Hair removal amongst British men is on the rise

Recent research from Mintel has revealed that hair removal among British males is on the rise, as more and more men are influenced by popular culture narratives.

Not so long ago, hair removal, tanning and overall grooming was viewed as not an option by men, however popular tv shows such as Love Island and The Only Way Is Essex have contributed to the rise in such treatments being sought by men.

Over the last two years, the popularity of body hair removal has shot up among the nation’s men: in 2018, as many as 46% of all men removed hair from their bodies, up from just 36% in 2016.

“While the pressure on women remains higher, we’re seeing more and more young men in particular feeling the needs to be hair-free too,” – Roshida Khanom, associate director for beauty and personal care at Mintel.

In addition this, 57% of young males aged 16-24 say they have removed hair from their pubic region, compared to 40% in 2016. Meanwhile, 42% of males aged 16-24 remove hair from their underarms, up from 16% in 2016. Hair removal from the chest has risen from 15% in 2016, doubling to 30% in 2018; while hair removal from he back has increased from 10% in 2016 to 12% in 2018.

“Consumers today are feeling the pressure to be hair-free,” says Roshida Khanom, associate director for beauty and personal care at Mintel. “However, while the pressure on women remains higher, we’re seeing more and more young men in particular feeling the needs to be hair-free too. Reality TV shows such as Love Island have popularised hairless torsos, normalising the hair-free aesthetic amongst men.”

It’s not just the body that is receiving the hair-free treatment, as facial hair removal among brits has risen from 73% in 2016 to 80% in 2018. The number of Brits removing hair from their eyebrows has risen from 33% in 2016 to 42% in 2018. Meanwhile, the number of Brits removing hair from their nose has risen from 11% in 2016 to 20% in 2018.

While older men have traditionally been less concerned with hair removal, modern rimes have seen a shift. In 2018, 31% of men aged over 65 removed hair from their nose, with 32% removing hair from their eyebrows and 34% removing hair from their ears.

Thinking about extending your service menu for the New Year? Read all about how to add hair removal treatments to your offerings here!

www.mintel.com

Image c/o nkd waxing.