Trimming your nose hair? No big deal.
Tweezing your bushy brows? Easy peasy.
Shaving your balls? Record scratch.
Wait a minute.
One of these is definitely not like the others.
Obviously, there’s no shame in shaving your man parts.
But taking a sharp blade to your ball sack is something that shouldn’t be rushed, gentlemen.
You probably don’t need to be reminded that the skin down there is super sensitive.
So, how does a guy go about safely shaving his balls?
Allow us to guide you through the process.
But first, here are three things you need to know to shave your balls:
- Use an electric trimmer to trim your balls before using a safety razor.
- Prep the skin and pubic hair with warm water and shave cream.
- Go slow and don’t apply pressure when using a safety razor.
Got it? Good.
Here’s how to shave your balls safely.
Step #1: Gather Your Tools
You’ll need two grooming tools to shave your balls: a razor and an electric trimmer.
A safety razor will help you achieve a closer shave while minimizing shave irritation.
An electric trimmer can be used to pre-trim the area.
You could trim your ball hair with just an electric trimmer.
But if you really want an ultra-smooth look, nothing can compare to a traditional wet shave with a safety razor.
Step #2: Give Yourself a Pre-Trim
If you’re working with a forest down there, tidy up the area with an electric trimmer before you take a razor to it.
This will help prevent your razor from getting clogged with pubic hair.
Like we said, you could just tidy up your balls with an electric shaver and call it good.
However, research tells us that 73 percent of men who shave their junk do so primarily for sexual purposes (see claim: “The majority of men report grooming in preparation for sexual activity with a peak prevalence of 73% among men aged 25 to 34 years.”)
If you’re one of those guys who wants to make his junk look bigger in the bedroom, an ultra-smooth look down below is the way to go.
Step #3: Take a Warm Shower
Apologies in advance for making this comparison, but your pubic hair is similar to your beard hair.
In fact, beard hair technically is pubic hair because it comes in after puberty.
But we digress.
The point is that many of the same best shaving practices apply to both pubic hair and beard hair.
This includes showering before you shave.
Showering before you shave is superior to shaving before you shower, especially when dealing with a hyper-sensitive area like your nut sack.
The reason being that the warm water helps soften your pubic hair for a smoother, pain-free shave.
Step #4: Apply a Translucent Shave Cream
Next, you’ll apply a shave cream for sensitive skin to your balls.
Even if you don’t have a sensitive skin type, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
The last thing you want is to have a burning sensation down below because your skin doesn’t agree with certain ingredients.
Be sure to choose a shave cream that is translucent—no thick, foamy stuff.
You need to be able to see exactly what you’re doing.
Step #5: Take it SLOW
You want to know how to shave your balls?
Carefully, that’s how.
All joking aside, you really should take it slow.
According to a 2017 study published in JAMA Dermatology, the scrotum is the most common site of grooming-related injuries in men (see claim: “Common areas for grooming-related injury for men were the scrotum (378 [67.2%]), penis (196 [34.8%]), and pubis (162 [28.9%]).)
To get a good angle, put one leg up on the tub or the toilet seat.
Wield the razor in your dominant hand and use the other to pull the skin taut.
Make slow, steady passes.
Don’t apply any pressure. Your safety razor doesn’t need it.
Just allow it to glide gently over your skin.
Step #6: Rinse and Apply After Shave
Once you finish shaving, hop back in the shower to rinse your balls off.
Step out of the shower and pat your balls dry with your towel.
Finish the job by applying a soothing after-shave to your balls.
This will help reduce potential skin irritation and infection.
Conclusion
And that’s how to shave the balls, gentlemen.
If it still sounds daunting, don’t worry.
Once you make that first pass with your safety razor, you’ll realize that it’s really not that scary.
Before you know it, manscaping will become part of your regular routine.
References
Gaither, Thomas W et al. “Prevalence and Motivation: Pubic Hair Grooming Among Men in the United States.” American journal of men's health vol. 11,3 (2017): 620-640.
Truesdale, Matthew D et al. “Prevalence of Pubic Hair Grooming-Related Injuries and Identification of High-Risk Individuals in the United States.” JAMA dermatology vol. 153,11 (2017): 1114-1121.
