Keeping Up Down There

The amount of below-the-waist body hair you choose to keep or crop is really a matter of taste. But as we head into a season of muggy days and smaller swimsuits, a little manscaping is a good idea. Celebrity groomer Lauren Kaye Cohen has some tips.

SCRUB YOUR STUFF (CAREFULLY!)
"It's good to exfoliate," Cohen says. "I'm a big fan of homemade scrubs: Take a bit of kosher salt (or brown sugar if your skin is sensitive), mix it with almond oil, coconut oil, or grapeseed oil, and gently massage the zones you're about to trim."
The amount of below-the-waist body hair you choose to keep or crop is really a matter of taste. But as we head into a season of muggy days and smaller swimsuits, a little manscaping is a good idea. Celebrity groomer Lauren Kaye Cohen has some tips.

FIND YOUR TOOL
"For the upper thigh and groin area, use a trimmer like Gillette Fusion ProGlide Styler ($23.99). The different guard sizes allow you to get close to the skin but still leave a bit of soft hair. It's easier to wax the places you can't see, such as the upper back."

SMOOTH OPERATOR
"If you're shaving all the way down, be prepared for some maintenance, or things will get stubbly. You want to be able to see what you're doing, so use a clear shave gel, like Gillette Body Non-Foaming Shave Gel (5.9 oz., $3.79). In case of a cut, keep a tube of Brave Soldier Antiseptic Healing Ointment (1 oz., $13). Pat your skin with a paper towel rather than a tissue, which tends to stick."

POST-PRUNING CARE
"Make sure you keep the area you've clipped hydrated. My favorite moisturizers are La Mer Oil Absorbing Lotion (1.7 oz, $245) or Baxter of California Oil Free Moisturizer (4 oz., $22), but you can use your usual moisturizer as long as it's sunscreen and fragrance-free. To prevent irritation, avoid sweaty activities and sun exposure right after you've shaved. It's best to wait one to three days before your big reveal."

Photography by Joseph Lally. Styling by Matthew Ellenberger. Model: Jhanelle Castillo at Ford Models. Shorts by Kyle King