Our body hair is weird as it grows in different places in different people and becomes a part of their individuality. Or should we say that the hair growth pattern is an intriguing part of one’s personality, especially in men?
While almost all men have thick hair on their arms, legs, and chests, some men also have hair on their abdomen. This hair is called a happy trail when it appears in a specific pattern. Furthermore, some women also develop a happy trail.
So, do you wonder what the happy trail meaning? Also, do you want to know if you should shave it as a man or a woman and how to shave it seamlessly? Well, we have got the solutions to all your queries here.
Without further ado, let us dive into it.
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: What is a Happy Trail?
- Part 2: Should I Shave My Happy Trail as a Man?
- Part 3: How to Shave a Happy Trail as a Man?
- Part 4: What Causes a Female Happy Trail?
- Part 5: How to Get Rid of a Happy Trail?
Part 1: What is a Happy Trail?
As men hit puberty and become mature, they start developing body hair as a part of secondary sexual characteristics. The hair growth begins in their pubic region and face and gradually they grow hair on their chest and abdomen as well.
Some men also develop hair in a straight line that extends from their belly button all the way down to the pubic regions on the lower abdominal region. This vertical line of hair is known as a happy trail.
It is called so as women find it attractive and for men, it is a sign of getting mature, older, and hot. Some other names for a happy trail are snail trail and treasure tail.
Moreover, it is important to note that only 20% of men have a happy trail. The rest have hair on their whole abdomen or abdominal hair without any specific pattern.
Part 2: Should I Shave My Happy Trail as a Man?
Hair growth on the body including the happy trail is natural and a large percentage of men have it. For women, a hairless smooth body seems like a compulsion because of the standards of society.
However, for men, society has different standards and considers hairy men as sexy rather than gross. Therefore, the decision to shave happy trails as a man totally depends upon your personal preferences.
If you have a thin happy trail with no other hair on the stomach, you might not want to trim it as a perfect happy trail is attractive for women. However, shaving the happy tail is a thoughtful choice if the line is thicker or the hair is coarse and curly.
Part 3: How to Shave a Happy Trail as a Man?
Getting a perfect happy trail or removing it completely can be a bit challenging as it is difficult to shave the abdominal hair. So, here we have a step-by-step guide for you to shave a happy trail as a man.
Collect Your Supplies
The supplies to remove Happy Trail include,
- Products to prepare the area to be shaved including a body wash and comb
- Products to shave the area like razors or electric shavers
- Products to pamper the skin afterwards including a moisturizer
Prepare Your Skin
The skin must be clean and the hair must be free of any impurities and oil to remove a happy trail. For this,
- Shave your happy trail in the shower
- Take a soap or gentle body wash and lather it on the abdomen
- Rinse it nicely to get clean and fresh skin with soft abdominal hair
- Comb the desired area
Shave Your Happy Trail
Get your shaving razor, or preferably an electric trimmer as it works more gently and precisely. Then,
- Draw an imaginary line on both sides of the abdominal hair to get a nice and straight happy trail and ensure that the hair you leave behind is in a thin line
- Shave the hair on the sides of the happy trail
- You might want to trim the hair beforehand to make shaving easier
- Now, get a precision electric shaver and remove the all hair beyond your imaginary line
Do Aftercare
After you get the vertical line of your choice, you should,
- Wash the abdomen to rinse the removed abdominal hair off
- Check if any patch of hair is left behind and remove it
- Take a shower
- Apply a calming body lotion in the treatment area
Part 4: What Causes a Female Happy Trail?
Although a happy trail is mostly related to men, women developing a happy trail are not abnormal as well. The bodies of the women have hair follicles in the whole skin other than palms. Each part that has follicles can grow hair.
It is just that that hair appears as a peach fuzz in some women and as thick hair in others. Therefore, let us discuss the reasons for this variation.
Genetics
The strength of hair follicles and the level of hormones is mainly defined by genetics. Therefore, women with strong hair follicles in the abdominal region are likely to grow a happy trail.
