In a study done in , nine male swimmers were brought in to swim breaststroke, once shaved and once without. Measurements were taken each time on distance per stroke, heart rate, and post-swim blood lactate. In the end, it was concluded that shaving had little to no effect on any of these measured areas; however, it did reduce active drag on swimmers, making it easier for them to move through the water as they were able to maintain velocity for a longer time. Shaving also takes off a layer of dead skin from the body, which can make the nerves more reactive.
In the end, it is obvious that getting rid of your body hair makes a difference. While it may not have as significant an effect as to reduce your heart rate or distance per stroke, in a sport that is measured to the hundredth of a second, it is pretty important to be able to reduce your drag as much as possible.
Being able to reduce fatigue and perform at your peak is what taper is for, so being able to combine a nice taper with a full-body shave means that you will be able to swim at your peak ability come championships. I trimmed and shaved for a meet recently, and I was shocked at how much difference I felt in the water.
I have quite a lot of body hair though. Shaving removes dead skin from the surface of the swimmers body, bringing nerve endings closer to their skin, making it effectively more sensitive. A study carried out at Indiana University showed that shaved skin was significantly more sensitive than unshaved skin. Tony MacGuinness This. I remember reading one study that looked at grip strength with a non-shaved hand and then a shaved hand.
The shave made the grip strength stronger. Andrew Seaton, so swimmers should be shaving the palms of their hands, too? However, applying rubbing alcohol on the skin after shaving can help prevent these in cuts as well as refresh the skin [source: Kostich ].
Speaking of post-shave skin care, you can apply baby oil to help reduce any dry, burning sensation. If shaving tends to result in bumps on your skin, cortisone creme can help get rid of these [source: Springen ]. Even with trying to observe all these precautions, however, you might slip up and nick yourself. These open cuts can be prone to infection, especially if you plan on swimming in open water. This is why it's best to shave the night before rather than the day of the race.
Don't worry -- you'll still get that exhilarating feeling when you dive in the water. Many believe that hair grows back thicker and darker after shaving it off for the first time. However, experts maintain that this is a misconception. The new growth will feel stubbly simply because it's shorter [source: Gibson ]. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close.
Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Especially for you fellas, and especially for your back. Better yet, have a shave-down social, where groups of swimmers get together to collectively bleed all over hotel towels and have moments of panic when they think—just for a harried moment—that they might have shaved a corner of their nipple clean off.
Start with clippers. This is an absolute must for the guys. Do your first run with an electric clipper to clear the brush. Otherwise you will go through 7. Plan ahead. Have all the gear you will need ahead of time. Running around in an unfamiliar city at midnight the day before the big race looking for razors in a half—shaved panic is no way to be resting the night before the meet. Have plenty of shaving cream, razors, and a block of time reserved for the big shave. Start at the bottom.
Shave in the direction your body hair grows. Ingrown hairs suck. They can end up causing you serious discomfort over the next days and weeks as they struggle to grow out. Areas like your upper thighs, chest and your navel are particularly sensitive to this particular agony of shaving. Cutting against the grain will appear to give you a closer shave, but it is not worth it. Olympic Trials.
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.
Now consider this: Cordes is just one of more than swimmers here who will be dumping body hair in bulk over the next week. Men with beards. Women with leg hair.
An armada of arm pits. As they say in the furniture clearance sale business: everything must go. Let the slightly gross shedding begin. Pity the poor hotel drains that have to handle the spectacle. Here come these Lord of the Rings extras, preparing to turn local lodging into a mass body-scaping event.
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