8 Best Hair Removal Creams (and Sprays) for Men

Not a fan of shaving?

Or simply just don’t have the time to do it every single day?

Then a great alternative to the morning routine is to use a hair removal cream.  But not just any type of hair removal cream; instead, you should get one designed specifically for men’s hair.

Why’s that?

Men naturally have much thicker and coarser hair than women.  Therefore, if you try to use a female-specific hair removal cream, the results will likely be less than desirable unless your hair, of course, tends to be a bit thinner.

To help out our fellow men, we spent countless hours researching the best hair removal creams currently available.

Here’s what we found out:

Best Removal Creams and Sprays For Men

1. Best For Sensitive Skin: Nad’s for Men Hair Removal Cream

Nad's for Men Hair Removal Cream - Painless Hair...

Competing head-to-head with Nair, Nad’s is an incredibly popular hair removal cream from the land down under.

Specially made for men’s coarse hair, this is one of the best hair removal creams for men to get the job done.

Relying on a mixture of Potassium Thioglycolate and Potassium Hydroxide, the application of this product is relatively straightforward.

You will want to cover your hair with an even thick area (don’t rub it in) and let it rest for about 4 minutes.

After the recommended amount of time, you will want to gently rub off a small portion to see if it removed the hair.

If so, you can then thoroughly wash it off from your skin.  Should you still have stubborn hairs that haven’t been removed, you can leave Nad’s on your skin for up to 10 minutes (any longer may cause chemical burns).

While this product is specially formulated for the chest, back, legs, and arms, several men have reported successful results when applying to their pubic region – be sure to test out with a patch test before completely covering your junk.

To further add to this compound from Nad’s, they do include a shea butter along with sweet almond oil (carrier oil) and cucumber fruit extract.  This combination of ingredients will work incredibly well to keep your skin hydrated and nourished – particularly well for men with sensitive skin.

Of course, for extra moisture, don’t forget to pick up a body lotion upon checkout as well.

Pros

  • Best for removing coarse hair from body + pubic region
  • Trusted by men for years
  • Works in less than 5 minutes

Cons

  • Unpleasant scent

2. Best For Body Hair: Nair Men Hair Removal Cream

Nair Hair Remover for Men Hair Remover Body Cream,...

The biggest name in the hair removal game for both men and women is, without a doubt going to be Nair.

Specially formulated to be tough on a man’s coarse and thick hair, this bottle of Nair Men can be used on several areas of your body, most notably being:

  • Back
  • Chest
  • Arms
  • Legs

The directions for the product are pretty straightforward and should be followed closely when using the product.  You will want to apply the cream before going in the shower and let it rest for a minute.

If you need help applying it to your back, you can either have your significant other do the deed, or use a lotion applicator on your back for complete coverage.

You mustn’t rub this into your skin (it’s not a lotion).  Instead, you will want to have it provide a coating on your hair as it will work to break down the shaft of the hair follicle.

After a minute of waiting, you will want to hop into the shower and then wait an additional two minutes (you can clean the rest of your body while you wait).

Initially, you will want to test out a small area to see if the hair begins to remove.  If so, you can start to wash off the cream; if not, you can leave it on a bit longer (don’t exceed their recommended 10-minute maximum time – any longer will likely result in a chemical burn).

Some men have reported that it may take a bit of trial and error before you nail down the correct times for application.

Also, if you were thinking about using this on your genitals, others have experimented with this hair removal cream and had success. Again, however, it’s very much a ‘your results may vary’ scenario.

If you want a hair removal cream that comes from a highly respected brand and should get the job done, then Nair Men is likely your best option on the market.

Pros

  • One of the largest offerings (13oz)
  • Great for fully body hair removal
  • Works while showering

Cons

  • May need additional applications

3. General Use: Keramene Body Hair Minimizer

Keramene Body Hair Remover

When removing body hair, be it from the chest or pubic region, it is imperative that a hair removal cream not only works effectively but safely as well.

During our research, we came across the Keramene Body Hair Minimizer cream.  Relying on a mixture of proven ingredients, including Apple Polyphenol, Palmitic Acid, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, and Hamamelis Virginiana (source), it will work to not only inhibit current, and future hair growth but also to hydrate and nourish your skin.

What stood out about this particular body hair remover above all others is the Nansome Delivery System.

This unique technology encapsulates the active ingredient within the product and then releases it deeper into the skin for effective and fast results.

Other features men loved about this hair removal cream include both the skin conditioning benefits, as it helps your skin look more youthful and better (mainly through the inclusion of both Vitamin E and Witch Hazel), but also that it will prevent the occurrence of irritating razor bumps when the hairs do eventually grow back in.

Pros

  • Nansome technology delivers effective results
  • Includes targeted ingredients
  • Prevents razor bumps

Cons

  • Expensive

What You Need To Know

If you are serious about getting some of your body hair removed and want to do it safely and effectively, then the Keramene Body Hair Minimizer is a great pick. Expect to see strong results in very little time.

