Your body hair protects your skin and helps regulate your internal temperature, but when it comes to swimming, it’s a literal drag. That’s why hair removal is a common practice among swimmers and recommended in many different sports to improve performance.
But shaving your body weekly — or even more often — is a pain. Other swimmer hair removal options are more convenient, including permanent laser hair removal. Here’s what to know about that particular process.
Why Swimmers Get Hair Removal
Hair removal has a few key benefits for swimmers; the primary one is reducing friction. With less hair on the body, swimmers become more hydrodynamic and experience less drag; they’re therefore better able to thrust forward through water. It also improves aerodynamics.
Swimmers experience both pressure drag and skin friction. Pressure drag happens from water resistance over the front of your head and water separation behind your body. This separation from your body causes a wake, which increases drag and slows you down.
To reduce separation, you must streamline your body as much as possible, and hair removal helps achieve that.
It also helps swimmers:
- Feel the water
- Quickly dress and undress
- Clean wounds more effectively
- Boost power
- Increase stroke distance
- Swim faster, ultimately
How Do Swimmers Remove Body Hair?
Shaving is the most popular hair removal method, but it has a few downsides, including the risks of skin irritation and infection. Athletes and swimmers are often exposed to treatment-resistant staph bacteria in common areas like locker rooms. Broken skin from cuts or razor burn can increase the risk of getting a staph infection.
Shaving is also time-consuming and temporary, so permanent hair removal, such as laser hair removal, is a more attractive method. Instead of shaving your entire body frequently, you can achieve the same effect and improve your performance with longer-lasting hair removal.
The best laser hair removal treatment depends on your skin and hair color. For instance, an Alexandrite laser is better for light hair and skin, while a diode or Nd:YAG laser is better for dark skin types.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?
The average cost of laser hair removal is $697, though it depends on the area you’re treating, the facility’s location, and the technician’s experience. For instance, larger areas, such as your back, may take longer to treat and cost more, while smaller areas, such as your underarms, may run less.
Laser hair removal is generally considered to be a cosmetic treatment and may not be covered by insurance or flexible or health spending accounts. However, most professional laser spas accept cash or credit cards, including medical credit cards, and may offer special discounts or financing plans.
Can You Swim After Laser Hair Removal?
Yes, swimming after laser hair removal is safe. Depending on the bodily area being treated, you may want to avoid the pool for 2–5 days immediately after a session. Most people don’t need to wait more than 24 hours, though, and dermatology experts say that you can return to regular activities after laser treatment as long as you avoid UV light and wear sunscreen.
It’s common to experience some redness, swelling, and tenderness, and swimming immediately after laser hair removal may irritate your skin. Your skin is already sensitive, so intense heat, exercise, and chemicals in the water might cause stinging or tenderness. Cold pool water, however, may feel soothing.
Before and After Laser Hair Removal
The first step in the treatment process is to consult with an experienced technician who does laser hair removal near you. Your technician will discuss the risks and benefits, the best laser for your skin, what to expect, and how to prepare.
Before a session, you’ll need to:
- Avoid waxing or shaving for six weeks prior
- Wear sunscreen for four to six weeks prior
- Avoid blood thinners, such as aspirin
- Shave or trim the area the day before your appointment
Aftercare is also important. To protect and soothe your skin after treatment:
- Apply cold compresses or ice packs
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Don’t use tanning beds
- Avoid sunless tanners
- Wear sunscreen
Up Your Swim Game With Laser Hair Removal in New York
Laser hair removal is a convenient way to enhance your swimming performance. While results vary by individual, you’ll likely see a difference after the first treatment, with as much as a 25% reduction in body hair.
Professional hair removal is essential to protect your skin with the right lasers and techniques. Laser by Monica has performed more than 70,000 skin treatments and offers body and bikini laser hair removal in Manhattan. Our goal is to personalize your treatment and create a natural result that looks and feels good.
Contact us to learn more about swimmer hair removal.