If Fina really goes through with suit rules briefs or Jammers for guys. Will swimmers be shaving their bodies again.
Where did shaving the body begin? I saw Jon Hendricks 1954 at the British Empire and commonwealth games do it. I also saw many cyclist doing the complete shave thing in 1954.
Later I saw a team that Jack Knelson coached shave all of their body including the head.
Former Member
I am fine with shaving as I feel like is sacrificing my hair to the gods of speed.What I don't like about it is having to wear my flannel pajamas for months so my wife will let me in bed.
Advantages to waxing/body sugaring:
Grows back softer, no coarse itchy stubble.
Takes longer to grow back (2-4 weeks), so you might even get more than one meet out of it.
Lots of internet recipes for water-soluble sugar based solutions should you decide to do it yourself at home.
Disadvantage:
Can be expensive if you get someone else to do it. Probably a good idea if you've never done it before.
Can be irritating shortly after being done, feels like prickly heat rash. (Drugstore kits come with a little vial of oil for soothing it.)
For some people, increased chance of ingrown hairs.
Being a hairy distance swimmer I never shaved until a few years ago. Even at 50 years old I believe shaving added an extra 100 to 150 yards for my hour swim. Then the new suits came out and it was great you didn't have to shave. In fact I never had to shave my legs because of the long suits. When I heard the new suit rules my biggest complaint was I will have to shave my legs.
