Men’s Grooming: $115B Market Shift by 2028

A Statista report projecting the men’s grooming market to hit $115 billion by 2028 confirms what I see in my practice: men are making a serious grooming investment in their appearance. They’re looking for confidence, better hygiene, and are willing to dedicate real time for waxing or other routines. Let’s break down what that commitment of time and money actually means for getting smooth skin.

70% of Men Aged 18-34 Prioritize Body Hair Removal

That 2025 Euromonitor International survey reporting that over 70% of men between 18 and 34 remove body hair isn’t a surprise. It’s become a normalized part of modern masculinity. The old idea that only athletes or models cared about this is long gone. I’ve seen it firsthand, the type of guys coming in for professional services has broadened to include professionals from every field. This statistic shows that wanting smooth skin is now a mainstream expectation, driven as much by a better understanding of skin health as it is by aesthetics.

The Average Man Spends 2.5 Hours Weekly on Grooming

A Men’s Health analysis from early 2026, which surveyed 2,000 men, found that the average guy spends roughly 2.5 hours a week on his grooming routine. That covers everything. A big piece of that is often just managing body hair. Think about it: that 2.5 hours a week totals 130 hours annually. For men who rely on daily shaving or frequent trimming, that’s a massive drain on their personal time. This data shows a clear opportunity for efficiency. If a big chunk of your grooming time is spent on temporary fixes that need daily work, a longer-lasting method like professional body waxing offers a compelling way to reclaim your time. It’s a classic time-cost trade-off, and for a lot of my clients, the appeal of less daily maintenance is what wins them over.

Professional Waxing Reduces Daily Maintenance by 90%

Let’s do the math on daily shaving. Spending just 10 minutes a day on different body parts adds up to 70 minutes a week. A professional body wax, depending on the area, usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes, but the results last three to six weeks. That single appointment replaces anywhere from 210 to 420 minutes (that’s 3.5 to 7 hours) of you standing in your bathroom with a razor. This is a nearly 90% reduction in the weekly time for waxing and hair management. The mathematical difference is huge, freeing up hours you can put toward work, hobbies, or just relaxing. The value lies in both the smooth skin and all the recovered time.

Cost-Benefit: Professional vs. At-Home Over 12 Months

Now, for the financial side of this grooming investment. Lots of guys assume at-home hair removal is cheaper, but when you look at the annual costs, the story changes. Think about the recurring costs: quality razors, shaving cream, aftershave, maybe a trimmer. A guy shaving his chest and back regularly can easily spend $20-$30 a month on supplies, hitting $240-$360 annually. This figure excludes the extra costs of treating razor burn, ingrown hairs, or skin irritation with special creams or even a visit to a dermatologist. In contrast, professional waxing has a higher per-session cost but it’s far less frequent. A man getting his back and chest waxed every four to six weeks might spend somewhere between $400 and $700 a year, depending on his location. While that number appears higher, it buys superior results, fewer skin issues, and a lot more free time. It often eliminates the need for buying all those recurring at-home products, too. When you consider the peace of mind and the time saved, professional services can be surprisingly cost-effective. The initial sticker shock of a professional appointment often hides the slow, cumulative cost of at-home maintenance.

Challenging the “Just Shave It” Mentality

The outdated notion that men should just shave any unwanted hair still persists. This advice, however, overlooks a ton of practical and skin-related realities. Shaving, especially on big or hard-to-reach areas like the back, is just asking for nicks, cuts, and a patchy finish. It also guarantees quick, coarse regrowth, giving you a body “five o’clock shadow” within a day. Plus, the repetitive trauma from razor blades can cause chronic skin irritation, folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles), and painful ingrown hairs. Professional services offer a different approach entirely. We use techniques and products to remove hair from the root, which gives you smoother skin for weeks, not days. The regrowth is often finer over time, and the risk of ingrown hairs drops significantly when you follow the right pre- and post-care. Some might see professional services as an indulgence, but I think it’s a strategic choice for better skin health and convenience. Why suffer through daily discomfort for bad results when a more effective, longer-lasting solution is right there? It’s about applying effort intelligently. Deciding to invest time for waxing and money in professional grooming is a personal call, but the data shows a clear shift toward valuing efficiency, skin health, and lasting smoothness.