Beginners' Guide to Shaving Your Back with an Electric Hair Trimmer

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Remove unwanted back hair yourself with this easy tutorial

Co-authored by Melissa Jannes and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: March 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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Trimming Your Back Hair

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Aftercare

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Best Back Shavers

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Back Trimming Alternatives

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Shaving the Back of Your Head

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Tips

Back hair is perfectly normal for most men and even for some women. But some people don't like how their back hair looks or may want to shave it off for sports or modeling. If this is you, this article will take you step-by-step through how to run an electric hair trimmer on your own back (along with aftercare tips!). And for those wondering how to shave the back of your head, we'll have a tutorial on that, too!

How to Shave Your Own Back Hair

Take a hot shower to soften your back hair and exfoliate with a washcloth or loofah (if desired). Attach a guard to your electric trimmer and grip it firmly in your hand. Raise your arm up over and behind your shoulder and run the electric trimmer on your own back in upward strokes (against the grain).

Section 1 of 5:

How to Trim Your Own Back Hair

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1
Take a hot shower to soften your back hair. Back hair (like all body hair) tends to be more wiry and coarse than the hair on your head. A hot, steamy shower will soften and also remove any oils, dirt, and other grime that might make the hair more difficult to shave. Then, let your skin and hair dry completely before you pick up your electric trimmer.^{[1]
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- While you're showering, you may also want to exfoliate your back by scrubbing it with a washcloth, a loofah, or a soft bristle brush. Taking this extra step will help remove dead skin cells and create a smoother surface for electric trimmers to work on.^{[2]
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The mirrors in front of you will enable you to look into the mirrors behind you and see all of your back. This setup will help you see which areas you've already shaved and which ones have the most hair growth and need the most attention.^{[3]
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Reach over your shoulder and shave your upper back hair. Turn on your electric body trimmer (also called hair clippers), attach a guard, and grip it firmly in your right hand. Next, reach over your right shoulder and shave the part of your shoulder and upper back you can reach in slow, steady motions. Then pass the trimmers to your left hand and repeat the same steps on the other side of your upper back.^{[4]
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- Shave against the grain, meaning against the hair growth. Normally you wouldn't want to do this, but because you're using a guard, you're not breaking the surface of the skin.^{[5]
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- A guard is a detachable comb that clips onto the razor. It prevents the blades from directly contacting your skin and causing irritating razor burns and ingrown hairs.
- Be careful when shaving around sensitive spots like scars, moles, and acne. Avoid applying too much pressure to these areas so they don't become more irritated or bleed.
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Shave your mid to lower back by hooking your arm behind your torso. To trim your mid to lower back hair, hook one arm behind your back and run the electric trimmers (guard on) carefully over the hair you can reach in slow, steady downward passes (i.e., with the growth of the hair this time). Then switch to your other hand and do the same thing on the other side.^{[6]
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- Check how you're doing using the mirrors around you. If you miss any spots, you can always ask your partner or a trusted family member or friend to clean up the remaining hair.
- You can also purchase a body trimmer with a long handle and a lateral blade designed specifically for shaving back hair. See our list of the best body trimmers below!

Section 2 of 5:

Back Hair Aftercare

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Make sure to get all the loose hairs off your shoulders, neck, and back so they don't stick to your skin and cause itchiness or stick to your clothes later. If your electric trimmers are waterproof, you may also want rinse those off, as well.^{[7]
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Apply an aftershave balm everywhere you shaved your back. Aftershave balm moisturizes and soothes your skin, which is especially helpful if you accidentally nick or cut yourself.^{[8]
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Research source} That shouldn't happen if you put a guard on your electric trimmer, but irritation and bumps can still pop up even with the most sensitive shavers. It also makes your skin smell good and feel smoother to the touch – all great things when it comes to manscaping!
- Once again, you may find it easier if someone applies the aftershave to your back for you rather than contorting yourself to apply it on your own.
The frequency with which you shave your back hair comes down to personal preference. As a general rule, if you want to keep it short, make a point to trim it at every least 2-4 weeks.^{[9]
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Research source} If you want as close and smooth a shave as possible at all times, trim it weekly.

