This post contains links to external purchases that may result in commissions on our behalf. Read more about how we monetize content here.

The Sunday Night Bathroom Dread

It’s Sunday night. You’re standing in the bathroom doorway, staring at the shower like it owes you money.

You know you need to shave. Your legs are getting prickly, the stubble on your thighs is catching on your clothes, and you’ve been putting this off since Thursday. But the thought of spending the next hour hunched over in the shower, going through the whole routine—exfoliating, lathering, careful strokes, rinsing the razor every three seconds, dealing with the inevitable nicks on your ankles—makes you want to just… not.

So you don’t. You tell yourself you’ll do it tomorrow. Maybe Tuesday.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing nobody talks about: that full wet shave routine? It’s overkill for regular maintenance. You’re treating a Tuesday problem with a Sunday solution.

What if I told you there’s a way to stay consistently smooth—like, actually smooth—in about 15 minutes, twice a week? No razor burn. No ingrown hairs. No spending half your evening in the bathroom questioning your life choices.

If you’re looking for a body grooming trimmer for men, quality body grooming trimmer is a solid choice.

The secret isn’t a better razor. It’s skipping the razor entirely for your regular maintenance.

Electric trimmers have come a long way. The right body trimmer with the right technique can keep you looking and feeling smooth without any of the downsides of constant wet shaving. And once you dial in your routine, you’ll wonder why you ever thought you needed a razor for everyday upkeep.

Why Trimming Beats Shaving for Regular Maintenance

Let’s be real about what wet shaving actually does to your skin.

Every time you drag a razor across your legs, you’re not just cutting hair. You’re scraping off the top layer of skin cells. That’s why your legs feel so impossibly soft right after—you’ve essentially exfoliated and removed hair simultaneously.

But that comes with costs.

Razor burn. Those red bumps that show up hours later, especially in sensitive areas. Your skin is literally irritated from having its protective layer scraped away.

I’d recommend checking out pre-trimming oil for this.

Ingrown hairs. When you cut hair below the skin surface, it sometimes curls back and grows into the skin instead of out of it. Painful, unsightly, and sometimes they get infected.

The 48-hour problem. You shave on Sunday, and by Tuesday you’re already prickly again. The hair grows back with a sharp, cut edge that feels like sandpaper against fabric. So you shave again. And the cycle continues.

Trimming works differently.

A good electric trimmer cuts hair just above the skin surface—close enough to look smooth and feel soft, but not so close that you’re damaging skin or creating sharp edges. The hair that grows back has a natural tapered end, not a blunt cut. It feels softer, even as it grows.

And because you’re not irritating your skin, you can trim more frequently without consequences. Twice a week becomes sustainable. You stay consistently maintained instead of cycling between “just shaved” and “desperately needs shaving.”

The math works out too:

A good exfoliating gloves can make a real difference here.

• Full wet shave: 45-60 minutes, once or twice a week, significant skin recovery needed
• Quick trim routine: 12-15 minutes, twice a week, zero recovery time

That’s potentially hours of your life back every month. Hours you could spend doing literally anything else.

The 2-Minute Prep That Makes Everything Easier

You don’t need a whole pre-shave ritual for trimming. But a tiny bit of prep makes a big difference in results.

Step one: Quick rinse. Hop in a warm shower for about 60 seconds. You’re not washing your hair or doing a full shower routine—just getting your skin warm and slightly damp. This softens the hair and makes it stand up straighter, which means cleaner cuts.

Step two: Towel off—but not completely. You want your skin dry enough that the trimmer glides smoothly, but you don’t need to be bone dry. A quick pat-down is fine. Some guys prefer to trim completely dry; others like slightly damp skin. Experiment and see what works for you.

That’s it. That’s the whole prep.

No exfoliating scrubs. No shaving cream. No waiting for products to soak in. Two minutes, tops.

You might want to grab adjustable guard attachments to help with this.

If you’re trimming in the morning before work, you can literally do this while your coffee is brewing. If you’re trimming at night, it’s barely an interruption to your routine.

