You probably didn't know but removing hair can make professional swimmers up to 2% more aerodynamic! This is a considerable percentage that can mean a lot when it comes to saving time in a competition.
“Give your skin 30 minutes rest between shaving and going swimming,” says Carnevale. “Freshly shaved skin is vulnerable to the stinging effects of chlorine and salt water, as well as suntan lotions and sunscreens that contain alcohol. Skin is at its most sensitive immediately after shaving.
Shaving is the ritual swimmers perform before a big meet, removing all hair that cannot be covered by a swim cap or suit. (And, truth be told, a lot of the hidden hair will go as well.) The goal is to reduce drag (a small factor) and enhance the mental gain from a more streamlined sensation in the water (a big factor).
No, shaving your legs won't make you run faster, unfortunately. While athletes who participate in running and other sports may choose to shave their legs, it's unlikely to speed you up.
It has been said that shaving any part of the body exposed to water can improve a swimmer's performance. Shaving body hair is a ritual for most swimmers that is done before a big meet. The goal is to reduce drag and enhance performance both mentally and physically.
It has been proven that shaving the arms, legs, back and pretty much any other part of the body exposed to the water reduces frictional drag, improves streamline and heightens the swimmer's awareness and feel for the water (more on that in a second). It's also very common for cyclists and triathletes to shave.
Laser hair removal, however, is great for long-term hair removal in all areas, making it an ideal hair removal option for professional swimmers in particular. What's more, laser hair removal causes virtually no damage to the dermis, so even the most sensitive skin can be treated.
Footballers shave their legs to make tape removal less painful and smooth legs aid therapeutic massages so that the massage doesn't tug on hair. With performance perks like these it's no wonder sports stars prefer hairlessness.
Not shaving reduces skin-on-skin contact friction, which means when you do activities that involve arm movement, like running or walking, your skin is much less likely to get irritated by the friction. This might lead to fewer skin issues like rashes and ingrown hairs.
While we may have had this much hair in our earlier caveman days, modern humans sprout nowhere near this much body hair and, as such, it is not an effective tool for keeping us warm. Consequently, shaving it all off won't have a noticeable effect on our overall temperature.
The idea behind this was that our body hair—and the dead skin cells that accumulated from not shaving—would add an extra layer of "drag" (or resistance) in the water. Meaning, not only did we have to pull body weight through the pool, but also the weight of our body hair and dead skin.
Male swimmers may be asked to shave their entire bodies including their arms, arm pits, even their heads. Male swimmers should not feel uncomfortable with this practice. The body hair grows back quickly and rare is the occasion that anyone away from swimming even notices.
Wet hair thoroughly before swimming
Dry hair will soak up chlorine like a sponge, which is why you should thoroughly rinse and wet your hair with non-chlorinated water before diving in.
Blood lactate accumulation at a submaximal speed of 1.08 m/sec was significantly reduced by an average of 28% by shaving. Blood lactate accumulation at a maximal swimming speed of 1.30 m/sec was significantly reduced by an average of 23%.
The metabolism of a competitive swimmer is generally faster than the average person. The more calories an athlete burns, the more they need to take in. As you can imagine, grueling training sessions multiple times per day result in a very hungry swimmer.
Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.
Your armpit does not have an even skin surface. It's extremely tricky to maneuvre a sharp razor on that uneven surface, and more often than not, you will end up with a cut or two. The skin there is also extremely sensitive apart from being uneven, so a bloody mess isn't a possibility you can rule out.
"Chinese tradition had no demands in this respect," the Telegraph reports: "armpit or leg hair was just part of your body and nothing to be ashamed about." Body hair is considered completely natural and as a result, hair removal methods such as waxing and laser hair removal aren't very popular there.
Australia: Australian women are known for being beach babes, and what those beach babes do not want is unwanted hair. Removing their leg, underarm, and facial hair as well as hair in their bikini region with laser hair removal or waxing is not uncommon.
According to a recent poll, more than 33% of male respondents admitted to trimming the hair on their legs---15% of poll respondents even stated that they shave their legs completely! Reasons for leg shaving may vary, but these are the most common for men.
Most if not all, elite competitive swimmers shave body hair, including pubic, leg, chest, arm pit, etc.
Although you might be tempted to wash your hair every day, swimmers should aim to only wash their hair a couple of times a week. Washing your hair two to three times a week with a good quality shampoo and conditioner will help get rid of chemical buildup and keep your hair looking shiny and healthy.
Facial hair can be such a drag. Just ask swimmers who decide not to shave everything off for speed. Beards can slow your time, but maybe no longer.
Swimming pool chlorine is essential to kill bacteria, but it can do serious damage to your healthy hair if you're a frequent pool swimmer. Chlorine strips the natural oils (sebum) your body produces to protect your hair. In addition to irritating your skin and scalp, chlorine causes your hair to: Crack and split.