My(29F) Boyfriend’s(27M) Grooming Expectations and Check-Ins Feel Restrictive—How to Set Boundaries?

I’ve been dating my boyfriend for nine months, and overall, we have a good relationship. Recently, we made a big move together to try out the digital nomad lifestyle, and he’s been very supportive about me building a social life in this new place. He encourages me to meet people, suggests events I might enjoy, and even connects me with local activities like dance classes and group chats. It’s clear he genuinely wants me to feel settled and happy here.

There are a couple of things, though, that I’m starting to feel conflicted about. Since early in our relationship, he’s asked me to stay completely hairless—not just my legs and underarms, but even small facial hair and things like blackheads on my nose. He says it’s a way for me to show that I’m putting in effort toward something he finds attractive, but it feels like a lot to keep up with. I’m okay with regular grooming, but the frequency and the insistence on staying perfectly groomed all the time is beginning to feel like constant pressure, as if I can never just relax and be seen as I am.

On top of that, even though he’s supportive of my social life, he sometimes seems uneasy when I’m gone for too long. He’ll check my location occasionally and bring up wanting more time together if I’ve been out a lot in a row. For example, there was one time he felt frustrated that I didn’t text him to say I was going to sleep, even though I’d already told him I was heading home, which caught me off guard.

I’m someone who values my independence and alone time, so while I appreciate his care and efforts to make sure I’m happy, his need for frequent connection and tracking is starting to feel a bit restrictive. I’m wondering if anyone has advice on how to balance my need for space with his desire for closeness and reassurance, or how to approach setting boundaries in a way that respects both of our needs in this new lifestyle we’re trying together.

Any insights on managing these dynamics would be really helpful—thank you!

TL;DR: My 27M Bf and I ((29F) I recently moved to try the digital nomad lifestyle. He’s very supportive of my social life and encourages me to meet new people, but he also has specific grooming preferences, asking me to stay completely hairless and well-groomed (down to small facial hair and blackheads) as a way to show effort. Additionally, he checks my location occasionally and asks for updates, and sometimes gets uneasy if I’m out for a while. I value my independence and alone time, so I’m looking for advice on balancing his need for closeness and reassurance with my need for personal space and autonomy in our new lifestyle together. Any insights would be greatly appreciated—thank you!