4. Best For Face: Magic Razorless Cream Shave

Magic Razorless Cream Shave Regular Strength Light...

Specially formulated for coarse hair, this hair removal cream by Soft Sheen Carson will work to thoroughly remove any unwanted hair.

While the manufacturer specifies that this was made for coarse beards, there have been reports far and wide that this should work for just about any man regardless of their hair density.

Magic Razorless Cream Shave relies on the active ingredient, Calcium Hydroxide, to break down the hair follicle leading to complete removal.

While noticeably absent of Potassium Thioglycolate, this product will be best suited for men with sensitive skin.

Skin tone aside, this product, unlike many of the other products on this list, is going to be suitable for use on your face.

While you can experiment with other areas of your body, it may not be nearly as effective, especially where hairs are going to be considered coarser.

If you are looking for a hair removal cream for men that doesn’t come from one of the big-name brands, then Magic Razorless Cream Shave by Soft Sheen Carson is worth trying.

Pros

  • Great alternative to shaving
  • Works on sensitive skin
  • Extremely affordable

Cons

  • Not designed for body hair

5. All Natural: StopHair Hair Reducing Spray

100% Natural Hair Growth Inhibitor Permanent Hair...

Coming from the United Kingdom, this hair removal spray by StopHair is an all-natural compound that works to completely inhibit hair growth.

Relying on a mixture of aqua, Chelidonium majus (Celandine) Extract, Larrea divaricate (Chaparral) Extract, Glycerol, Olea europaea Extract, Almond Extract it’s backed by a 100% guarantee for an entire year.

While it’s not the cheapest hair removal method on our list, its no-frills bottle and highly touted reviews are by and far one of the most popular products among men everywhere.

What’s unique about this product is that unlike other hair removal methods reliant on Potassium Thioglycolate, this product does require daily application.

It simply recommends that you start with complete hair removal by shaving (or waxing) and then apply twice daily for five days.  After the initial five-day period, you will use it once daily and massage it into the area.

StopHair is an interesting method of hair removal and one worth considering if you are looking for all-natural options.

Pros

  • Relies on natural extracts
  • 1 year warranty
  • Smallest option is discrete

Cons

  • Expensive

6. Best For Pubic Region: Veet for Men Hair Removal Gel Creme

Veet for Men Hair Removal Gel Creme 200ml (1)...

While not sold within the USA, this product from Veet is specifically formulated for men’s hair.

Unlike the other Veet alternative listed above, this product will help remove more coarse and thicker hair follicles.

Relying on a combination of Potassium Thioglycolate and Calcium Hydroxide, this formula is incredibly potent. Therefore, it should be used on the less sensitive areas of your skin, including your chest, back, and legs.

Men who tried using this on their genitals received less than desirable results.

Remember, guys – always do a patch test first!!

Men who want to try this highly reviewed product should proceed with caution.  Being that this isn’t in English, you may be relying on Google Translate for the directions.

While we can’t speak a lick of Italian, we can tell that based on the packaging that this cream looks to work after 4 minutes and shouldn’t be left on for longer than 6 minutes.

hair removal time

If you want to go with a big name brand that some consider the best, this is a great pick.

Pros

  • Combo ingredients works well on coarse hair
  • Results in under 6 minutes

Cons

  • Can be a bit harder to find

What Happens When You Apply A Hair Removal Cream?

Potassium Thioglycolate is the active ingredient found within most hair removal products.  This organic compound, along with a thiol group and carboxylic acid, will chemically break down the structure of your hair.

How does this work exactly?

When applied to your hair, it will interrupt the disulfide bonds in keratin.  Once broken down, the hair follicle structure will transform into a jelly-like substance that you can easily wipe away.

Alternatives to Potassium Thioglycolate include Calcium Thioglycolate and Calcium Hydroxide.

Regarding the safety of Potassium Thioglycolate, the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Database rates this active ingredient a 2-3 out of 10 (source).

Patch Test Before Applying

Before liberally applying a hair removal cream, you will want to do a small patch test.  Patch tests are exactly what the name infers. Use just a small amount of the hair removal cream to see how your hair and skin react.

We recommend doing this on a flat surface such as your arm or leg.  Additionally, avoid areas that may come in contact with clothing or folds of your skin.  In the rare event that an allergic reaction occurs, it will be significantly less irritating.  A patch test should last between 24 and 48 hours.

Adam Williams

As the lead editor of Tools of Men, Adam loves men's grooming products. Particularly of interest is managing facial hair and perfecting the art of the modern man's skincare routine. His work has been featured or quoted in several publications, including New York Magazine, Vice, Sharpologist, MIC, Elite Daily, and more. When Adam isn't working, he enjoys spending time with his two little kids who keep him both on his toes and young at heart.

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