/ 17 July 2007

Hairy situation for SA men

Most South African women prefer their men hairless, at least when it comes to body hair, according to a survey released on Tuesday by Dutch shaving product manufacturer Royal Philips Electronics.

The Philips Bodygroom Survey also found over half of the men who had taken part ”admitted to attempting to trim, shave or wax” their body hair.

Reasons given included hygiene, wanting to look more ”streamlined” and to impress women.

”A group of women were also interviewed, and we found out that only 12% of South African women are attracted to men with body hair. So the hairy men really stand no chance at all …” the manufacturer said.

The days of Hollywood actor Burt Reynolds’s tousled chest hair being the epitome of masculinity are gone.

”[Champion swimmer] Ryk Neethling is in — [TV celebrity] Ferdinand Rabie is out! Smooth is sexy, and until this reality changes our men are going to need a little help.”

According to the survey, 85% of South African men ”admitted to having a hairy body”. — Sapa