# How come men can't have chest hair any more? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 7, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464 "2006-07-07T05:28:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/41 "2006-07-07T16:23:04Z")
> [@Lemur Catta](#): > > or, as my father says, “Hair doesn’t grow on steel.” 😃 My mom, when explaining why women don’t have hairy chests explained, “grass doesn’t grow on a playground.” Mom was more of a slut than I thought, looking back. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/42 "2006-07-07T17:41:03Z")
I’m a very hairy guy, and before I proposed marriage to my (now) wife, I felt a need to “warn” her about it, as I’d noticed that the ideal male image in popular culture seems hairless. I tod her she can think of it as having a teddy bear to sleep with. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/43 "2006-07-07T17:49:48Z")
Wait. Guys SHAVE their chest hair, strictly for the aesthetics? Ew. Ladies, you want a hairy chest to run your fingers through, the line forms here, to my left, you’ll all get your turn. The Wife says my sexiness quotient (who knew?) went through the roof when I started going salt and pepper on my chest. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/44 "2006-07-07T18:06:49Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I don’t mind some hair on me… I’m glad no one caught this before I did. Should be: I don’t mind some hair on my men. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/45 "2006-07-07T18:08:11Z")
> [@gabriela](#): > > Superheroes. > > I really believe it’s the result of fifty years’ exposure to superheroes. > Ever tried cartooning a mass of hair? Meh. If that were the answer then no one would like nipples on men either. I could never figure out when I started reading comics in the 70s why the men didn’t have nipples. Guys who shave their armpits mystify me. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/46 "2006-07-07T18:18:11Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Guys who shave their armpits mystify me. Guys who _don’t_ mystify me. I almost never wear clothes that would expose whether or not I have armpit hair. I still shave my armpits, though, because my anti-perspirant doesn’t work very well if I don’t. Don’t you guys have the same problem? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/47 "2006-07-07T18:23:27Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > Guys who _don’t_ mystify me. I almost never wear clothes that would expose whether or not I have armpit hair. I still shave my armpits, though, because my anti-perspirant doesn’t work very well if I don’t. Don’t you guys have the same problem? I can see not understanding shaving, but most guys need to at least trim. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/48 "2006-07-07T18:26:56Z")
I have a hairless chest (well, except for this _one_), and I’d like to make it clear that I’m not one of those weiners who shaves their chest hair, I’m, um, one of those weiners who can’t grow chest hair…or something… :o ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/49 "2006-07-07T18:57:21Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > Guys who _don’t_ mystify me. I almost never wear clothes that would expose whether or not I have armpit hair. I still shave my armpits, though, because my anti-perspirant doesn’t work very well if I don’t. Don’t you guys have the same problem? I rarely seem to remember to wear anti-perspirant but when I do I don’t have any problem coating the appropriate area. I find body parts (at least those below the neck) that are supposed to be hairy but aren’t aesthetically unpleasing, and guys who completely shave their pubes creep me the hell out. Yes, having genitals that look like they belong on an eight year-old is so _hot_. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/50 "2006-07-07T19:08:22Z")
I am what is known in some exclusive circles as “a bear.” And evidently a damn sexy specimen at that given the amount of attention my ursine build and foliation seems to attract. Very thick from the collarbones to…well, my ankles. And a noteworthy quantity from the nape of my neck to…well, ankles again. Still, I am discernably human. The only maintenance I’ve been known to do is to knock the back hair down to below shirt collar level. I don’t want to look like I have tumbleweeds stuffed in my shirt or anything. Anyone who’s had the opportunity to stoke my pelt has always approached it for the first time with a sense of what I can only describe as a dysfunctionally compelling curiosity. Kinda like they stripped off my shirt and saw a tattoo or a badger or something. Not that I’m a total sasquatch or anything, it’s just that my arm hair is pretty light, I shave my face very closely, keep my head hair short and I don’t drag my knuckles on the ground when I walk. And while a couple ladies have been very surprised by what they’ve found, I don’t remember getting kicked out of bed ever. In fact, judging from the curious “Hmm…” as they dug their fingers in, they were converting away from any preconceived ideas they had against it. Traps pheromones, doncha know. Pheromones arouse. That’s all I got to say 'bout that. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/51 "2006-07-07T19:20:09Z")
