5 ways to shave + care for a hairy back

Full-body grooming kits are designed to navigate the hard-to-reach areas in and around your back and shoulders – but they aren’t designed to give you a smooth finish. Instead, use them for an initial trim. A common mistake is going too short on the length. Go for around 2 mm to help prevent skin irritation and stop your trimmer from clogging.

Shaving with a razor is the simplest method of back hair removal (and the cheapest). Do this in the shower as the steam softens your hair and makes it easier to remove. You should also only shave in the direction of hair growth to avoid coarse, itchy regrowth. 

If you want to know how to shave a hairy back while giving your skin the hydration it needs, use Dove Men+Care Plant Powered Relaxing Eucalyptus + Cedar Oil Cleansing Bar. It can be whipped into a creamy shaving foam and used to cleanse skin afterwards, giving it superior moisture and leaving it feeling softer and smoother.

One of the main benefits of back waxing over shaving is that hair won’t show for up to two months. And, thankfully, it’s not as painful as the movies suggest. 

Make sure you apply wax in the same direction as hair growth and remove it in one fast, firm motion in the opposite direction. Shower afterwards with a formula like Dove Men+Care Advanced Care Sensitive Calm Face + Body Wash, which is infused with natural aloe vera extract. 

Another option is hair removal cream, which breaks down proteins in your hair and helps release it from your skin. It doesn’t dissolve hair, though, which means the finish won’t be as smooth as shaving or waxing. Our top tip here is to read the instructions before applying to dry skin – left on too long it can burn, and rinsed too soon it won’t break down back hair. 

After wiping away the cream and hair with a washcloth, you should wash and rinse with an alcohol-free soap like Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort 3-in-1 Bar. Made with ¼ moisturizing cream, it will leave your skin feeling hydrated and healthy.

When you remove back hair, it can leave skin feeling tender and result in dryness. So, whatever technique you use, always finish things off by cleansing, patting dry and hydrating skin. An alcohol-free moisturizer like Dove Men+Care Calming Hand + Body Lotion will help keep skin feeling smooth, while helping reduce rash and redness. Formulated with aloe and glycerin, it leaves sensitive skin feeling instantly comforted and nourished with 48-hour moisture.

New to body lotions? Check out our quick guide to get the most out of your moisturizer.