Paris 2024 is the biggest sports event ever to be hosted and organised in France. There are a few sports that we can see in the Olympics 2024 for the first time like marathon relay and breakdance. Whether a sport is new or recurring in the history of summer Olympics, there is a trend of removing body hair among athletes because they believe that hair removal can impact their performance.
Therefore, in this article, we have talked about why Olympic athletes opt for hair removal. Does hair removal has anything to do with their performance or is it just to show off muscles to the audience?
Is Hair Removal Practised In Sports?
Yes, they practise hair removal in all the sports of all levels including Olympics and this has been a trend for several decades. Athletes, especially the female ones, know that they will be seen closely on TV, so they would want to look in their best appearances on TV. For that, hair removal is an essential grooming idea.
Take any example of sports like Rhythmic Gymnastics, Volleyball, or Archery, where you will find freshly shaved athletes. The same trend of hair removal in athletes of almost all sports is followed in Paris 2024.
What Are The Reasons & Benefits Of Hair Removal In Professional Sports?
Shaved Bodies Can Keep Mind Clean Too
When we have our body shaved, it looks clean and this cleanliness also leaves a very peaceful and calming impact on our mind. A hairy body would look very messy especially when sweating, and this can subconsciously cause an irritating feeling in the mind. That’s why athletes prefer shaved bodies to achieve a better peace of mind.
Shaved Body Parts Help Better First Aid
It’s easy to get injured in sports including Olympics and getting first aid would be much easier if the injured part is shaved. In case the injured athlete needs stitches or the wound needs to be cleaned properly, the hair-free body part will help the medical staff treat the wound better. Also, the ointments will absorb faster and better on hair-free skin.
Athletes in games like cycling and running sports easily crash and that hurts very badly. In such cases, applying bandage tapes is very easy and a lot more comfortable if the body part is shaved.
Shaving Reduces Drag
We can find several theories where they have proven that a hair-free body can reduce air drag and help an athlete run faster and cut air easily but it won’t make much difference in the performance.
But a shaved body will give a better feel of air and this can help an athlete stay more alert during their game. Sometimes if you have long hair on a body part (excluding the scalp hair), then running or cycling at a fast speed can give a tingling feeling because the hair would swing wildly, which can be distracting.
Hair-free Skin Shows Off Muscles Better
The main idea behind shaving is better grooming and appearance overall and this also applies to athletes. Even athletes would want to look best and sexy in front of such a huge audience and other athletes at an international level. Shaving can reveal muscles much better. Just like any celebrity, athletes shave their bodies, especially those parts that have the most beautiful muscle cuts like calves, arm muscles, and abs. Some athletes, especially males have a splendid jawline and shaving would show it in its best shape.
No Pulling With Compression Gear
Athletes who need to wear skin-tight clothing must shave their bodies on priority because otherwise the clothing would pull so much hair and it will be problematic for them.
Which Hair Removal Methods Are Popular Among Athletes?
Hair Removal Creams
Depilatory creams are the most common ones because they are very safe to use. There is no risk of cuts and nicks because even the most minute cut or nick can be the reason for an athlete’s failure in their game. Depilatory creams work very fast and offer nearly painless hair removal right from the top layer of the skin.
Shaving
Shaving is okay if the athlete has fine and sparse hair such as women. It can give hair-free skin quickly and it’s very easy to carry a shaving kit around the stadium too.
Epilation
Epilators are very common in females to remove their facial hair and get the most smooth and refreshing touch. It can be a little painful but Olympic athletes have a very high pain tolerance level than normal people. Epilators are very easy to carry and they are completely harmless so they will easily pass the stadium’s security checkpoints.
Waxing Strips
Waxing is another common hair removal technique that Olympic athletes prefer because it can give them hair-free skin for many days. They don’t have to worry about hair removal a night before their match and they can focus more on their training and practice. Waxing strips are easy to carry and the pain level is within the tolerance level. Both male and female athletes prefer waxing strips.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is not possible on a short notice but some athletes start preparing themselves with laser hair removal 15 weeks before flying to their destination. Athletes complete their laser hair removal course before their trip and this can leave them worry free from hair removal on the spot.
Why Is Ulike IPL Getting So Popular Among Professional Sports Persons?
If athletes want a combined benefit of long-lasting hair removal and a pocket-friendly option, then IPL treatment such as Ulike Air 10 is the most preferred choice for them. Ulike IPL is a newly emerging trend among sports persons lately because it’s nearly painless and it can give up to a year or more of hair-free skin. You just have to complete a treatment of about 6 to 12 sessions and each session should barely take 10 to 15 minutes to treat large body parts. It’s similar to laser treatment but comes with some added benefits like:
- It’s a nearly painless hair removal option.
- The Ulike Air 10 IPL device is very compact and mobile that you can carry it in your backpacks.
- You can get more than 1 year of hair-free skin once you complete the treatment.
- You don’t have to waste much time in the treatment. Just 10 to 15 minutes per session and about 2 sessions per week.
- You can do the treatment any time as you see fit in your schedule. No need for commitment to a restricted time like we have to do in the salons.
Specially for sports persons, they can carry their IPL device in their backpacks and it will pass the stadium’s security. If they want, they can use it while on their stay at their sports tournament. If an athlete decides to do a laser treatment, they can go for Ulike IPL instead because this device will cost very less than laser treatment and they can do the treatment anywhere. No need to waste time in going to the salon and getting the treatment. Instead, athletes can invest this time to travel to salon in their training.
Conclusion
Hair removal is very common and an old practise in sports and almost every athlete does hair removal because it can impact their appearance in front of such a large audience. Also, we should not forget the benefits of hair removal in their performance that is why so many hair removal methods are getting popular among Olympics athletes. But nowadays, IPL devices are trending as well. If a sports person wants to opt for laser treatment, it’s better to go with IPL treatment instead. Furthermore, if an athlete has to choose the most promising and immediate hair removal method on the spot at short notice, then waxing strips and depilatory creams are the safest choices.
