Grooming: Reclaim 50 Hours in 2026

Shaving every single day is a grind. For Michael, a sales executive who’s always on the move, this daily commitment was a serious drain on his time, messing with his schedule and his feeling of being ready for the day. He started wondering if there was a smarter way to stay polished without the nonstop maintenance.

Every morning started the same for Michael: scraping a razor across his face. He was at it five, sometimes seven days a week, using a good multi-blade razor, pricey shaving cream, and aftershave balm to try and avoid irritation. It didn’t always work, and he’d still get nicks and razor burn, especially when he was in a hurry to catch a flight out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He figured the whole process took at least 10 minutes, and over a year that’s more than 60 hours he could’ve spent prepping for a presentation, having a real breakfast, or just sleeping in. “It wasn’t only the time that got to me,” Michael said. “It was feeling like I was always playing catch-up. I’d go through the whole routine, shave, shower, get dressed, and by lunch, the stubble was already back. It was like a losing battle trying to keep a smooth face.” A lot of guys feel this way. A 2024 survey in Men’s Health Magazine (check it out at Men’s Health Magazine) found that 72% of men think of shaving as a chore, and 45% get skin irritation at least weekly. Because hair grows back so fast, about 0.5 millimeters a day, says the American Academy of Dermatology Association (American Academy of Dermatology Association), that perfectly smooth shave just doesn’t last. It’s a frustrating cycle. With his job full of client meetings and public speaking, Michael had to look sharp all the time. That five o’clock shadow was an inconvenience that actually made him feel less confident. So he started looking for other options. He tried electric razors, thinking they’d be faster and less irritating, but while they saved a little time, the shave was never as close as a wet shave, and he still had to do it every day. He gave depilatory creams a shot too, but the chemical smell and the possibility of a bad skin reaction were total deal-breakers. “I had to find something that lasted longer and actually gave me my mornings back,” he said. The answer came from a coworker who casually mentioned he gets professional body hair removal. “I kind of laughed, I always figured that was for women, or maybe bodybuilders,” Michael admitted. “But my colleague swore by it. Said it saved a ton of time and looked way cleaner.” That got Michael’s attention. He started looking into pro hair removal, specifically facial waxing. Turns out waxing for men is gaining traction because guys want something that’s convenient and gives a sharp look. Shaving just cuts hair at the surface, but waxing pulls it out from the root, so you stay smooth for three to four weeks depending on your personal hair growth. For a busy guy like Michael, that longer period of smoothness is the whole point. Getting back 10 or 15 minutes every morning for weeks at a time is a huge win. That first appointment can be intimidating. Michael admitted he was nervous. “I had no idea what was going to happen. Was it going to hurt? Was my skin going to freak out?” These are totally normal questions. Good professional places are all about hygiene and making you comfortable. Their technicians use special hard wax that’s made to grab the hair, not your skin, which makes a big difference in the pain department. They also know what they’re doing to reduce irritation. They’ll prep your skin with cleansers and oils first, and then use soothing lotions afterward to cut down on redness. Michael’s first time was, as he put it, “surprisingly manageable.” He went for a full face wax on his cheeks, jawline, and neck. “Yeah, there was a quick sting, but it was over in a second. And the result was amazing. My skin was ridiculously smooth, and it stayed like that for days.” Any redness was gone in a few hours, and he even found he had fewer ingrown hairs than when he was shaving. Michael quickly fell into a new grooming rhythm. He started booking appointments every four weeks, and that one session replaced 20-25 mornings spent shaving. He did the math: he was now spending about an hour a month on hair removal instead of more than four. That’s almost three hours back in his pocket every month, adding up to over 35 hours a year. He was also looking consistently sharp without the daily hassle.

“The best part was the mental change,” Michael said. “I stopped waking up dreading the shave. I wasn’t worried about afternoon stubble anymore. I just felt more confident in meetings because I knew I looked put-together.” That kind of confidence boost is a common side effect of professional grooming. When you feel good about your appearance, it tends to carry over into other parts of your life. The reason it lasts so long is all about the hair growth cycle. Hair follicles have growth (anagen), transitional (catagen), and resting (telogen) phases. Shaving just lops off the top of the hair in the growth phase, but waxing yanks the whole thing out from the root, forcing the follicle to start over. For a lot of guys, consistent waxing over time can even make the hair grow back finer and more sparse, which makes future appointments even easier. Results definitely vary, but it’s something long-time clients often report. Michael also figured out how important aftercare is. His technician told him to use a gentle exfoliant to prevent ingrown hairs and a good moisturizer to keep his skin from drying out. “It’s not just the waxing,” he pointed out. “You have to take care of your skin after to keep it looking good and prevent problems.” This kind of proactive skin care is a smart move for any grooming routine. Dermatologists at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta (Emory University Hospital Dermatology) suggest using products with things like salicylic or glycolic acid to help keep pores from getting clogged, which is a big cause of ingrowns. For Michael, switching from daily shaving to monthly waxing was about getting his time back, but it was also a deliberate choice to be more efficient and always look his best. He realized that what he was spending on professional services was balanced out by no longer having to buy a constant supply of razor blades, shaving creams, and balms. The long-lasting results just felt like a better investment of his effort. If you’re a guy thinking about making this switch, it might be smart to test the waters first. Try a smaller area like your eyebrows or ears to see how your skin handles it before you go all-in on your face or back. You absolutely need to talk to a good technician about your skin type, how your hair grows, and any other concerns. People’s skin reacts differently, and a pro can give you advice that’s specific to you. Michael’s story is a good example of what a lot of guys are doing now: looking for grooming methods that are more efficient, work better, and are less of a pain than shaving. That old-school “shaving ritual” is changing, and for a lot of men, getting away from it means trying things that keep them smoother for longer and give them their time back. For many, the daily shave is an outdated habit, not a requirement. The shaving disadvantages, such as time consumption and skin irritation, are increasingly prompting men to explore alternatives.

For anyone who wants a really clean neckline and a sharp look that lasts, professional waxing is definitely worth considering.