How To Shave Your Chest Hair

A guide to shaving and trimming a hairy chest

How To Shave Your Chest Hair

Chest hair is a divisive topic among men. Some men prefer a wilder, untamed look, whereas others prefer to keep it neat and tidy. It can be a comfort thing too - depending on whether the hair is smooth or course, it can cause discomfort underneath clothing.

Be it for the gym, or to show off your hard work in the gym when it comes to hitting the beach whilst on holiday, there might come a time where you consider shaving your chest hair off completely. It should be a painless experience, but done incorrectly it can lead to uncomfortable regrowth and an uneven finish!

Follow our easy guide to shaving chest hair to help you along.

Preparing your skin

Step one is preparing your torso for a trim. Generally, chest hair tends to be quite thick, which means it can be difficult for the average razor to cut through carefully. This leaves you more vulnerable to nicks or cuts, which can be quite painful.

Before getting to work, it’s best to have a warm shower or a bath. Doing this helps to soften the hair and open the hair follicles, and removes any dirt or oils which can make the razor blades pull.

shirtless man trimming chest hair in front of a mirror

man standing in front of mirror looking at himself

Trimming your chest hair

You weren’t about to go straight in with a razor, right? Before going in for a close shave using a razor, it’s best to first get rid of most of the fuzz beforehand to save having to unblock the blades every five minutes.

The best way to trim your chest hair is to use a pair of clippers or a trimmer. First, set your comb length - we find a 2 or 3 is best, as it takes away most of the hair but leaves enough for the razor to grab hold of.

Using shaving gel or cream

Nobody wants to be dealing with razor bumps after a shave - they can be quite painful! In the same way that you wouldn’t shave your face sans a shaving cream or a shaving gel, it’s best to use a product that will help the razor glide smoothly across the skin.

Using a shaving cream also helps to moisturise the skin, which protects and nourishes it. This will mean that the regrowth should be a little less aggravating, and it gives you a silky smooth shave.

Explore the Nivea range of shaving gels and creams.

man shaving chest hair in front of a mirror

Shaving your chest hair

Starting from the outside of your chest and working your way towards the middle, take your razor and very gently run it in the opposite direction to the way that the hair naturally grows. We find it also helps to pull the skin tight, as this helps you to get a super close shave and get to any potential ingrown hairs. Mind your nipples!
You might notice that even if you trimmed your chest hair beforehand, the blades are getting clogged. Remember to rinse your razor under the tap every so often, so that the razor blades are able to get close to the skin. It’s also good for hygiene to clean the blades, as you’ll also be picking up dead skin cells along the way, so it’s best to get rid of those.
Be sure to reapply the cream throughout the process, as you may need to go over some areas repeatedly. Oftentimes, as you work through you will have rinsed away some of the protective cream - so lather up!
When you’re done shaving, hop in the shower to rinse away any shaved hairs or cream still lurking around, and gently pat the skin dry with a towel.

Protect the skin

Once you completed shaving the chest - hold up! You’re not done just yet. Shaving any part of the body can really take its toll on your skin, so it’s important to put in some aftercare work to protect it.

Whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin or “normal” skin, there’s an aftershave balm or lotion for you. It’s important to replace any moisture that may have been lost throughout the shaving process, so that you don’t have any uncomfortable regrowth when the hair makes a return. You might find it more comfortable to apply these types of products after a few minutes, so your skin has a chance to recover.

Frequently asked questions about shaving chest hair

WILL MY CHEST HAIR GROW BACK THICKER IF I SHAVE IT? Contrary to popular opinion, no type of body hair grows back thicker after you shave it! What actually happens is that the hair grows back with a blunt end, rather than tapered which is how it naturally grows. This can give the appearance that the hair is thicker and darker, when actually it isn’t at all!

IS IT BAD TO SHAVE YOUR CHEST?

Of course it isn’t “bad” to shave your chest - it’s all a case of personal preference and style! Whilst there may be some discomfort when the hair grows back (or if done improperly and it causes razor burn), shaving your chest hair will do you no harm. Following our guide above will help to minimise any irritation whilst shaving and when it grows back.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SHAVE MY CHEST?

As with whether to shave your chest hair at all, that’s completely up to you! You might shave your chest hair once, and then decide you don’t like it. You might also decide that this is something you’d like to maintain, and therefore wonder how often to do it. Regrowth is completely dependent on the individual, meaning there is no one correct answer. The best thing is to not allow too much regrowth if you intend to shave it again, but leave a day or two between shaves so that your skin can recover.