How to Groom Chest Hair

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 16, 2022 References

Spending time on your chest hair can be a rewarding way to look and feel good. While shaving is a possible solution, trimming is a way to tame your hair without getting rid of it. If you choose to trim it, match the length of your chest hair to the hair on the rest of your body. Then maintain your grooming routine to stay neat and look your best.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Deciding on a Style

1
Balance your chest hair with your facial hair. Always keep your overall aesthetic in mind when grooming your chest. If you wear a long, scruffy beard, a clean-shaven chest looks out of place. Similarly, shorter chest hair looks better on men with short or no facial hair. Look your best by keeping your hair in proportion.^{[1]
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- You can look in a mirror to gauge this. Get your hair styled first, then trim your chest hair to match it. Your head and body should look like they belong together.
2
Match your chest hair with your other body hair. Also take into account the hair on your arms and legs. Having a swimmer’s bare chest with hairy arms and legs can look strange. Wear your chest hair a little longer to match those other spots. Think about how dark and thick the hair is on those spots before trimming your chest, and use a large mirror to check your work.^{[2]
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- Of course, you can also trim your leg and arm hair using clippers. This usually isn’t done unless you have a lot of hair in those areas.
- Don’t forget to proportion your chest to your stomach, too. Groom your stomach while you take care of your chest. Keep the hair the same length.
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3
Trim your hair shorter to show more of your body. Consider your overall appearance before trimming your hair short. Hair covers your body, so removing it creates the illusion of extra space. To narrow or shorten your chest, keep the hair a little longer so it fills in more space.^{[3]
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4
Separate your chest and neck by removing upper hairs. To make your chest look better, shave off the hairs on or touching your neck. This area is noticeable to most people looking at your face. Removing these hairs shows attention to detail and makes you appear more neatly groomed as a result.
5
Put on a shirt to check your hair. Slip on your favorite shirt and take a look in the mirror. If the fabric bunches up uncomfortably around your chest, that can be a sign to cut the hair shorter. Double-check that stray hairs stay wangled under the sleeves and collar. Target those areas and trim the hair as needed to appear neatly groomed.^{[4]
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- Put on a work shirt if you have one. Stay hairs can be a faux pas in a formal environment.
6
Go hairless for sports and aesthetic reasons. Many guys get the idea that body hair is wrong. You don’t have to look like the cover of a romance novel. Unless you truly want to be hairless or need to do it to stay aerodynamic while swimming laps, reign in your expectations. The people around you aren’t grossed out by body hair the way you may think.^{[5]
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- Body hair is natural and looks natural. Avoid trying to be someone you’re not. What’s important is finding out what looks and feels right for you.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Trimming the Hair

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Use hair clippers on the longest guard setting. For maintaining chest hair, invest in a good pair of hair clippers. These come with different size settings that make grooming easy. Start with the longest guard attachment in your set. This will be labeled with a high number such as 8, which means it will leave your hair long.^{[6]
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- There are some clippers marketed as body groomers. You can get this kind of electric trimmer or use the same kind of hair clippers you would use on your head.
2
Move the clippers down your chest. Since you’re only trimming the hair, keep it dry. Start at the top, near your Adam’s apple. Slowly drag the blade down to the bottom end of your chest. Start back at the top again to work on another section. Continue doing this until you reach all of the hair.^{[7]
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- It doesn’t matter if you start in the middle of your chest or the sides. Let personal preference be your guide.
- For tricky areas, such as around your collarbone and nipples, slow down. Move the blade downwards until you reach the area, then go around it. Reposition the blade as needed to reach any missed hairs.
3
Change to a shorter-length guard. If you want shorter chest hair, switch guards. The guard you use depends on how short you want the hair. A #8 guard leaves hair 1 in (2.5 cm) long, while a #5 guard leaves it ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) long. If you are unsure, start at the higher settings and work your way down.^{[8]
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- As you get into a grooming routine, you gain a better understanding of which guard is the right choice for your situation.
4
Repeat trimming your hair with the next guard. No matter which guard you choose, trim the hair the same way you did before. If your hair is still too long after that, switch to a lower guard and go over it again. Eventually, you will end up with the length you want.
5
Trim difficult patches with scissors. Some spots on your chest may still look long. Comb these out by dragging a fine-toothed comb up your chest. Then snip the hair to length using the scissors. It is hard to get every hair the same length across your chest, so work slowly and measure these tough spots out by eye.^{[9]
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- Body trimmers often come with shaping attachments that make this easier. You could also use nose hair trimmers.
6
Repeat trimming once a week. After your chest looks perfect, it’s up to you to maintain it. Approximately once a week, go back and groom it again. Use the lower guard setting to trim the hair back down to a shorter length. Otherwise, a comb and scissors are more than enough for a quick touch-up.
- Experiment with your grooming routine! Hair grows back, so the consequences from a mistake are temporary.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Shaving the Hair

1
Trim your chest hair with a hair clippers. If your chest hair is long, trim it down as far as possible to reduce the chances of skin irritation. Use the lowest guard available with the clippers or a hair trimmer. Work over your dry chest from top to bottom. It will save you a lot of time and energy later.^{[10]
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- A comb and scissors can be used instead of a trimmer.
2
Take a warm shower. Hop in the shower and relax for a few minutes. Wash your hair off under warm water, applying body soap if you would like. Warm water softens the hair so it offers less resistance to the razor.^{[11]
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- You can shave in the shower if you have a water-resistant razor.
3
Cover your chest in shaving cream. Smear a quality shaving cream or gel over the hair. Don’t hold back, as you will need plenty. Cover the area in a thick layer, but give yourself enough room to see what you’re doing.
- The cream or gel may slide off if your body is too slick. If this happens, pat your chest with a towel or air dry for a few minutes.
4
Use an electric trimmer with a shave setting. Have a more comfortable shaving session by using an adjustable electric trimmer. Some body grooming devices have a separate razor side, while on others you can shave by removing the guard. These devices irritate skin less than razors do.^{[12]
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- If this isn’t an option, use a fresh razor instead.
5
Shave down your body in short strokes. Start at the top of your chest. Slowly drag the blade down over your chest hair. Keep your strokes short and even to remove the hair without irritating the skin. Continue doing this until your blade is full of hair and cream.^{[13]
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- When you reach sensitive areas, such as your nipples, be very careful. Work around them. Adjust the blade’s angle to reach any missed hairs.
- Some men shave by moving up their chest, which is against the grain. This leads to a closer shave, but causes more irritation, so it isn’t recommended.
6
Rinse out your blade. Ideally, rinse your blade under running water after each stroke. This may seem annoying, but it flushes out all the hair and cream. It is the only way to keep your blade fresh so it doesn’t leave behind stray hairs, nicks, or red spots.^{[14]
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Finish shaving your chest. Continue moving down your chest in short, even strokes, rinsing out the blade at every opportunity. Reposition your blade as needed to get past difficult spots, such as the middle of your chest and around your collarbone. Soon you will reach the bottom and can go over any spots that still look unfinished.
- Try to limit the number of times you shave over spots as much as possible. Each pass increases the risk of irritation
8
Treat your body with an aftershave product. You can use the same product you use for your face. Splash some cold water on your chest to close the pores, then rub in the product according to the instructions. Exfoliating between shaving sessions also helps limit ingrown hairs and skin irritation.^{[15]
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Book a waxing appointment if you experience difficulties. Yes, waxing can be painful, but the specialists can help you achieve the look you desire. While you’re there, consider getting other areas treated, particularly difficult areas like your back.