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Body Grooming Tips

How to Shave Your Back Hair

How to Shave Your Back Hair
Gillette
Writer and expert6 years ago
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Your manscaping efforts might not go any further than shaving your back, and that’s completely fine.

If you have a hairy back, you’ll probably want to shave it for aesthetic reasons, perhaps before going on holiday or if you play a lot of sports. Removing your back hair can be more comfortable when you sweat or wear certain fabrics, and it can make showering easier, too.

The Gillette All Purpose Styler and Beard Trimmer is the ultimate manscaping tool for all your body grooming needs - it's 100% waterproof, so you can use it at the sink or while you’re in the shower.

Can You Shave Your Own Back Hair?

It’s not impossible to shave your own back, but it is tricky. The Gillette Styler is designed to help you get to those hard-to-reach areas more easily, and the key to shaving your own back hair is to tackle one small patch at a time.

However, getting someone else to help can make the task a whole lot easier!

How to Shave Your Back

Here’s how to shave your back hair (or how to tell someone else to) for the best results:

Step 1: Soften Your Back Hair

Back hair can be very wiry, so you’ll need to spend some time washing and softening it before you approach it with a razor.

A hot shower is ideal for making body hair easier to work with. If you’re shaving your back by yourself, use this time to check for any spots, skin tags or moles that might get in the way of your razor.

Step 2: Trim Your Back Hair

Next, you need to trim your back hair, using a body shaver that’s up to the task.

Use our All Purpose Styler to cut your back hair to a length that’s easier to work with - the trimmer comes with a 2mm, 4mm and 6mm comb, so you can choose your preferred length.

This step helps to stop longer hairs clogging your razor blade for a more comfortable (and hygienic!) shave.

Step 3: Apply Shaving Gel

Then, cover your remaining back hair in shaving gel - or get someone else to do it for you. Work up a really good lather all over your back to make it easier for the razor to glide through your hair during the next stage.

If you’ve got especially sensitive skin, make sure you’re using a shaving gel that includes some extra protection, like our SkinGuard Men’s Sensitive Shaving Gel or Fusion5 Men’s Ultra Sensitive Shaving Gel.

If you do suffer with spots or acne on your back, our SkinGuard Sensitive Shaving Gel is the best option, as it doesn’t include any alcohols or dyes, and features cooling aloe to soothe your skin after shaving. You can find out more about shaving with acne here.

Step 4: Make Sure Your Razor Blade is Sharp

The Gillette All Purpose Styler comes with a ProGlide Razor Blade, which is ideal for giving your back hair a close shave.

If you’ve already used yours elsewhere on your body or it’s starting to look a little blunt, swap it for a fresh one before you start shaving to reduce your risk of nicks and cuts. If you're always forgetting to stock up, sign up for a Gillette shaving subscription and get fresh blades delivered direct to your door.

 

Step 5: A Smooth, Even Shave

When you’re ready to start shaving, tackle one patch of your back hair at a time, and always shave in the same direction that your hair grows in to reduce the risk of irritation and avoid ingrown hairs.

Be gentle with yourself, making light strokes with your razor for the most comfortable finish - remember to be careful of any spots, skin tags and moles too.

Step 6: Keep Reapplying Shaving Gel

Your back is the biggest area of skin you can shave, so it’s important to keep reapplying shaving gel as you go for the best results.

This is why it’s best to use a shaving gel rather than a shaving foam when you’re shaving bigger surface areas, as gels tend to go much further. Read more about the difference between the two here.

Step 7: Rinse and Dry Off

Rinse the area of skin that you’re shaving after every few strokes to stop your blade getting clogged with excess gel and bits of hair for a smoother razor glide.

Shave your back hair

When you’re satisfied you’ve removed all the hair you need to, give your back a final rinse to remove any remaining shaving gel using warm water, and use a towel to dry yourself off.

Step 8: Moisturise

Finally, soothe your skin and keep it hydrated by using a post-shave product. The Gillette Aftershave Moisturiser can do exactly that, while our Gillette Aftershave Balm is a slightly gentler option for more sensitive skin, leaving it feeling refreshed.

Learn more about the perfect post-shave routine here.

Gillette
Writer and expert
View Gillette's profile
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