All athletes understand the amount of prep, and pain, that goes into elite performance. For gymnasts, this means hours of physical training that pushes the body and mind to their limits, restrictive dieting, inevitable injuries, and even body-hair removal. Keep reading to see why and how gymnasts remove body hair, as well as our recommendation for the best hair-removal solution.
Do Gymnasts Need To Remove Body Hair?
The Olympics doesn’t have an explicit mandate against body hair on gymnasts, but its rulebook does say that gymnasts must be “well-groomed.” While smooth skin reportedly aids performance in many sports (e.g., swimming, running, and even MMA), comfort and aesthetics are probably the main benefits in gymnastics. The friction caused by body hair can chafe and lead to ingrown hairs.
Gymnastics leotards don’t leave much to the imagination. In ancient Greece, the athletes wore even less, nothing in fact. The word gymnastics itself etymologically means “to train naked,” from the Greek gymnazein. Removing body hair keeps thing tidy and even reveals muscle definition.
How Effective Are Waxing and Shaving?
There are several methods for removing unwanted hair. The two most popular are waxing and shaving. Waxing is the process of removing hair by the root through the application of a sticky substance (such as wax) that’s then ripped from the skin. It’s highly effective, with results lasting 5 to 6 weeks, but also highly painful.
Shaving with a razor and shaving cream, on the other hand, only cuts hair at the tip of the follicle, giving the appearance of hairless, smooth skin for no more than 3 or 4 days. It helps to have good technique, but even with quality tools and a steady hand, cuts, razor burn, and ingrown hairs are all risks. Not to mention the accumulated cost of razor blades, which seem only to be getting more expensive every year.
For long-lasting hair removal, there are other options.
What About Laser and Ulike IPL Hair Removal?
In 1997, the United States FDA approved the cosmetic use of pulses of light to destroy hair follicles, called laser hair removal. Since then, laser technology has become more efficient and more affordable, and it’s considered one of the best methods for long-term hair removal. However, while the price since its inception has dropped, it’s still an expensive option, costing on average nearly $400.[1] And laser hair removal isn’t without its own risks, including irritation, redness, and temporary skin discoloration.
Finally, there’s intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal. Sometimes confused with laser hair removal, IPL devices emit a broad wavelength of light that target and destroy the cells responsible for hair growth, reducing the growth cycle. IPL’s offer virtually no risk of irritation, redness, or skin discoloration.
As a leader in at-home hair removal, Ulike has been innovating IPL technology for over a decade. The latest Air 10 model features Sapphire-Ice Cooling, which makes treatments nearly painless by cooling the point of contact. Results start to show in as little as 2 weeks. More significantly, Air 10 can even treat coarse, thick hair.
As with any IPL device on the market, you’ll want to make sure your hair and skin profile are suitable for the treatment. IPL is not recommended for use on melanin-rich dark skin or light-colored hair because its effectiveness depends on the ratio of melanin in the skin and hair.
Final Thoughts
There are many aspects of gymnastic training and competition that are painful, hair removal doesn’t need to be one of them. For gymnasts who want to perform at the top of their game and are seeking smooth, comfortable skin, Ulike’s Air 10 IPL Device is the ultimate choice.
