Our
hair follicles are sensitive to androgens, a hormone that effects hair
growth. For men, androgens determine masculine characteristics including
body hair. During puberty, androgenic hair growth appears on both boys
and girls, but is more noticeable on the former. Hair first appears on
the face, arms, legs, chest and shoulders, and some boys become hairier
than others. According to research done in the 1960s, there are 15
different ways hair grows on the chest of white males, and some 25
variations of the patterns. Hair can grow between the pectorals or cover
them completely, even growing down the torso and into the pubic area.
The study did not look at the chest hair patterns of other ethnic
groups.
Back
hair usually develops when a man is already in his 20s, but some men
develop it during puberty. While it might seem undesirable, back hair is
completely normal. In the era of the metrosexual, it's become in vogue
to trim and sheer body hair. According to fashion writer Chris Rovny,
removing excess body hair can help eliminate body odor. He says the
thicker your hair, the more body heat you produce, and next thing you
know, you're sweating up a storm and giving off a funky odor.
There
are several techniques for removing body hair. The easiest is shaving,
using either a razor or clippers. At a salon, you can get a wax, where
hot oil is used to strip off the unwanted hair. But these solutions are
temporary. If you want hair gone for good, you need either electrolysis
or laser removal. Within the gay community, there is a culture that
embraces body hair as a sign of unfettered masculinity. "Bears" are gay
men who allow hair to grow with wild abandon, bucking the manscaping
trend.
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