The Landscaping “Down There” Survey

What does the modern American’s hair removal routine really look like and what’s the motivation behind it? Are we tidying the proverbial “hedges” for our romantic rendezvous, or is hair removal a matter of personal pride and comfort? And the burning question on everyone’s lips: what’s coming off and what’s staying on?

These are pressing questions we needed answers to. Therefore, Bespoke Surgical surveyed a diverse set of Americans across ages, genders, and orientations to uncover Americans’ hair removal preferences for both themselves and their sexual partners. We asked respondents about their average spending on hair removal, how often they’re “landscaping,” as well as what types of hair they’re removing, and why. Read on to see what we found.

Smooth Sailing: The Most Common Body Hair Removal Zones

When it comes to personal grooming, preferences can be as diverse as our individual styles. Yet, there are common threads throughout how we choose to manage body hair — both on ourselves and our preferences for our partners.

Mapping the Manscape and the Lay of the Land for Ladies

For men, facial hair might be the marquee player in the grooming game, but it doesn’t stop there. Here are the most common hair removal zones for men:

1. Face: The classic canvas for men’s hair removal.
2. Nose: Tending to the tendrils that nobody fancies.
3. Pubic Area (Brazilian Style): Opting for a full clear-out in private terrains.
4. Neck: Keeping the nape neat.
5. Armpits: A smooth pit stop, with a surprising 30% of men choosing to pare down the underbrush.

It’s the blend of comfort, hygiene, and personal aesthetics driving men to these top five zones. The armpit statistic is particularly intriguing, suggesting a shifting tide in what’s considered masculine in the male grooming narrative.

Similarly, women have their own quintet of quintessential hair removal areas, prioritizing:

1. Armpits: First in line for the smooth transition.
2. Legs: A long-standing tradition of silkiness.
3. Bikini Area: Navigating the bikini line with precision.
4. Eyebrows: Framing the face with care.
5. Upper Lips: Addressing the whispers of whispers.

Many of these zones reflect not just a cultural norm, but also a personal armor of confidence that comes with being well-groomed.

Non-Binary Landscaping: A Blend of Preference and Expression

Non-binary individuals often balance between personal comfort and aesthetics in their grooming habits. Their top spots for hair removal are:

1. Armpits: A common ground for grooming among all genders.
2. Face: A focus on the visage that transcends traditional gender lines.
3. Bikini Areas: The choice of clarity over the ambiguity of body hair.
4. Legs: A smooth statement that strides beyond gender.
5. Pubic Areas (Brazilian Style): A universal nod to the appeal of smoothness in private regions.

Reflecting on our Partners’ Preferences

When it comes to our sexual partners, preferences bend towards the Brazilian. It’s a tale of tidy terrains, with the largest share of respondents across all gender identities expressing a penchant for complete hair removal in the nether regions of their sexual partners.

A curious find here is the contrast in action versus desire amongst male respondents. While 43% of men savor the idea of their partners going Brazilian, only 35.3% mirror that choice personally. It’s an intriguing dance of the doers versus the admirers, one that speaks volumes without whispering a word of judgment.

Decoding America’s Hair Removal Preferences

When it comes to personal grooming “down there”, the landscape is as varied as the reasons behind the trim. 70% of Americans remove at least some of their pubic hair, while 30% don’t remove any at all, letting nature run its course.

The spotlight shines on the bikini area (the female bikini line and the male scrotum/groin), with over a third of respondents (38%) tidying up the edges. Then there’s the all-out approach, the Brazilian, indicating a full removal of hair in pubic and anal areas –– embraced by 27% of respondents.

And for those who fancy a dash of creativity, 5% opt for distinct shapes and styles –– think hearts, lightning bolts, and landing strips. In fact, the classic ‘landing strip’ has made a cameo at some point or another in 20% of Americans’ grooming stories.

The gay community, stepping out with confidence, tends to go for a more polished look, with 35% favoring the Brazilian. In contrast, only 20% of their straight friends echo this choice. 

There are clear generational differences as well, with Gen Zers leading the way to bare skin, while baby boomers often prefer the au naturel beat. Only a quarter of Gen Zers (25%) refrain from pubic hair removal altogether, compared to 57% of baby boomers. 

Partner Preferences: The Bare Essentials?

In the realm of relationships and rendezvous, it seems that love is not just blind, but also unbothered by body hair. Interestingly, a significant number of respondents are open-minded about their partners’ choices. Almost half of Americans (49%) don’t need their sexual partners to have any pubic hair removed.

However, if you dive into the details, you’ll find that 35% of straight men have a clear vision of Venus – a preference for a completely bare Brazilian. Yet, this desire for deforestation isn’t quite the same in the gay community. Only 16% of gay men say they prefer their sexual partners to have a Brazilian. 

This divergence could be a reflection of cultural currents: while straight men might be surfing the wave of popular trends, the gay community celebrates diversity in aesthetics and comfort –– a world where the natural to the nurtured, from bears to otters to twinks, is not just accepted but appreciated.

The Personal Touch: Why Comfort Is Queen

When looking into the “whys” of pubic pruning, personal comfort often trumps partner preference. The majority of Americans (60%) are removing hair in their undercarriage to feel cleaner and ditch the itch, suggesting that it’s not so much about the gaze of others, but about personal comfort. 

