Pubic Hair Removal for Male Cyclists

Male cyclist in lycra on road bike climbing a hill

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Sweaty butts, itchy balls, and other body hair issues

As a cyclist, a male, and a hair removal technician, I am in a somewhat unique position to present a topic most riders are too shy to talk about.

We're about to discuss your dangly man bits in great detail, so clip in for a fun ride. 😎

Men and body hair

From the time we hit puberty, men start sprouting pubic hair. Largely due to our ancestry and genetics, the type of hair and amount of hair varies hugely from guy to guy.

About Male Puberty

Teenage boys generally start to notice this variance at high school when they happen to glance at a mate in the showers after sport, at the pool or gym and so forth.

Internalised comparisons are made, and sometimes even bullying.

This is where the self-consciousness and awkwardness about body hair kicks in.

As a result, in this age where smooth is cool and hairy is gross, men are very sensitive about having too much body hair.

Men's Sexual Insecurities Facts and Myth

Problem hair areas for cyclists

In the chilled confines of the post-ride cafe, guys generally don't mind admitting they shave their legs.

But I dare you to ask your cycling mates about waxing their butts and balls. Watch the eyebrows raise as they collectively gag on their muffins.

So, to the crux of the discussion. Let's look at the body parts that really bother you and your mates, but nobody wants to talk about. We'll start with a typical bike seat and how it interacts with your body.

Cycling contact and friction points for Male Waxing

As you can see by the diagram above, there's a heck of a lot happening. Every single pedal stroke causes your seat to generate friction and pressure on these body parts.

Impacts are also being transmitted from the road or trail surface through the tyres and frame then up the seat post into the seat, and in turn, into your delicate areas.

Logic therefore dictates that you want the friction between seat and body to be minimal.

Whether you favour the lycra kit of roadies and XC riders or the nylon shorts of enduro, chances are you wear a chamois. If you're planning a long session, you might also add some chamois cream.

XC Cross Country Mountain Biking

Both of these are great to help reduce friction, pressure, and impact.

However, a chamois is not very good at reducing sweat. In fact, it traps sweat, that wonderful stew of water, salt, sebum, and fatty secretions.

This is why your bike shorts smell like an abattoir if you forget to rinse them for a day.

A chamois also fails to reduce friction between your hair and skin. In fact a chamois can actually make it worse because the hairs get stuck in the fabric.

This makes them stretch further than they normally would, increasing the friction points exponentially.

Add perspiration to the equation and you are literally rubbing salt into the wounds.

Pubic hair growth patterns of the perineum and greater pubic area comparison male vs female

Have you ever jumped off your bike after a long ride and the skin feels burned or super sensitive to the touch? Even though you were wearing a chamois and cream? That's why.

Pluck out one of your pubic hairs. Right now, while you're reading this. Run your finger over it and feel how rough and sharp it is.

Now multiply that sensation by say, the 500 hairs between your scrotum and anus.

Every pedal stroke, they're moving, crushed between your seat and your body, held tight by your chamois, and hacking away at your skin like tiny serrated knives. 🤢

Righto, so let's have a quick look at our options.

Hair Removal options for cyclists ~ Man Thing Rockhampton

Shaving

If you've ever shaved your legs, you know how bristly they feel after a day or two.

You've probably even shaved your upper leg to your inner thigh or bikini line and given yourself some lovely ingrown hairs.

Do this for a while and you'll get some nice scars that never go away.

If you're going to shave anything, stick to your lower legs.

Ingrowns, Shaving Rash, and Razor Bumps causes and remedies

Depilatory Creams and Sprays

Don't use them for anything. Just don't. My personal prediction is they'll be regarded in 20 years like we view asbestos now. "Why did anyone let us put this toxic crap on our skin?" Really, don't use it.

Trimming

There are worse things you could do than run hair trimmers over your gonads.

This will get rid of all the long stuff, but unlike shaving, you can use say a #0 or #1 trimmer guide which will leave enough stubble above the skin to minimise the chance of shaving rash.

After a week or so, your hairs will be ready for another go with the clippers.

All about hair trimmers or clippers

Waxing

Manzilian Waxing is a common option for waxing those sensitive bits.

Pros and cons? The first time you get it done, you will need to wait at least a few days before jumping on your bike, or you risk getting white-head pimples that might take a few weeks to clear up.

After your second wax, any skin irritation usually settles down in a couple of hours.

Men's Brazilian Waxing a.k.a Manzilian waxing at Man Thing, Rockhampton

At around three weeks after your wax, new hair growth will start to come through. You might feel slightly itchy when this happens.

If so, jump in the shower with a good quality exfoliating shower gel to help lift the new hairs through and thus minimise the chance of ingrowns.

Follow up treatments are usually 4 to 6 weeks.

The hair does begin to thin over time and comes through much softer if you keep up with your waxing routine.

A Manzilian style called 'The Saddle' is designed for cyclists, and includes the central points from front to back - the perineum, bum crease, and back of the scrotum.

If you want to combine that with a Brazilian wax, the '3X Athletic + bum crease'' is an ideal style for male cyclists or indeed any athletes who want to keep the whole package tidy.

About the Male Perineum

IPL (permanent hair reduction)

Note: I'm talking about real IPL here, not the little hand-held things you see flogged all over social media, which are only good for removing money from your wallet.

IPL Hair Removal is probably the most common method for permanently dealing with unwanted pubic hair, as it isn't much dearer than waxing and you get a progressively permanent result.

Permanent hair removal butt and genital areas for men

Pros and cons? You need to have very dark hair. if your hair is red, brown, grey, or blond, waxing is your best option. Also, you need to shave the area before your first and possibly second treatment.

This is because all the hair above your skin is already dead and we are targeting the root of the hair, so all the surface debris needs to go.

IPL or PTF laser hair removal services at Man Thing in Rockhampton

That said, the IPL treatment eliminates or softens a lot of the remaining stubble and you won't experience the normal amount of itchiness associated with shaving.

Usually around the third treatment, you will have so little hair coming through that a full shave is not necessary and if it needs trimming, I can do so on the treatment table.

I always recommend a base regime of 6 treatments one month apart, after which we start to taper off your treatments to the point where I might only see you every year or so for a top up.