Okay ladies, this question is for you... but I'd like your opinions/answers as women, not so much as providers if you know what I mean.

I turned 40 not too long ago, and one of the interesting things you have to deal with when you get this age is hair... in all the wrong places. The guys reading this know what I mean I'm fair skinned with auburn hair, so I'm not all that hairy to start with. However, I've started having my back and butt waxed every couple months, because I can't imagine that back hair and a hairy ass can possibly be all that sexy. And, we all know from watching Quere Eye for the Straight Guy, that nose hair is "never sexy".

Okay, so on to my question... What about chest and belly hair? I've been noticing guys about my age in movies and on TV, like Tom Cruse (he's almost exactly my age), Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey (ok, mid 30's), all of which are considered sex symbols, but none have any chest hair. They must wax for a reason... For sure, no chest/belly hair makes you look younger. But do women really find a smooth chest and belly sexy?? I've also heard comments from younger girls (early, mid-20's) say that chest/belly hair is "gross". Well, I'm certainly attracted to younger girls, and I don't want to be thought of as 'gross'. I'm fairly sure that mid-30+ women are probably just fine with hair, so maybe my question is aimed more at the younger ladies.

Also, I work out quite a bit, and I wouldn't mind having the extra definition without the hair around my chest and abs.

So ladies... should I wax it and go for the Tom Cruse look, or keep the hair and deal with turning off the occasional younger girl? What's your opinion?

Well, my daughter (early 20's) and I actually agree on something! LOL! We both like 'the right amount' of chest and belly hair, and we both like our men to have a 'tummy'!

And the hair trail leading from the navel on down..that's marvelous fun to follow with your tongue..

I love a nicely manicured patch of chest hair, especially the trail leading down to the belly buttom . . . yummy! That is so sexy.

Hugs,
Ciara

I'm with Sedona.  I like chest hair and even like back hair.  It's masculine and turns me on.

If he is looking too hairy, it turns me off. I actually like less hair on the chest, belly, and back area. I am not fond of sucking on a guy's nipples, if it is covered with too much hair..uggh lol

Mel

I remember the first time I developed a crush on a hairy chest.  It belonged to Tom Selleck and the TV show was Magnum P.I.  Ever since...I have adored running my fingers through the hair on a man's chest and tummy.  And like all the other ladies...the treasure trail is magnificent!

Waxing is fine,selectively of course.I think You have to take Your Own personal body shape into account,and Your preferences.Because once You start it is a lot of upkeep,and the hair is never as soft as before You start.If it is cold where You are winters not really a good time to consider going the full monty and it will itch when it grows back.

Nothing but a hound dog...lol...now I can see why she's crying all the time.

Cheers!

I like chest hair as well, and am in full agreement with the other ladies about the sexiness of that trail of hair from the belly button down. Shirt off, pants on (for now)... what, oh what, will I find if I follow that trail.... mmmmmmmmmmm.....

will rogaine work on your chest, back etc...??

After selling discontent to women for decades, Madison Avenue has now turned its attention to men.  In both cases, we're being conditioned to be unhappy with what is normal, in pursuit of some appearance goal- defined by them, of course, as to what men and women should look like.

It's not rocket science.  If you make people that are normal feel they are abnormal, you sell product.  My point is, don't be seduced into this cycle of discontent.  Look what it's done to women- the pressure they feel to have "conforming beauty" is enormous, the money they spend in pusuit of this goal is huge, and they still are dissatified with the results- even though we men feel they are beautiful.  To me the saddest thing in the world is a beautiful woman that feels she's somehow not worthy, pretty or good enough.  Only in this consumer culture could we create such a twisted reality.

Jacqueline wrote a magnificent post on this subject on the LA Board around May 2003, and it's worth searching out and reading.

The simple fact is, smooth guys photograph better than hairy guys, so it's natural for ad agencies and movie makers to like smooth men in their images.  But that's not the way men are made, and I resent the fact that men are now being made to feel guilty about having body hair.   Sure, I think it's just good grooming to trim offending areas, especially in anticipation of intimate contact, but I don't think men should have to apologize, or feel self-conscious about having natural body hair.  

One of the keys to long-term happiness is to disconnect yourselvf from these artificial, constantly changing media-driven images of masculinity and femininity and learn to be happy in your own skin.  Work with what you've got to be the best you can be, but don't try to be something that doesn't exist in nature.  Just look what it did to poor Michael Jackson.



-- Modified on 12/1/2003 11:52:38 AM

Great responses... thanks ladies. And I'll have to remember that thing about the "treasure trail"... I feel like you've let me in on a little secret :0)

Rogaine is to INCREASE hair growth..unless you wanted MORE on your back??

The laser treatments are not too pricey, and yet very effective.

I realize that rogaine is for hair growth ...but I was searching for a reasonable compromise between "larry talbot's" full fur coat & "pee wee herman's "  hairy palms