Aesthetics also play a part for some, with 22% favoring the visual appeal of a smoother terrain, while for 12%, it’s about feeling more comfortable in intimate moments. Interestingly, partner preference is a minor player when it comes to our respondent’s hair removal decisions, with only 4% shaping their landscape to suit their significant other’s tastes.

As the seasons change, so does the approach to pubic hair, with half of the nation letting it grow when the chill sets in. This winter whisker-keeping seems to be gendered, with a higher proportion of women (59%) embracing their winter warmth compared to 42% of men, adding a cozy layer as the mercury drops. 

Grooming’s Role in Intimacy

While exploring the intimate landscape of personal grooming, we learned quite a bit about our hookup habits and self-perception. 

A striking 59% of Americans enjoy hooking up with someone less if their own pubic hair is not groomed to their comfort level, but only 38% enjoy hooking up with someone less if their partner’s pubic hair is not groomed to their liking. Thus, when it comes to pubic hair removal, we’re harder on ourselves than we are on our sexual partners.

This inward focus might hint at why, in between the sheets, personal grooming preferences trump those of our partners — 90% of Americans groom their pubic hair according to their own personal preference, while only 10% groom their pubic hair according to their partner’s preference.

Another intriguing finding is the heightened attention to grooming when flying solo — 57% of respondents put more effort into their pubic hairstyle when they’re single. 

This observation could shed light on a broader trend in relationships where “letting go” might be attributed to a waning sexual spark. It’s a gentle reminder that the rituals we adopt when single can be just as important for keeping the flame alive in long-term relationships.

Behind the Shave: Costs and Habits in Hair Removal

In the world of hair removal, it seems most of us are taking the matter into our own hands — literally. A whopping 83% of people are bypassing a hair removal appointment for the bathroom sink, with the high costs of professional services sending them in search of DIY solutions. 50% of Americans are holding tight to their wallets, naming cost as the number one barrier to professional hair removal services. 

But what’s keeping the rest from indulging in a bit of pampered plucking? Here’s a breakdown of the biggest hurdles when it comes to getting smooth with a pro’s touch:

• Cost – 49.9%
• Embarrassment – 16.2%
• Other – 13.7%
• Fear of pain – 8.0%
• Lack of time – 8.0%
• Low access to facilities – 3.1%
• Medical conditions – 1.1%

Diving into the laser league, only 12% of people have braved the beam for laser hair removal. Those who opt for lasers tend to target the face, pubic region, and underarms, perhaps in pursuit of a more permanent solution to the stubble struggle.

When we talk about the financial side of staying smooth, the numbers are quite hair-raising. The average person shells out $29.61 monthly and over $350 annually on hair removal, a small price for personal grooming. 

When we look at more thorough modes of hair removal like laser and waxing, the monthly hair removal spend of Americans ranges from $50 – $140, and the annual spend ranges from $630 – $1,700. While these hair removal methods are more expensive, for some it’s a small price to pay to avoid the complications (and annoyances) that arise with shaving like ingrown hairs, cuts, and infections. 

Now let’s look at the time investment. It’s not just money we’re spending, but minutes — 28 of them each week, to be exact. That’s nearly 2 hours a month, or almost a full day each year, dedicated to defeating fuzz. 

Whether it’s wax, laser, or razor, it’s clear we’re committed to the cause, proving that the pursuit of smooth skin is more than skin deep—it’s a ritual carved into our calendars and our budgets.

Closing Thoughts

Sexual health and wellness expert, Dr. Evan Goldstein, weighs in: “When we think about grooming ‘down there’, we assume it’s a practice we partake in to please others. However, within our survey findings, it’s clear grooming is something we do for ourselves as 90% of respondents groom their pubic hair according to their personal preference, while only 10% groom their pubic hair according to their partner’s preference.” 

“At Bespoke Surgical, we know grooming is a self-care practice to help you feel your best and to improve your sexual health and wellness. Confidence (in and out of the bedroom) is the key to pleasurable sexual experiences – and therefore we view grooming (whatever that looks like for you) as an important step in one’s preparation for confident and fun intercourse.”

As we zip up this wild ride through the bristles and buzzes of hair removal, it’s clear that while we all have our personal hair removal habits, the quest for the silken sheath is universal. We pluck, shave, wax, and zap in pursuit of that baby-smooth feel, a ritual as ingrained in our culture as the hair is in our skin.

But why settle for the prickly path of at-home hair wrestling when you can indulge in the luxurious lap of laser luxury? With Bespoke Surgical’s aesthetic services and state-of-the-art laser hair removal, you can say farewell to the fleeting fuzz and hello to lasting smoothness.

It’s not just about looking good; it’s about feeling fabulous, confident, and above all, smooth in your own skin. Book a consultation and turn your hair removal routine from a mundane chore into a spa-like splendor.

Methodology

In our quest to demystify pubic hair grooming trends, our survey canvassed the body hair removal preferences and practices of 1,000 individuals across the United States. From October 9 to October 15, 2023, we surveyed a broad spectrum of participants varying in gender identity, age, and sexual orientation. We provided clear definitions to ensure consistency: the ‘bikini area’ referred to the bikini line for females and the scrotum/groin for males, while a ‘Brazilian’ was classified as the complete removal of hair in the pubic and anal areas.