There are two kinds of guys come summer: the ones who plan some preemptive body grooming maintenance and the ones who suddenly notice their shoulder hair halfway through putting on the first tank top of the season. No matter which camp you fall in, let this be your reminder that now’s the perfect time to take stock.
The good news is modern manscaping has become far less aggressive. Grooming experts and aestheticians now largely agree that the goal isn’t removing every inch of body hair. It’s really just about keeping things trimmed and hygienic once the forecast calls for exposing a little more skin.
We’re talking about strategic maintenance here: trimming, blending and cleaning up the places where hair tends to look unruly, trap sweat or peek out where you’d rather it didn’t. (And if you’re wondering which trimmer to buy, we already rounded up the best grooming tools for every job.) Here’s the modern guy’s guide to what’s actually worth grooming before beach season is in full swing. It’s not about some big transformation, but more like conscientious maintenance. After all, the best body grooming is usually the kind nobody notices directly.
This is where most guys overdo it. Fully shaving your chest often creates more problems than it solves: stubble, ingrown hairs, irritation and the unfortunate sandpaper phase a few days later. Instead, experts recommend simply reducing bulk and keeping things controlled. A trimmed chest still looks natural—just more kempt. The move isn’t hairless. It’s maintained.
You don’t need to completely shave your underarms. But trimming them down significantly can help with sweat, odor and deodorant performance during hotter months. Think of it as airflow optimization. It also simply looks cleaner.
Unless you’re especially hairy or you simply prefer a more groomed look, most experts agree arms and legs rarely need major maintenance. If you do decide to tidy things up, a subtle trimming is usually better than shaving.