We road test the best men’s hair removal creams from just £6
A night of stand-up comedy is great, but if you want a good laugh for free, Google men’s reviews of hair removal creams. Some have become the stuff of internet legend – especially those written by guys who’ve been, er, ‘tidying up the basem*nt’ and have come a cropper by using products that were too strong or have been left on way too long. (My favourite is the man who described the after effects of using a cream on his nether regions as being akin to the Space Shuttle running its engines on full throttle right behind him.)
That doesn’t mean hair removal creams (technical name depilatory creams) don’t have their uses, though. In fact, they’re one of the most practical – and effective – tools in a man’s manscaping arsenal.
Simpler and less eye-watering than waxing and more effective than shaving (you’ll stay hair free for longer and when hairs go grow back the tips will be finer and less noticeable) they’re a great way to remove unwanted body hair in minutes.
They work by using chemicals (usually thioglycolic acid) to dissolve the protein structure of the hair at the root, allowing it to be rubbed away at skin level and leaving skin temporarily hair free. Follow our advice about application and use one of the creams below and you’ll be as smooth as a Love Island lothario in no time. No joke.
Best hair removal creams for men: At a glance
- Best for removing hair in a hurry: Nad’s For Men Hair Removal Cream | £8.99
- Best kit for intimate areas: Veet Men Intimate Hair Removal Kit | £10
- Best all-rounder:Baldape Parlour Charcoal Hair Removal Cream | £7
How to choose the best hair removal cream for you
What parts of the body can I use depilatory creams on?
Hair removal creams are perfect for phasing out fur that sprouts on your chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs, toes and knuckles and underarms. They should not be used on the face, eyebrows, ears, nose or head.
Can they be used on more intimate areas?
Somehow, we knew you’d ask this. Only certain creams can be applied on the pubic area, partly because the skin around your crown jewels is particularly sensitive.
Make sure you only use a depilatory cream marked for intimate or pubic areas and always follow the instructions. These special creams can usually be used on the buttocks too but aren’t meant to be used between them or around the anus. That’s our disclaimer done.
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Should I do a patch test first?
Yes. Some guys’ skin is more sensitive to the chemicals in hair removal creams than others so it’s always worth being on the safe side.
To test, select a small area of skin you wish to treat and apply a small amount of the cream, following the directions about application and removal. Then wait 24 hours. If there is no adverse reaction, the whole area may be treated in the same way. Bear in mind you may still get a little discomfort (think mild razor burn) after removal, though. Thankfully, this should subside after an hour or so.
Any tips on application?
First off, always – repeat always – follow the instruction on usage to the letter. Follow the time guidelines too. Leaving on for a few extra minutes won’t result in better results but could result in irritated skin or burnt balls (never a good look).
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Speaking of which, apply only to areas recommended on the product (avoid the nipples which can be particularly sensitive) and if you’re applying a cream suitable for intimate use splash your crown jewels with a little cold water first to tighten them slightly – it’ll make application easier. Apply a decent layer with smooth strokes (imagine you’re buttering a piece of toast) and leave on, without rubbing in.
If all the hair isn’t removed in one go, you can apply again but wait at least 24 hours before having another go to avoid ‘Space Shuttle’ skin.
Anything I shouldn’t do when applying a hair removal cream?
Apart from leaving the product on too long, avoid rinsing with hot water or soap before or after applying your hair removal cream as this can increase skin sensitivity. Use cool or tepid water to rise off the product and don’t apply creams to broken or sunburnt skin or to spots, moles or scars.
Is any aftercare required?
You don’t have to treat skin with aftercare products but it will certainly help calm and condition skin. The makers of some products also offer aftercare balms and moisturisers.
It’s always a good idea to avoid using antiperspirants and perfumes for 24 hours afterwards and to avoid exposing the freshly treated skin to swimming or sunbathing. Skipping the gym for a couple of days is advisable too as sweat and friction can irritate freshly-treated skin.
How we test hair removal creams for men
Hair removal is a perilous pursuit at the best of times – especially if you’re removing hair from intimate areas – so we approach this particular test with justified caution and follow the application instructions to the letter. We also conduct the recommended patch tests in case any of the creams cause a skin reaction – so far, none have done so.
We test the creams on several areas of the body – chest, legs and back. We also carefully road test the creams designed for use ‘down below’. (You can’t say we don’t go the extra mile here at Expert Reviews in the name of an honest appraisal.)
Efficacy is important, but given that hair removal creams can be pretty stinky, smell is top of mind too, as is consistency, ease of use and value for money. Needless to say, the ultimate test is whether skin feels perfectly smooth after use.