Some guys like to apply a light dusting of body powder before trimming—it helps the trimmer glide and reduces any potential tugging. But honestly? For most people, the warm rinse and towel-off is plenty.

Trimmer Settings by Body Zone

Not all body parts are created equal. Your legs can handle a closer trim than your inner thighs. Your chest has different needs than your lower back. Using the same setting everywhere is a rookie mistake.

Here’s the breakdown:

Legs (Calves and Thighs)

This is where you can go shortest. Most quality body trimmers have adjustable guards or settings—for legs, you want the 1-2mm setting or equivalent. This gets you close enough to look smooth in shorts or skirts while still leaving enough length that regrowth feels soft, not stubbly.

Legs are forgiving. The skin is relatively flat, there’s good visibility, and the hair grows in fairly consistent directions. This is where you build confidence before tackling trickier areas.

If you’re looking for a aftershave balm sensitive skin, soothing aftershave balm is a solid choice.

Butt and Upper Thighs

Go slightly longer here—2-3mm. The skin in these areas is more sensitive, curves are trickier to navigate, and you can’t see what you’re doing as easily.

A slightly longer setting also means less risk of irritation in areas where skin touches skin. Trust me, you do not want razor burn between your cheeks. A trimmer at 3mm keeps things neat without any of that drama.

Chest and Stomach

This depends on your preference. Some guys like their chest completely smooth-looking, which means 1-2mm. Others prefer a slightly more natural look with visible but controlled hair, which is more like 3-4mm.

The area around your nipples needs extra care. Go slow, stretch the skin slightly, and don’t press hard. Most trimmer accidents happen here because people rush.

Arms and Underarms

Arms are personal preference—many guys don’t trim them at all. If you do, 3-4mm keeps things looking natural while reducing bulk.

Underarms are different. The hair there is coarser and grows in multiple directions. 2-3mm works well, but go slowly and make multiple passes from different angles.

Intimate Areas

3mm minimum. Seriously. The skin here is thin and sensitive, and going too short leads to itching and irritation that will make you regret everything.

Use a trimmer specifically designed for sensitive areas, or at least switch to a sensitive guard. A quality body groomer should come with multiple attachments for exactly this reason.

The Exact Order for Maximum Efficiency

Order matters more than you’d think. Doing things in the right sequence means less cleanup, less switching between settings, and a faster overall routine.

Here’s the optimal order:

1. Legs first.

Start with your calves, then move to your thighs. Legs are the largest surface area and the most straightforward to trim. Getting them done first means you’ve knocked out the biggest job while you’re still fresh and focused.

Work in long, smooth strokes going against the direction of hair growth. Don’t press hard—let the trimmer do the work. For most people, this takes about 5-6 minutes total.

A good cleaning brush for your trimmer can make a real difference here.

2. Butt and back of thighs.

Switch to your longer guard setting. This is the trickiest part because visibility is limited. Some guys use a handheld mirror; others just develop a feel for it over time.

Go slowly. Make overlapping passes. It’s better to miss a spot and catch it on the second pass than to nick yourself rushing.

3. Chest and stomach.

Adjust your guard based on your preference. Work from the center outward on your chest, and from top to bottom on your stomach. The area around your belly button needs careful attention—the skin puckers there and it’s easy to miss spots.

4. Touch-ups and detail work.

You might want to grab waterproof trimmer for shower use to help with this.

This is where you catch anything you missed and handle the more precise areas. Arms if you trim them, underarms, and any spots where the hair growth direction changes.

5. Cleanup.

Quick shower or rinse to remove loose hairs. A light moisturizer if you want, but it’s optional with trimming since you haven’t irritated your skin.

Following this order, most guys can complete their entire body in 12-15 minutes. Maybe 18-20 if you’re being extra thorough or it’s your first time dialing in the routine.

The Weekly Schedule That Keeps You Consistently Smooth

Here’s where the “trim and go” lifestyle really shines.

With wet shaving, most people can only shave 2-3 times per week maximum before their skin rebels. That means you’re always somewhere on the spectrum between “just shaved” and “getting stubbly.”

