For athletes, performance is everything. Every little factor matters if you want to stay at the top of your game, including your mental well-being and physical comfort. Hair removal is a staple in some sports but, even if not, it could still give you the edge.

The FDA classifies laser hair removal as a method of permanent hair reduction. This treatment gets rid of unwanted hair for the long term by targeting and deactivating hair follicles with a powerful beam of light.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about laser hair removal as an athlete, no matter the sport you compete in. We’ll go over the benefits, common treatment areas, and how to combine laser treatments with your rigorous training schedule.

Benefits of Laser Hair Removal in Sports

These are the benefits laser hair removal offers to athletes, from boosting your performance to making you more confident in your skin.

Confidence Boost

No matter what kind of athlete you are, having confidence in yourself and your skills is a major part of success. You can’t perform well if you’re worried about unwanted hair, whether you’re a soccer player who doesn’t want leg hair showing or a gymnast worried about body hair peeking through your leotard during a floor routine.

Comfort & Skin Health

Long-lasting hair reduction can increase your day-to-day comfort. You won’t have to worry about the constant hassle of shaving or waxing. You also won’t need to worry about the skin irritation that comes with those short-lasting hair removal methods. It can be a huge source of relief if you participate in sports where chafing is an issue.

Improved Performance 

In some sports, especially swimming and cycling, athletes find that hair removal helps reduce air or water drag, thereby boosting their speed. There may also be a placebo aspect. Many professionals attribute the positive impact hair removal can have on performance (especially for swimmers) to the simple fact that it makes the athletes believe they’ll perform better. In high-level sports, even this small mental push is important!

Enhanced Muscle Visibility

If you participate in bodybuilding or figure competitions, shaving is a must to show off your muscle definition. Even if you’re a different type of competitor, there’s nothing wrong with showing off your athletic physique! Many bodybuilders suffer through the hassle and skin irritation of shaving, but laser hair removal’s lasting results allow for easier prep and happier skin.

Long-Term Cost Saving

Both shaving and waxing are temporary solutions. Professional waxing can be particularly costly over a lifetime. Even shaving comes with continuous spending, from the ever-rising cost of razors to shaving creams and other accouterments. Laser hair removal provides long-lasting hair reduction, so it’s a cost-effective and worthwhile investment.

laser hair removal for athlets

How Do Athletes Remove Hair? 

Different athletes remove hair from different body parts based on their sport, uniforms, personal preferences, and the way their body grows hair.

Most athletes opt to shave before competitions, which unfortunately often results in skin irritation, chafing, or ingrown hairs. Some athletes, especially women, experiment with other hair removal options, including waxing, epilating, and more. For those who consistently remove hair, however, laser hair removal is the real game changer.

Here’s what you should knowdo about laser hair removal for different sports.

Swimmers

Historically, swimmers often only removed hair for competitions, while staying hairy the rest of the time. However, those who want top performance at all times should consider laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal for swimmers is generally a full-body affair. Any body hair can impede performance during competitions, so swimmers focus on all areas of their body that grow hair and aren’t covered by a swimsuit.

Cyclists

It’s practically tradition for cyclists to remove leg hair, so leg laser hair removal is a popular choice. It’ll help you look like a pro at all times while making you a little more aerodynamic. Some cyclists also opt for arm laser hair removal.

Bodybuilders and Figure Competitors

If you participate in bodybuilding or fitness/figure competitions, laser hair removal will simplify your life like no other treatment. Bodybuilders get laser hair removal as a way of emphasizing muscle definition.

Some male competitors focus on specific areas where hair is more likely to obscure muscle tone, like the back or chest. Female competitors tend to focus on the legs, arms, and bikini area, or anywhere else where they have unwanted hair. Since your physique is examined from head to toe, many bodybuilders opt for full-body laser hair removal.

Dancers, Gymnasts, and Other Athletes

Many athletes choose to get laser hair removal to feel more confident in skin-revealing costumes or uniforms. This is particularly true for women, but men may also want to get laser hair removal.

Whether you’re a soccer or basketball player running around in shorts or a diver wearing a swimsuit, having smooth skin at all times could help you feel your best as you train or compete.

Expected Results and Maintenance for Athletes

Before you start the process, you should understand how laser hair removal works and what kind of results you can expect as an athlete.

