Body Ready: Six Manscaping Essentials

Time to come out of your hibernation state and start preparing for beach season: We know that spring is taking a while to settle in, but before you know it, the warm and humid weather will be upon us, and nobody likes the sight of an oversized sweat patch, nor the smell of unkempt armpits in a crowded elevator. It's never too early to brush up on your summer grooming skills, so let's get you all geared up for your next manscaping session.

Photo: Shutterstock

THE TOOLS

Choose your grooming tool according to your body hair preferences.

For a natural look:

Wahl Li+ Trimmer, $44.99, at RiteAid.com

Adepts of the well-kept, trimmed look should opt for an electric shaver to save considerable amounts of time and effort. Invest in an all-in-one product like Wahl's rechargeable body groomer: Lightweight and easy to use, it comes with three separate length attachements to help you get the right amount of body hair. The smaller detail head included is also a convenient add-on to snip off unsightly nose and ear hair.

For a smooth finish:

Gillette Body Razor, $8.99, at Drugstore.com

The first body razor specifically conceived for men is a game-changer for those who prefer to keep everything completely bare. The rounded head is perfect to reach those tough spots on your armpits, your back, and your scalp. Paired with your favorite shaving gel, the three lubricated floating blades and its anti-slip silicon handle make for a nice and easy grip-and-glide experience, even when you're using it in the shower.

For touch ups:

Matte For Men Tweezers, $16, at MatteForMen.com
Nothing beats good ol' tweezers to prevent your eyebrows from getting too chummy with one another. Get tweezers with a slant tip, better for precision work and to extract ingrown hair.

SWITCH TO GEL

Body grooming can get very messy if you're using the wrong hair removal product with your body razor. Save shaving foam for your face, and opt for a shaving gel instead: Their liquid texture sticks better to the skin, is more adapt to covering large areas like the back or the torso, and makes the glide of the blade a lot smoother. They're also easier to wash off in the shower. If you have sensitive skin, choose a fragrance-free product to reduce post-shave irritation and minimize the risk of having an allergic reaction.

From left:
Gillette 2-in-1 Wash + Shave Body Wash, $4.99, 16 fl oz, at Soap.com
Neutrogena Men Razor Defense Shave Gel, $4.99, 7 oz, at Neutrogena.com
Aveeno Men's Fragrance Free Shave Gel, $3.99, 7 oz, at Aveeno.com

SMOOTH RECOVERY

Pre-Shave Prep

To minimize skin bumps, think about using a body scrub. Ideally, you should exfoliate one day before your manscaping session (doing it right before works too, if you don't have particularly reactive skin) to rid the skin of dead cells, open up your pores, and get those rebellious ingrown hair out of their cache.

Anthony Logistics Sea Kelp Body Scrub, $28, 12 fl oz, at Anthony .com

A soft scrub enriched with vitamin C and aloe vera, to gently exfoliate your body.

Post-Shave Remedy

VMV Hypoallergenics Essence Hand + Body Smoother, $25, 6.3 fl oz, at VMVHypoallergenic.com
Our favorite for sensitive and intolerant skin, VMV's unscented body lotion contains virgin coconut oil and antioxidants to soothe the skin after grooming, leaving it completely smooth. Mission accomplished!