77 % of employers agree they tend to hire and promote more clean shaven men, 61 % women are more likely to kiss or marry a clean shaven man

The Clean shaven look is here to stay …According to the first of its kind survey on Urban Indian Men’s Shaving Habits and Perceptions, conducted by AC Neilsen and Gillette Mach 3 Turbo, the leader in men’s shaving products, 93 % men like to be clean shaven in India and 80% of men feel more handsome after shaving. Study also reveals that 99% of men wish their razor was gentle on skin and 79 % of Indian men say they would shave more frequently if their razor is gentle on skin. The top reasons for shaving more frequently emerge as looking well-groomed, maintaining good hygiene and looking younger.

The study was conducted across all top 8 metros in the country was an effort by the leading men’s grooming brand - Gillette Mach 3 Turbo to study and find out views of Indian men and women on shaving habits and their importance, current & desired style, celebrity associations with various looks and many more. The respondents (over 1000) include people from Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Patna. The survey also incorporates views from the top two stakeholders in a man’s life – Women & Employers.

According to Sumeet Narang, Marketing Manager of Gillette India "The clean shaven look has always been a preferred choice of men in India and across the world. It is a look that never goes out of fashion and now we have a study that supports that. As the study reiterates - men feel more confident after a shave which in turn helps them go out and be their best. Gillette Mach 3 has always encouraged the winning attitude and understands that looking good is of utmost importance to success – whether in their personal or professional lives. That is why we have extended this study to learn a little more about what the two most important stakeholders in a man’s life think – his woman and his boss."

• Men from Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata (98-100%) like to shave more than those from other towns
• Men from Chennai (64%) and Bangalore (69%) like shaving as it ‘Looks good’ more than other towns
• Men in Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad shave more frequently 1) to look younger (86%, 86%, 83%) 2) looking well-groomed in important to them (66%, 76%, 71%)
• More no of Men from Delhi (82%), Mumbai (72%) and Ahmedabad (79%) are clean shaven than other towns
• 95% of Women from Bangalore care about the razor men use
• Women in Chennai (97%) agree that men are more likely to be caught by bouncers if they are unshaven more than other towns
• 85% women from Bangalore agree that unshaven men are lazy more than most towns
• Majority of women in Chennai (94%) and Delhi (91%) are turned off by unshaven men
• 89% women form Chennai and 80% from Patna agree that although girls approve, parents reject a marriage proposal from an unshaven bridegroom
• Women from Patna (95%) agree that successful sportstars are shaven more than most other towns