Laser isn’t a one-and-done treatment, although the number of sessions needed to see complete hair reduction varies from person to person and treatment area by treatment area. The legs and arms, for instance, respond faster than the face or bikini area. Other areas, like the chest, back, or underarms, are somewhere in the middle.

In general, we recommend starting with an initial series of six treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart and then re-evaluating. Some people might see their desired level of hair reduction within that time, while others may need more treatments.

Afterward, hormonal fluctuations can still lead to regrowth later in life, including hormonal changes caused by medications or steroids. We recommend coming in for the occasional touch-up as needed to maintain your results.

Laser Hair Removal Concerns for Athletes

Laser hair removal shouldn’t interfere with your training, but it still makes sense to worry. Your time as an athlete is precious! Here are a few of the common concerns athletes have, and what you should know about each one.

  • Downtime: For athletes, laser hair removal has minimal downtime. You’ll want to avoid intense exercise for 48 hours after your treatment. We recommend scheduling your laser treatments before a recovery day
  • Heat & sweating: You’ll also need a 2-day break from saunas, jacuzzis, hot yoga, and activities that lead to sweating.
  • Sun exposure: Avoid unprotected sun exposure for the entire duration of your laser hair removal treatments and 2-4 weeks before and after. If you participate in outdoor sports, use sunscreen diligently and wear UPF-rated clothing to protect the treatment area.

Side Effects and Safety: What Athletes Should Know

Laser hair removal has minimal side effects that usually disappear within hours of the treatment, or a few days at most. They include a bit of redness, swelling, or stinging.

Compared to shaving-induced razor burn or irritation from waxing, these normal side effects are incredibly mild.

In rare circumstances, laser hair removal can lead to adverse events such as burns. These adverse events are very uncommon and usually the result of seeing an inexperienced provider or not following safety instructions. For your safety, select your provider carefully, be honest about your medical history, and review all of the laser hair removal safety instructions.

Why Choose Laser Over Shaving or Waxing?

While shaving has been a go-to hair removal method for centuriesdecades, many athletes are coming around to the long-lasting effects of laser hair removal.

When comparing laser hair removal to shaving or waxing, the key benefit is the longevity of the results. Unlike waxing and shaving, which must be done daily or weekly, laser hair removal results last with a lot less maintenance. You can be smooth at all times, without having to plan before a meet!

Laser treatments are often much less irritating, as well. Shaving can lead to razor burn in the short term, which can be a problem right before a competition. Folliculitis and ingrown hairs often become an issue with repeat sessions of either waxing or shaving.

Laser, on the other hand, treats the follicle directly with minimal impact on the skin at the surface. While it can cause a little short-lasting irritation, you can schedule to ensure your skin is in great shape by the time you need to compete. Plus, as you clear away more hair with every laser treatment, skin that was previously prone to irritation or ingrown hair usually becomes more resilient.

Finally, laser can save you a lot of money over a lifetime. A single laser appointment often costs the same as a single waxing appointment, but even compared to a lifetime of shaving, you can still find significant savings.

Timing Treatments Around Training and Competitions

You’ll need to consider your training schedule when booking your laser appointments since you’ll have to wait 48 hours before working out after laser hair removal. It’s okay if you exercise a few hours before your laser appointment, so we recommend you schedule your treatments right before a planned recovery day.

It can take anywhere from a few months to over a year to achieve your maximum hair reduction results. Take that into account if you’re hoping to be done with your initial series of treatments before a specific competition or event.

If you’re currently competing, you may want to wait until the season is over before starting your laser hair removal journey. That said, keep in mind that the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll achieve dramatic hair reduction.

Top Athlete Laser Hair Removal at SEV 

Whether you’re diving into the water or flexing muscles up on the stage, being smooth and hair-free can give you the peace of mind you need to concentrate on your sport. Your best laser hair removal results come down to the technology your provider uses, and their skills and backgrounds.

At SEV, we’ve delivered impeccable smoothness to clients of all backgrounds. Men and women, well-known celebrities, and many athletes have walked through our doors and gone through their smooth skin transformation. We understand that every individual has their own unique needs when it comes to laser hair removal, whether it’s specific to your sport or your personal aesthetic goals.

Our dual-wavelength laser systems allow us to customize our treatments to guarantee each client’s safety while ensuring a high level of effectiveness. Whether you’re looking to treat your legs, underarms, bikini area, or full body, we’re ready to get you started on your journey to smoothness.