Primp and Pluck for Perfection: The Rise of the ‘Manzilian’ Trend - Artisan Blog Post

Long-gone are the days where a man’s masculinity was determined by the length of his beard or the thickness of his chest hair. Once considered un-manly and feminine, ‘manscaping’ has become a permanent fixture in the regimens of modern men who are now shaving, trimming, waxing and plucking to achieve that summer-ready bod.

With women already endorsing – or enduring, depending on how you look at it - the Brazilian, it was only a matter of time before the ‘manzilian’ took over. For anyone not familiar with this waxing procedure it involves the complete removal of pubic hair below the waist. Ouch!

So why are men opting for a more svelte hairless look over a ruggered hairy body? What has changed from the 60s, 70s and 80s to now that has made men around the world succumb to the pressures of having hair ripped out from their nether-regions?

One of the biggest reasons for men choosing to de-pube is to increase their perceived sexual appeal. Whilst ancient Egyptians removed body hair to stave off fleas and lice, modern manscaping has more to do with attracting a partner.

A recent study found that a whopping 63 percent of men aged from 18-35 admitted to manscaping for the opposite sex’s attraction. Another study found that 75 percent of women preferred a smooth canvas to work with when it came men’s body hair. In short, women are now expecting men’s grooming habits to match theirs – gone are the days of wanting a lumberjack boyfriend!

Another reason attributed to the rise in hairless men is the high level of influence from Hollywood and sporting culture. Popular images of men have become increasingly free of body hair whether it be the waxed perfection of leading men such as Channing Tatum and Ryan Gosling, or the shaved physiques of footballers in calendars. This is even more apparent when critics and audiences expressed shock at the sight of actual pubic hair in the recent 50 Shades of Grey film.

Lastly, the rise in metrosexuality also plays a major contribution in the rise of the ‘manzilian’. Thanks to David Beckham – who paved the way for all metrosexuals in the early 2000’s – the modern man now takes pride in the way they look and simply prefers the way a hairless body looks.

For any guy who’s looking at getting rid of their Austin Powers love rug, it’s not a walk in the park – hair is literally being yanked out of your skin. The first experience is always the worst, but it gets better with time and the end result will apparently boost your chances with the ladies. Good luck!