If you’re looking for a body powder for men chafing, anti-chafing body powder is a solid choice.

With trimming, you can maintain more frequently because there’s no skin recovery needed. Twice a week keeps you consistently smooth without ever reaching the “desperately needs attention” stage.

My recommended schedule:

• Sunday evening: Full trim routine (all zones, 15 minutes)
• Wednesday or Thursday: Maintenance trim (legs and visible areas only, 8-10 minutes)

That’s it. About 25 minutes per week total, and you never have to deal with the prickly mid-week feeling again.

Some guys prefer Monday/Friday instead, timing their maintenance around social plans or workouts. The specific days don’t matter—what matters is consistency. Pick two days that work for your schedule and stick to them.

If you have a special event—date night, beach day, whatever—you can always do a quick touch-up the day before. With trimming, there’s no penalty for going a little more frequently.

Adjusting for Hair Growth Speed

Everyone’s hair grows at different rates. If you find that twice weekly isn’t enough, bump it to three times. If twice weekly seems like overkill, you might be able to get away with every 4-5 days.

I’d recommend checking out replacement trimmer blades for this.

Pay attention to how you feel and look at the 3-day mark after trimming. If you’re still feeling smooth, your schedule is working. If you’re already getting scratchy, trim more frequently.

The beauty of this system is its flexibility. You’re not locked into a rigid routine that punishes you if you skip a day.

Trim and Go vs. The Shaving Ritual

Let’s be honest about what you’re giving up—and what you’re gaining.

What trimming won’t give you:

That baby-smooth, completely hairless feeling you get right after a wet shave. Trimming leaves hair at 1-3mm, which looks smooth but has a slight texture if you run your hand against the grain. For most situations—clothes, casual touch, normal viewing distance—it looks identical to shaved. But if someone’s running their hand up your leg, they’ll feel a subtle fuzz.

Some people care about this. Most don’t.

What trimming gives you:

• Zero razor burn, ever
• No ingrown hairs
• No nicks or cuts
• Consistent smoothness instead of the shaved-to-stubbly cycle
• Less time spent on maintenance
• No expensive razor cartridge replacements
• Ability to maintain more frequently without skin damage

For everyday maintenance, the trade-off is worth it for most people. You’re trading “perfect for 24 hours” for “really good all the time.”

That said, there’s nothing wrong with a hybrid approach. Keep your trimmer for regular maintenance, and break out the razor for special occasions when you want that ultra-smooth finish. Many guys find this gives them the best of both worlds—consistent upkeep without the daily commitment, plus the option to go extra smooth when it matters.

The key is having a reliable body trimmer that you actually enjoy using. If your trimmer is cheap, pulls hair, or takes forever to charge, you’ll dread using it just like you dreaded shaving. Invest in something decent and the whole routine becomes almost… pleasant? Weird but true.

Making the Switch

If you’re currently a devoted wet shaver, transitioning to a trim-focused routine takes about two weeks.

Week one: Do your normal shave, then wait 3-4 days until you’d normally shave again. Instead of reaching for the razor, use your trimmer on the shortest setting. You’ll notice the difference immediately—it’s faster, there’s no irritation, and while you’re not quite as smooth, you look just as good.

Week two: Trim twice, skipping the razor entirely. Pay attention to how your skin feels. Most people notice their skin actually improves—fewer bumps, less redness, no more razor burn recovery periods.

By week three, you’ll have your rhythm down. You’ll know which settings work for which body parts, how long your routine takes, and how frequently you need to maintain.

The hardest part is the mental shift. We’ve been told our whole lives that smooth = shaved. It takes a minute to accept that trimmed can look just as good with way less hassle.

But once you make that shift? You’ll wonder why you spent so many Sunday nights dreading the bathroom.

Your trimmer is waiting. Your skin will thank you. And those hours you’ll get back every month? They’re yours now.

If you’re ready to try this approach, grab a quality body groomer and give it two weeks. That’s all it takes to know if the trim-and-go lifestyle is for you.

Spoiler: it probably is.