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Life

13th Oct 2012

Oh So Smooth: Study Shows Women Prefer Hairless Men

Research has revealed that women aren't so keen on a fuzzy chest but as with many things, it has something to do with that time of the month...

Rebecca McKnight

According to a new study, the majority of women prefer a smooth Ryan Gosling chest to a hairy Steve Carell chest.

The research, by the Archives of Sexual Behaviour, found that 80 per cent of the 350 women asked picked a hairless chest.

Ryan’s hairless chest is one of the many things we like about him.

Speaking about the findings of his study, Biology Professor Pavol Prokop explained that it could have something to do with parasites.

 “According to the evolutionary view, hairless men should be preferred. Particularly in areas (or cultures) with big parasite threat, which means close to the equator, where parasite richness is highest,” The Sun newspaper reports.

While it’s not exactly why we would pick Ryan over Steve, it does make sense in a disgusting kind of way.

Steve Carell might be funny but women aren’t digging the hairy chest look.

In order for the study to be as balanced as possible, women were shown pictures of various men from the neck down so that their decision wasn’t influenced by what the man looked like.

Past studies have shown that women in Africa quite like a bit of fuzz while those in China, New Zealand and California also opted for the clean-shaven look.

But it’s not just where you’re from that affects your preference. Apparently during the more fertile stages of your menstrual cycle, you want something a little smoother. Suits us!