Conditions Causing Fluctuations in Hormonal Levels
Hair follicles are stimulated by steroidal hormones including testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. Normally, the level of testosterone in women is low and estrogen is high making you have thin hair.
If the level of testosterone is increased and estrogen is reduced, the hormonal imbalance causes a happy trail. It is common in conditions including,
- PCOS
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Adrenal disorders
- Intake of drugs that alter hormonal level
Part 5: How to Get Rid of a Happy Trail?
Men want to get a perfect and thin happy trail while women want to get rid of it completely. So, let us discuss 4 foolproof methods to get rid of a happy trail.
Shaving:
Happy trail is thin and removing it with a shaving razor is a piece of cake. To remove a happy trail with a shaving razor, here are the steps you can follow,
- Prepare your skin well by washing the area well with a mild soap
- Apply a lubricating agent to the abdomen which might be a lotion
- Take a shaving razor and shave in the direction of the hair growth
- Rinse the area
- Apply a moisturizer
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
● Effortless method to remove happy trail ● Can be done when you take a bath ● Works well for thin hair and normal skin |
● Might irritate sensitive skin ● Can cause micro tears in the skin ● Transient as hair comes back in a short time |
Waxing:
Hair in the happy trail is in two opposite directions on both sides of the midline of the abdomen making waxing challenging. However, the results of waxing are worth it. Here is how to make waxing treasure line convenient,
- Comb the hair in a way that all hair is in one direction, likely downwards
- Trim the hair to the length of ½ to ¼ of an inch
- Apply a thick layer of wax in the direction of the hair
- Pull the hair in the opposite direction
- Apply a moisturizer to calm the skin
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
● The treasure line appears smoother and softer ● Hair takes around 2 weeks to be visible again ● The hair grow finer and slower |
● Can be painful on a sensitive area as that of stomach ● Hair can be too short or too long to wax ● Might cause a skin reaction |
Laser Hair Removal:
Whether you want to get rid of the whole snail trail as a woman or desire a well-defined and thin happy trail as a man, laser hair removal is a semi-permanent option to consider. For Laser hair removal, all you have to do is to take good care of your skin before and after the skin and the rest is your laser expert’s job.
Some pre-care and post-care tips include,
- Protecting the skin from the sun
- Exfoliating regularly but not immediately before or after the laser hair removal session
- Keeping skin well hydrated and moisturised
- Avoiding steam, swimming pool water, and hot shower for around 2 days
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
● Results lasting for many years ● No worry about consistent hair regrowth ● Smooth and radiant skin ● Works well for sensitive skin |
● Cost ● Stinging of the skin during the session ● Need of follow-ups |
IPL Hair Removal:
Laser hair removal is great. But, it is inconvenient as well. So, IPL hair removal is an option to get rid of the happy trail for people who prefer convenience and privacy. Here is how you can do your IPL hair removal while maintaining your comfort and privacy,
- Select an IPL hair removal device with a high energy output, minimal-discomfort, and fast speed treatment sessions (one example of such IPL hair removal machines is Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device)
- Trim the hair with help of the safety razor given in the packed
- Plug the IPL device and keep it in a proper contact with your skin
- Turn the thumb-free treatment mode
- Swipe the device on your stomach hair
- Do aftercare
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
● Comfortable, convenient, and private ● Great for sensitive skin ● Results as close to as laser hair removal ● Economical in comparison to laser |
● Might not be suitable for light hair |
Conclusion
The thin line of hair on the lower abdomen AKA happy trail is an attractive feature in men when perfectly shaved but undesirable in women. Thus, both have to remove the hair on their stomachs to be more confident and well-groomed. Shaving is the top choice for trimming happy trails but the temporary results and blunt hair regrowth is a turn-off point for many.
Similarly, waxing makes hair finer but it is painful. This makes laser hair removal and IPL prefered choices for getting rid of happy trails as they are long lasting and nearly painless. Also, remember to consider your budget while going for any of the 2 options.
Thus, the choice of the best method for happy trail removal depends upon your skin sensitivity, pain tolerance, timeline of results, and your budget.