Section 3 of 5:

Best Electric Hair Trimmers for Back Hair

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Look for an electric body trimmer with angled blades and a guard. Body trimmers are for shaving the hair on your shoulders, back, chest, and other areas besides the face. They typically come with guards you can use to prevent the blades from pulling on your hair or breaking the surface of the skin. Some body trimmers also have blades positioned on the side of the tool and an extra-long handle to help you trim the hard-to-reach areas of your back more easily.^{[10]
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- Try these popular body trimmers that are also great for shaving your back without help!

Section 4 of 5:

Alternatives to Trimming Your Back Hair

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Hair removal cream Use a hair removal cream like Nair if you want to get rid of back hair at home without trimmers. Wash your back with soap and warm water first, then let your hair and skin dry. Next, apply a thick layer of hair removal cream to your back hairs and let it sit for the amount of time specified on the bottle's instructions. Finally, gently wipe off the cream with a damp washcloth or a spatula.
- Some redness and itching is normal after using a hair removal cream. But if it gets unbearable or continues for more than a few hours, see your doctor.
- Avoid applying hair removal cream to moles, scars, cuts, scrapes, or irritated or sunburned skin.
- You may want to stick to shaving with electric trimmers if you have sensitive skin. Hair removal creams contain harsh chemicals that can sometimes cause a bad reaction in some people.
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Laser hair removal Did you know you can use the power of laser beams to destroy hair follicles and delay hair growth on your back? The plus side of this alternative is after 2-6 treatments every 12-16 weeks, you should notice a significant decrease in hair growth that could last months or possibly years. The downside is it can cause redness and swelling, and you'll also have to avoid sunlight between treatments as much as possible.^{[11]
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Mayo Clinic
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- If you do get a laser treatment, be prepared to lose your hair gradually over days or weeks, not all at once. This means you'll be shedding a lot, so keep a lint roller handy!
- Reduce any redness and irritation immediately after your laser treatment by applying ice packs to your skin. Your doctor may also prescribe a steroid cream.
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Waxing Waxing can be a good option if your skin isn't sensitive and you like the idea of only going through hair removal every 4-6 weeks (or 3 weeks if your back hair grows super fast).^{[12]
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Research source} During a wax appointment, a licensed esthetician or barber will apply wax to your hair, let it dry, then lay a cloth over it. Then they'll quickly remove the cloth and (hopefully) take up the wax and the hair underneath along with it.^{[13]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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- Avoid a wax treatment if you have sensitive skin or if you've been sunburned recently. It can get pretty painful!
- Soothe your skin with cold packs and non-pore-clogging moisturizers. You should also avoid hot baths until your skin is completely recovered.
There's nothing wrong with asking for help trimming your back! It's better to get a helper than try to shave and miss some areas – or worse, nick yourself in the process. Choose someone you trust – like your significant other, a family member, or a really good friend – and let them trim the parts of your back and shoulders you can't reach.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with having back hair! Back hair is perfectly natural, especially for men. Unless you need to shave it because you're an athlete or a model, consider embracing this special part of you and letting your back hair grow with abandon.

Section 5 of 5:

How to Shave the Back of Your Head

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Shave the crown of your head to your desired length. The top of your head is the most important part to get right, so tackle it first by shaving in the opposite direction of whichever way your hair naturally grows.^{[14]
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Research source} In most cases, hair grows forward on the front and middle of the top of the head, so you will probably need to pass the trimmer from front to back. Attach a guard to your trimmer avoid shaving it too close or remove the guard completely if you want a buzz cut.
- For example, if you want to leave ¹⁄₈ in (0.32 cm) of length on your hair, use a number 1 guard. If you'd rather leave ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) of length, use a number 2 guard.^{[15]
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Unlike on the top of your head, the hair on the back of your head and neck tends to grow downward. To trim it against the grain, work your trimmer upward in steady, even strokes. Check your progress in a hand mirror that you hold up to a larger mirror, so it reflects the back of your head.^{[16]
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Wait to clean up the edges of your haircut until the end. At this point, the hair on the crown and back of your head should already be your desired length. From now on, it's all about getting your 'do to look as neat and sharp as possible.^{[17]
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Tips

Use a body trimmer instead of beard trimmers. Body trimmers come with more guards that protect your skin from coming in direct contact with the blades. They're safer to use for your back and other areas of your body besides your face.

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Only shave your back hair against the grain if you're using a guard. The guard will prevent the razor from nicking or cutting your skin, as well as from causing ingrown hairs.

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