Personally, I’m pretty indifferent to chest and body hair. Hairy is good. Not hairy is good. (I think I just really like men’s chests). However, I did date one fella that was hairless from the waist up, and totally furry from the waist down, just to his ankles. When he was naked, it looked like he was wearing mohair pants, which was a bit odd. ---
**Author:** ![Wnabtokio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Wnabtokio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wnabtokio)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/52 "2006-07-07T19:37:07Z")
> [@SHAKES](#): > > I shave mine. I’ve never been a big fan of pubic hair. If I could shave my armpits with out getting laughed out town; I’d do that too. > > Also shaving the hair around my stomach gives me the appearance of a “slimmer” look. As I have a little pudge down there. Also, in Texas, anything that might beat the heat even slightly is a great idea. Go ahead and shave your armpits, **SHAKES**. Personally, I realize that people have different tastes for this sort of thing. There are some people who have an affinity for back hair too, so you arbitrarily drawing the line there would make some people really sad. Me, I like skinny guys with no chest hair. It’s not fun to lick things that are excessively hairy. Just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/53 "2006-07-07T19:55:38Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > I am what is known in some exclusive circles as “a bear.” And evidently a damn sexy specimen at that given the amount of attention my ursine build and foliation seems to attract. Very thick from the collarbones to…well, my ankles. And a noteworthy quantity from the nape of my neck to…well, ankles again. Still, I am discernably human. The only maintenance I’ve been known to do is to knock the back hair down to below shirt collar level. I don’t want to look like I have tumbleweeds stuffed in my shirt or anything. > > Anyone who’s had the opportunity to stoke my pelt has always approached it for the first time with a sense of what I can only describe as a dysfunctionally compelling curiosity. Kinda like they stripped off my shirt and saw a tattoo or a badger or something. Not that I’m a total sasquatch or anything, it’s just that my arm hair is pretty light, I shave my face very closely, keep my head hair short and I don’t drag my knuckles on the ground when I walk. And while a couple ladies have been very surprised by what they’ve found, I don’t remember getting kicked out of bed ever. In fact, judging from the curious “Hmm…” as they dug their fingers in, they were converting away from any preconceived ideas they had against it. > > Traps pheromones, doncha know. Pheromones arouse. That’s all I got to say 'bout that. Well, it seems that you have the level of hairiness that I always wanted! I envy you! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/54 "2006-07-07T20:16:29Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > [Here’s](http://www.scott-o-rama.com/Coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/jakegyllenhaalbaseball.jpg) another picture of deliciously hairy Jake. C’mon, **tasha** , you don’t seriously think that he would look better with his chest and stomach all naked, do you? DROOL… Yummy!!! I think men shaving/waxing their chests is completely ridiculous. I am so sick of this hairless fad, for both men and women. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/55 "2006-07-07T20:18:08Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I’m glad no one caught this before I did. Should be: > > I don’t mind some hair on my men. You’re just lucky I had to go to work when I noticed it earlier today. 😃 (Mohair pants, **alice**? That sounds…really weird. He didn’t have cloven hooves, did he?) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/56 "2006-07-07T20:27:27Z")
heh…I was just thinking, “Satyr?” ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/57 "2006-07-07T21:13:29Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > (Mohair pants, **alice**? That sounds…really weird. He didn’t have cloven hooves, did he?) It was super weird. Fortunately, we didn’t date for very long. As to his feet, they appeared to be normal. No tail, either. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/58 "2006-07-07T21:42:35Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > heh…I was just thinking, “Satyr?” GOATSE…Nah. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/59 "2006-07-07T21:45:26Z")
What’s Goatse got to do with this? 😃 :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464/60 "2006-07-07T22:04:12Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I think the chest hair thing might be generational, like the pubic shaving thing. I’m starting to think that nobody under 30 has hair anywhere on their body. I’m not yet 20 and I have a crucifix pattern and a happy trail, as well as a pretty sizeable portion of leg and arse hair and the thinnest slice of back hair as well. I was in boot camp with a dude who couldn’t have been older than 24 and earned the nickname “Sweatervest”. Can you guess why? Actually, from seeing your latest picture of Mr. G, it appears my chest hair is remarkably similar in pattern and thickness. (Really!) > [@Anaamika](#): > > I think the chest hair thing might be generational, like the pubic shaving thing. I’m starting to think that nobody under 30 has hair anywhere on their body. Well, I figured you meant…well…er…you know. Hair _on_ you. You know. On. Sorry. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-men-cant-have-chest-hair-any-more/363464.md?page=4)