard.

I also shave my neck, chest, shoulders, belly and arms, trim my eyebrows, cut my nasal hair and get rid of hair growing visibly where it shouldn't be. I don't do those every day, but once every two weeks or more as needed.

I'm just at the age where the hair grows everywhere, except on my head, which I also shave rather than show the male-pattern baldness.

When I do all this, I feel like I'm meeting my own standard and not any woman's. Biology however would say something else. It would say no matter what I think or what I feel, the final reason I'm doing it is to serve the reproduction of my genes.

So, I have no sympathy for women who complain about shaving their legs to meet a male standard of beauty.

However, I came about my hygiene habits gradually over decades. If they feel it was imposed on them before they considered it, they always have a choice to stop. However, they should ask themselves honestly, what would they rather look at? Not on their own bodies but on other people's?

Addendum: Oh, and for the nether regions, I'm too leery of shaving there, but I do trim, closely.