“It just creates a less aerodynamic feel in the water. [Shaving] allows you to be able to feel the water a little bit better while you're at it.” Many swimmers will go as far as shaving their backs, or the insides of their feet, or maybe the palms of their hands.
We did it to swim faster. 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.
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).
It was stated that velocity on the all-out 200 yard swim was significantly faster after shaving but improvements in speed could have been a result of the subjects expecting to swim faster after shaving and thus exerting a greater effort.
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. The average female swimmer has probably shaved five times more than both you or I, making them what we believe to be shaving experts.
In fact, most professional swimmers remove all their body hair prior to a competition. This isn't all hearsay – research proves that removing body hair does actually reduce drag in the water. Removing body hair invigorates you.
Most competitive swimmers and other swimmers rely on tampons when it comes to managing their periods while swimming. And according to a recent Knix study, they're the second most popular period product in general.
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.
It is a proven fact that shaving the arms, legs, back, and pretty much any part of the body exposed to the water, reduces frictional drag, improves streamlining, increases the sensitivity of the nerve endings throughout the body, and heightens the swimmer's awareness and feel for the water.
“When you're growing you leg hair, it's creating more drag when you're in the water and you're not removing those dead skin cells constantly with the razor,” Roe said. “It just creates a less aerodynamic feel in the water.
The Effect of Chlorine on Skin
Too much exposure to chlorine dries out the skin and causes irritation and itchiness. Continuous exposure to chlorine over several years can result in premature aging and can affect the skin's health tremendously.
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.
Many athletes choose permanent hair removal with electrolysis. The trend of widespread body hair removal, from back to arm and leg hair to the pubic region—even going totally bare—is most common among swimmers, cyclists and triathletes.
Several research studies have proved that removing all body hair does reduce drag. The swimmers advanced further per stroke after hair-shaving, than they did before removing the hair.
The caloric burn and fast metabolism results from an intense cardio exercise such as swimming. The core muscles are continuously used during swimming, resulting in a stronger core. Logging hours in the pool equates to low body fat and defined abs. Powerful legs.
If you've been involved in swimming for any period of time, you know about the shaving tradition. This is where swimmer at big meets often shave virtually all available skin not covered by a bathing suit, with the exception of the eyebrows. Normally this includes arms, legs, torso, and sometimes even the head.
For females, puberty brings about an increase in the hormone estrogen. This increased estrogen is going to aid in laying down more fat and breaking down protein. Unlike males, development during puberty for females can initially have a deleterious effect on swim performance.
Swimmers are notorious for having broad shoulders and a rounded posture. The muscles in the shoulder and upper back are hypertrophied from repetitive motion. This additional muscle mass contributes to excessive curvature in the spine and a weak core exposes the lower back to more strain.
Swimmers Laser Hair Removal
There is limited pain in the case of laser hair removal and it can treat just about any part of the body. You will need to visit a trained professional to receive treatment, though, because it is essentially a laser burning away unwanted hair follicles at their roots.
You won't leave a bloody trail in the water
Water pressure can stop your flow temporarily while you swim, but if you laugh, cough, sneeze or move around, the pressure can change and a small amount of blood might come out. The good news is it probably won't be visible.
In rare circumstances, yes. For example, if your swimsuit doesn't have enough support, you can try wearing a bra underneath. If your swim shorts don't have any lining, in most circumstances, it would probably be better to wear boxers or briefs rather than going commando.
The bottom line: No, your period doesn't magically stop in the water, but water pressure can prevent your flow from coming out. It's still wise to use a tampon or menstrual cup to avoid leaks as you come out of the water.
Trimming or shaving your pubic hair, for instance, may increase your chances of contracting STIs like herpes, HPV, genital warts, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and even HIV, according to a recent study from the University of California at San Francisco.
Some Olympic swimmers do choose to wax or shave their body hair — for very good reasons. Waxing or shaving one's body before a swim meet can mentally prepare swimmers and according to some swimmers, help your performance by making you go faster in the water.