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The best hair removal creams for men in 2023
1. Nad’s For Men Hair Removal Cream: Best for removing hair in a hurry
Price when reviewed:£8.99 for 200ml |Check price at Amazon
Especially formulated for coarse body hair and with a fast-acting formula (it works in as little as 3 minutes) this cream from Aussie hair removal experts Nad’s is one of the best known and most effective.
It contains aloe vera to help soothe and hydrate skin, is neither too thick nor too runny but you’ll need a cloth or sponge to remove as it doesn’t come with a spatula.
Ironically, given the name, they don’t recommend you use it on, you know, your ‘nads, so keep it for your back, chest, arms and legs unless you’re very brave – if you fancy writing one of those reviews we mentioned at the start of this piece.
2. Hoosh Hair Removal Cream: Best for vegans
Price when reviewed: £7.50 for 100ml | Check price at Hoosh
Black-owned British brand Hoosh launched during the pandemic. No mean feat given the complications that created, though with plenty of people stuck at home, having to make their own entertainment, maybe that was perfect timing.
The company’s first product is this fast-acting, vegan-friendly hair removal cream, enriched with skin friendly Provitamin, along with chamomile oil, B5 and witch hazel to minimise inflammation and irritation.
As with most other creams it’s meant for use on chest, legs, arms, back and underarms so is best for general manscaping. It’s quite runny in texture so apply carefully with the plastic spatula supplied and leave on for the allotted time (up to 6 minutes if hair is stubborn) and wash off with a cloth or sponge.
3. Barenuts Pubic Hair Removal Cream For Men: Best for intimate areas
Price when reviewed: £13 for 100ml | Check price at Nutcare
Unlike most hair removal creams, Barenuts’ pubic hair removal cream is specially formulated to be used on your most delicate bits (the clue is in the name).
Hair removal is pretty quick: 5-6 minutes is usually all that’s required though up to nine may be required if hair is particularly coarse, though we’re not sure we’d risk that long ourselves. If not all hair is removed you can use the cream again 24 hours later (it took us two passes to get super-smooth results and the first pass did result in a bit of tingle).
The cream itself is fairly pleasant smelling (think cucumber and cut leaves) though it’s runnier than some of the others we tried so be careful when applying. You can buy a special mitt to remove the cream and hair from their website though a flannel works too. Don’t be afraid to use this rigorously – if you’re too gentle you won’t remove the hairs quickly.
They also produce a special after-care moisturiser which soothes irritation and aims – in the words of the website – to give you a ‘more youthful-looking scrotum’. Now there’s a grooming product you never knew you needed.
4. Veet Men Intimate Hair Removal Kit: Best hair removal kit for intimate areas
Price when reviewed: £10 | Check price at Amazon
Veet has long been experts in hair removal so it was only a matter of time before the company tweaked its product to cater to men wanting to remove hair in places a little more intimate than the average armpit.
This value for money, two-piece kit contains a tube of hair removal cream, especially formulated for use in intimate areas (it includes ginseng root extract to help hydrate skin) plus an aftercare balm that contains aloe vera extract to help minimise post-manscaping irritation and soothe inflammation.
A five-minute application gets results but as is the case with most intimate area removers you may need a second application a couple of days later for super smooth results. We found it to be one of the best products we tried, with relatively little irritation. Good for the groin, scrotum, buttocks, pubic area and base of the penis but not any other intimate areas so use elsewhere at your own risk.
5. Baldape Parlour Charcoal Hair Removal Cream: Best all-round hair removal cream
Price when reviewed: £7 for 100ml | Check price at Baldape Parlour
Infused with a pleasant, slightly woody, scent and formulated with charcoal powder and bamboo extracts to minimise irritation, this super-effective cream from Brit brand Baldape Parlour impressed us with how gentle it was, especially when used for ‘downstairs’ hair removal.
Designed for sensitive skin, it’s as effective at removing thick chest hair as it is finer pit fuzz. Most hair comes off in the suggested three-minute timeframe though you can push that to a maximum of seven minutes if hair is particularly stubborn (we played it safe when doing our bits and repeated the three-minute application 24 hours later and the second pass left things super smooth with almost no irritation).
A brand created to head off any hair removal hassles, Baldape Parlour also sell a clever Helping Hand tool that enables you apply the cream to those hard-to-reach bits on your back and shoulders. As they themselves say, when it comes to hair removal, they’ve got your back. And, judging by this cream’s performance, your front, sides and nether regions too.
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