Using a Hair Removal Cream Is the Easiest Way to Manscape (2024)

This men-specific hair removal cream deserves its places at the top of this list because it just gets the job done. It powers through all thicknesses of hair, even on places like your chest where hair can be thickest. Plus, it rinses off easily in the shower with the aid of a washcloth leaving behind baby smooth skin.

Testing Notes: Out of all the hair removal creams we tested, this easy to use cream removed the most hair with the least amount of leftover patches. We tried it on multiple areas—arms, stomach and chest—and it cut through all of them like a knife no matter how thick the hair was. We’re always skeptical when products say “for men” but this one is clearly designed with men in mind as it’s powerful enough to cut through thick hair but still easy to remove in the shower. Plus, there’s a little bit of fresh, deodorant-like scent in there that helps cut down on the stink.

Not only is this gel-cream formulated for the thicker, coarser body hair of a man, but it is also hydrating and gentle on sensitive skin (as much as a hair removal cream can be). There’s a dash of ginseng extract in the men’s formula as well, which more than anything helps with the scent, which is less offensive than traditional formulas.

Testing Notes: This well-rounded cream emerged in our testing process as one of the top for a variety of reasons. It really does seem to be specifically formulated for men because it is powerful; we found it just as effective on areas with thicker, coarser hair like the chest or legs as others with lighter fur like arms. Even with the addition of ginseng extract, which certainly helps with the scent, it feels gentle enough to use on sensitive skin and areas. It’s also hydrating—it didn’t leave our skin as sticky or dry feeling as many of the others we tried. It left a few more patches behind than some of the others we tried, but not so many that it was a problem and could possibly be solved by applying a thicker layer.

No matter how convenient hair removal creams are, one thing that many people can’t get past is the smell. The distinctive smell is because the “compounds in the creams specifically work on sulfur based bonds within proteins in the hairs,” says Dr. Zeichner and we all know sulfur equals stink. Somehow this cream has minimized the traditional stench and almost completely replaces it with a pleasant, lotion-like fragrance. Oh, and it also works.

Testing Notes: We’re not saying we have a problem with the way hair removal creams typically smell, per se, but they objectively don’t smell great. That’s often a barrier of entry for many people who would otherwise use them more often (us included). In our testing, we found that this cream had by far the most pleasant scent out of all the versions we tried. There’s a little bit of the telltale scent there, but overall it smells more like a nice, slightly-floral smelling lotion than anything else. It’s effective, too, though since it is a unisex product, may not work best for men with super thick or coarse hair. We used it on multiple areas and it left behind some patches that we had to take a razor to later. If you’re not especially hairy or have finer hair, it should do the trick.

One thing about hair removal—however you’re doing it—is that it can take a long time. This innovative spray helps cut down on that time by delivering a powerful spray foam straight from the can that you don’t need to rub in or even touch at all. It’s especially idea for large areas that need more coverage like your back or shoulders because it’s just so lightning fast to apply.

Testing Notes: You can’t argue with how easy this hair removal spray is to use. It sprays on powerfully and turns to foam on contact with your body for easy coverage with no rubbing or touching required. We found that it works well even on thicker areas like your chest and stomach, but it is easy to miss spots with the spray formula, so make sure you fully cover the area you’re working on (you may need more than you originally think). It’s also idea for large areas like your back, but you’ll still likely need someone to apply it for you to help ensure full coverage. It rinses off easily in the shower as well, but may require a bit more scrubbing than the original Nair Men cream.

The best part of this hair removal set is that it takes all steps of hair removal into account. It includes in exfoliating glove to use in the shower first, Bare Balm to apply to the desired area afterward and actually remove the hair, and a moisturizing Calm Balm to use afterward to soothe and hydrate the skin. It’s one of the most complete and effective sets out there.

Testing Notes: The thing we appreciate most is that this set takes aftercare into account, which we can’t say for many of the other creams we tested. The exfoliating glove to use before hair removal is great, but mostly because it doubles as a tool to wipe off the cream and hair. The hair removal cream itself is super effective, to the point that if you have sensitive skin you’ll definitely want to patch test this before you use it. And the post-removal balm is a nice moisturizing set to ensure you don’t get that weird sticky feeling once you’re done.

This Japanese-designed hair removal cream is unsurprisingly super effective. It’s designed to be used anywhere below the belt, but it’s especially good on legs and arms because the cream is thick, rich and easy to cover areas like elbows and knees. It works quickly, in just five minutes for those with less dense hair and comes with everything you need to remove it.

Testing Notes: This Japanese-made product is the best hair removal creams that we found in our testing process. While the smell is stronger than some of the others, which is not ideal, we can forgive that by how thick the cream is and easy to get full coverage and how effective it is. We found minimal patches, but those with super thick hair may need multiple applications to get full effects. We also found that it’s ideal for legs and arms that have a lot of nooks and crannies since the cream is so thick and easy to spread.

Barenuts Hair Removal Cream For Men

No matter what hair removal cream you’re using, the most important thing is the read (and reread) the directions first. Each hair removal cream is different and you’ll need to know how long the manufacturer recommends you leave on and, more importantly, the maximum time it should be kept on the skin (you’ll want to use a timer). In most cases, hair removal creams follow these steps:

1. Apply the cream on dry skin (unless otherwise noted).
2. Apply a thick even layer of the cream to the area with the hair you want to remove. Make sure to get the layer as thick and even as possible to avoid patches.
3. Leave the cream on for the minimum recommended amount of time.
4. Wipe off a small area to see if the hair wipes away easily. If it doesn’t, leave the cream on for a few more minutes.
5. Once the time is up (whether the hair wipes away easily or maximum time has been reached), remove the cream with some sort of tool, either a spatula (usually provided) or a damp cloth.
6. Shower and wash away any lingering cream.
7. Once dry, apply a lotion or moisturizer.
   

• Joshua Zeichner, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City.

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