The term chest hair is generally used to describe hair that grows on the anterior torso of human males. The hair is typically short (about 1 inch long) and may extend across both chest and abdomen in a variety of growth patterns. The slang term "happy trail" refers to hair growth between the navel and pubic region. Among males, chest hair is a common secondary sex characteristic, and the development of chest hair is consistent with Tanner Stage 5.

The occurrence of chest hair varies across racial categories. Men of Middle Eastern and Caucasian descent tend to have more chest hair, while men of American Indian, African, and Asian ancestry tend to have less. Exceptions and variations abound; for example, among Caucasian men, Mediterranean men are known for abundant chest hair while Scandinavian men tend to have much less.

In Western cultures, the fashionability of chest hair waxed and waned throughout the 20th century. Early on, it was seen as the pinnacle of masculinity; later, smooth skin became a popular way to show off a muscular chest or to suggest youthfulness. One exception remains in the gay community where in some quarters a hairy chest is considered as very masculine and attractive.

Celebrities known for their chest hair include Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery, Burt Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, and Tom Selleck.

See also

Androgen, Bear community, Hirsutism, Puberty, Virilization

External links

• Guide to hairy chested actors
• Lloyds of London chest hair insurance policy
• Chest hair in Chinese and Caucasian men