Are Middle-Aged Men’s Shorts Uncomfortable? A Reporter in His 40s Explores Medical Hair Removal for “Nose and Ear Hair” and Hair-Reduction Methods to Avoid a Completely Smooth Look

Is Shin Hair Unpleasant? The Middle-Aged Man’s Crisis

With summer in full swing, Japan is reeling from the “middle-aged men’s shorts issue.” The “Tokyo Cool Biz” energy-saving initiative launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government allows employees to wear shorts to work, sparking a disheartening debate over whether “seeing middle-aged men’s leg hair is unpleasant”—and putting “middle-aged men’s leg hair” in the crosshairs.  

Going forward, middle-aged men may find themselves forced to hide their leg hair while also taking care of other areas considered “unwanted hair”……  

Perhaps in response to this trend, Shonan Beauty Clinic will launch “medical hair removal for nose and ear hair” starting in June ’26.Will this service be a savior for middle-aged men struggling with unwanted hair? A male reporter in his mid-40s reports on his experience with “medical hair removal for nose and ear hair” at Shonan Beauty Clinic, as well as the latest trends in men’s hair removal.

Common Sense for Young People? The Latest in Men’s Hair Removal

For this report on the current state of men’s hair removal, we spoke with Dr. Kanako Misono, Deputy Director of Shonan Beauty Clinic’s Shinjuku Main Hospital.

“The number of men getting hair removal is increasing, and at our clinic as well, we’re seeing more male clients opting for medical hair removal—starting with beards and extending to the entire body.”  

In the past, most men—not just in the realm of beauty—didn’t use sunscreen or skincare products, but now, especially among younger men, it has become the norm.”  

As this becomes the norm, I feel that resistance to cosmetic medicine is diminishing year by year. Additionally, with the growth of social media, there are more opportunities to post photos of oneself, and I sense that people are becoming more aware of being watched,” (Dr. Misono, same below)

Indeed, there’s even a sense that skincare among younger people has already become commonplace, and given that more middle-aged and older adults are using sun umbrellas, it seems that care for one’s appearance—including the skin and visible body hair—is more prevalent than ever before. It feels like it’s only a matter of time before this is treated as a matter of etiquette.

That being the case, for middle-aged men whose bodily functions are declining, it stands to reason that nose and ear hair—which seem to grow at an abnormal rate as one ages—should also be a focus of grooming.

“Even just one or two stray hairs in the ears or nose can detract from a sense of cleanliness. Since these are areas that are hard for people to notice on their own, I think medical hair removal can help eliminate that oversight.”  

“While this is primarily for cosmetic purposes, taking proper care of areas that are often neglected can boost self-confidence and provide other internal benefits as well.”  

With that in mind, I decided to try medical hair removal for my nose and ear hair to boost my confidence through my appearance and refine my image as a man.

This medical hair removal uses laser treatment to damage the hair follicles with heat, preventing hair regrowth. By undergoing multiple sessions in sync with the hair growth cycle (moushuki) , permanent hair removal is said to be possible. Results vary by individual, and depending on hair density and the treatment area, some cases may require 10 or more sessions to achieve satisfactory results.

Snap! The Reality of Nose Hair Removal

First, I had a skin consultation with a doctor to check if I was a suitable candidate for medical hair removal. After that, I received an explanation of the procedure and filled out the necessary paperwork, and then it was finally time for the treatment.

I was led to a private room, lay down on the bed, and the procedure began. The treatment area is limited to about 1 cm from the entrance of the nose; it doesn’t remove all the nose hair, including the hair deep inside—only the visible portion is treated.

Just when you think they’ll start with the laser right away, they begin by shaving the nose hairs. They use a special shaver to trim the hairs in the treatment area. Then, they apply the laser three times on each side; each time, you’ll hear a “Snap!” sound and feel a sharp, electric-like tingle. You’ll get used to it, but it’s a bit of a surprise at first.

Next up were my ears. Here, too, they shaved the hair before applying the laser. Unlike the nose, there was virtually no pain at all, and the entire procedure—nose and ears combined—took about 10 minutes.

After the procedure, there’s a slight burnt smell lingering inside my nose, but it doesn’t affect my daily life at all—including eating. At this rate, I should have no trouble making the remaining two appointments.

I feel much more at ease knowing I won’t have to deal with the annoyance of occasionally bushy, itchy nose hairs, or the ear hairs that would somehow grow back one or two at a time, forcing me to struggle with a mirror to pluck them out.

Avoiding the “Smooth as a Baby’s Bottom” Look! Hair Reduction Methods for Adults

After experiencing nose and ear hair removal, this reporter has suddenly become much more enthusiastic about unwanted hair care. So, I asked Dr. Misono again about what kind of hair removal methods other men use.

“While some people opt for full-body hair removal, the most common area is the beard.”  

It depends on the client’s personality, but while some have their entire beard removed, many others just have the cheek area treated to shape it. Removing the entire beard can sometimes make a person look too youthful, and some feel they look more dignified with a bit of stubble, so we design the beard to suit each individual.”  

In addition, there’s a treatment for eyebrows where we remove the surrounding hair to shape them. I think many men aren’t in the habit of grooming their eyebrows, but with hair removal, you can achieve a neat shape without having to maintain it yourself. I get the impression that many business executives, who frequently meet with people, incorporate aesthetic medical treatments—including medical hair removal—into their grooming routines.”

Maintaining one’s appearance isn’t limited to clothing anymore; it now seems to encompass all body hair—from the hair on one’s head to eyebrows, beards, nose hair, and even ear hair.

Does this mean the same applies to the leg hair at the center of the “middle-aged men wearing shorts to work” controversy? Prefacing his remarks with, “I’m not familiar with the details of the debate…,” Dr. Misono said the following:

“Personally, I think people should just dress however they like. If there are people who are self-conscious about being seen and can’t bring themselves to wear shorts, medical hair removal for their leg hair can help them reach a state where they won’t feel embarrassed even if someone sees them.”  

If you find it embarrassing to remove all the hair and go completely smooth, you can also reduce the amount of leg hair or make the hairs finer so they’re less noticeable. For those who are hesitant about going completely smooth, I recommend treatments that reduce the volume of hair.”

Medical hair removal and unwanted hair care are becoming increasingly popular, especially among people in their 20s and 30s. While these young people will become middle-aged adults in 10 or 20 years, by that time, unwanted hair care may well have become a standard part of etiquette.

As Dr. Misono says, “In an era where people live to 100, those in their 40s and 50s are still considered young.” It seems we middle-aged and older adults are reaching a point where we must update our mindset regarding unwanted hair care to keep up with what will become the “norm” for the “young people” of the future.Perhaps the “shorts-wearing middle-aged man” is a messenger of summer who has come from the near future to remind us of this.