Body Hair - how much comes off?

[capetowncycle]

I enjoyed the feedback from the Poll Shaved or Unshaved? It seems that about half of the guys who have voted do shave their legs - I am one of those guys.

The question that has not been clearly answered is just how far up does one shave - I have seen guys who just shave their legs below their cycling shorts - being from a warm climate where one spends a lot of time outdoors in shorts and at the beach this would look totally ridiculous - so one is left with no other option but to keep going - but just how high does one go?

I have also seen a trend for guys to shave their chests and armpit hair - there is obviously no cycling benefit to be derived from this but it seems to be more fashionable - I guess the thought is that if I shave my legs I might as well just keep going - personally I think it looks great.

I would be interested to know just what you guys think about thi subject and how much of that body hair you do in fact take off.

 

[montare]

I classify myself as a body-hair-hater, always have, so I leverage my cycling addiction as a socially-acceptable excuse to shave. It's just a cruel twist of nature that I'm pretty hairy to start with.

I am curious to hear any good tricks you all might have to minimize the unfortunate side-effects of shaving -- ingrown hairs, razor burn, itchiness, etc. (For example if one waxes rather than shaves are there fewer troubles?)

 

[stone61cm]

I only shave below my shorts because of razor burn....those little red bumps are so unattractive and painful. I tried shaving my arms and chest area for awhile there, but the same thing happened.

I've heard of some of the pros getting the electric procedure that permanantly removes the hair....expensive but really cool.

 

[epheme]

Nair will usually minimize most of the side effects you mentioned...but the regrowth time is pretty fast. I alternate between shaving and using an epilator (sort of like waxing). This seems to keep ingrown hairs at a minimum (common with all methods which pluck out the hair).
If you have serious problems with ingrown hairs, you should exfoliate, either with a lotion which contains alpha hydroxy acids (basically fruit acids), or manually with a body scrub/loofah.

There are at-home waxing kits, but I'm not sure how well they would work on a fully-hairy leg. They seem to work best when you have only "stubble" (1/4" growth or so).

Salon waxing is better, but costly. And the laser treatment mentioned is turning out to be less permanent than first advertised...and yes it is pricey and takes several rounds to be effective...

I'm sure this is more than you ever wanted to know about hair removal, but I hope it helps some.

Originally posted by montare
I classify myself as a body-hair-hater, always have, so I leverage my cycling addiction as a socially-acceptable excuse to shave. It's just a cruel twist of nature that I'm pretty hairy to start with.

I am curious to hear any good tricks you all might have to minimize the unfortunate side-effects of shaving -- ingrown hairs, razor burn, itchiness, etc. (For example if one waxes rather than shaves are there fewer troubles?)

 

[Fixey]

Originally posted by capetowncycle
I enjoyed the feedback from the Poll Shaved or Unshaved? It seems that about half of the guys who have voted do shave their legs - I am one of those guys.

As I stated in the Shaved or Unshaved thread I shave incase of crashes, so in the road season it is whole leg, track season is whole leg and arms.

Originally posted by capetowncycle
I have seen guys who just shave their legs below their cycling shorts - being from a warm climate where one spends a lot of time outdoors in shorts and at the beach this would look totally ridiculous [/B]

Ok, You get those double (or triple) tan lines from Bike shorts casuals ect? you think they dont look ridiculous? Helmits are compolsory here so strap lines on the head and face (Im Bald) are also part and parcel. I look a real sight in the summer

Originally posted by capetowncycle

I have also seen a trend for guys to shave their chests and armpit hair - there is obviously no cycling benefit to be derived from this but it seems to be more fashionable - I guess the thought is that if I shave my legs I might as well just keep going - personally I think it looks great.

Shag that. I used to full body shave when I was body building, total pain in the bumm. I am not overly hairy and I only shave the areas that tend to get ripped up on impact

 

[Fixey]

Forgot to add, I also play rugby, if you shave your legs and play rugby (specially in the front row where I play) you best have a good reason. A chest and armpit shave may just get you a beating
Fair to say that rugby blokes here mabey a little homophobic and body shaving is generally see as feminin, exception is Cyclists. Bit like a bloke wearing a skirt better be Scotish (yes I know they are Kilts)

 

[xxguitarist]

I'm a swimmer and cyclist... double reasons for shaving. personally, i dont race bikes..so the hair stays on except for around the end of the swim season, with regional, state, and that type of meets. for swimming there's a lot of shaving involved. i find it helps to use a buzzer(thingy that is used at the barbers for crew cuts etc) and get hair down to maybe 1/4 of an inch, then shave. i reccomend shaving against the grain from knees down, with the grain on thighs, with the grain or at 90degrees to it on chest, and against the grain on arms. personal experience says this minimizes razor burn. lotion sometimes helps too.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

Without going into too much detail, which I'm sure you'll all appreciate, I'm getting rid of more as time goes on. Getting tired of it getting pinched and pulled in the saddle area.

 

[jimmybrown2]

Originally posted by Doctor Morbius
Without going into too much detail, which I'm sure you'll all appreciate, I'm getting rid of more as time goes on. Getting tired of it getting pinched and pulled in the saddle area.

I, for one, am glad to hear that. I hate the thought of pinching and pulling going on in your saddle area.

 

[shming123]

do you guys shave or wax? becuase i shaved for the first time yesterday, and today? ouch! it hurts! Yesterday afterwards, my legs were dead smooth, but now, i can feel the little tiny hairs and it hurts! And especially when i get the goosebumps it feels like a million needles in my legs! why is this happening? Now i feel inclined to let the hair just grown out again b/c of the pain! its not razor burn or anything like that, it feels like a needle sticking into every single hair folical/pore. HELP! thanks for any and all advice.

 

[CaveDog21]

Goosebumps suck, they make the hairs pop out and make you feel like you didn't shave for a day. I've been shaving for a week or two now because of the weather and I've been considering waxing, how long does waxing usually last before you have to do it again?

Shming123 I'd have to say you should maybe try nair? Or better yet try the exfoliating stuff that everyone mentioned, I mean I used to get breakouts on my face every-so-often and I've been using that Clean&Clear Morning facial cleanser and have been doing a lot better. Is it your legs that hurt? or just annoying and prickly to the touch?

 

[mitosis]

I classify myself as a body-hair-hater, always have, so I leverage my cycling addiction as a socially-acceptable excuse to shave. It's just a cruel twist of nature that I'm pretty hairy to start with.

I am curious to hear any good tricks you all might have to minimize the unfortunate side-effects of shaving -- ingrown hairs, razor burn, itchiness, etc. (For example if one waxes rather than shaves are there fewer troubles?)

Why is being hairy a cruel twist of nature. It is nature. Bears think its great. Its what makes us mammals.

 

[WildH]

Loving this thread!!! Not every day you get a bunch of people talking about shaved legs. I shave it all!! Ha Ha! Just kidding. Legs, chest, and chin for me! Gilette Mach 3 is the way to go. Spendy blades though.......

 

[TechJD]

again one of those polls that leaves an option off
NONE I dont race so no need

 

[trekryder]

again one of those polls that leaves an option off
NONE I dont race so no need

I don't race yet either but I shave the whole leg. You don't have to be in a race to get road rash.

Without going into too much detail, which I'm sure you'll all appreciate, I'm getting rid of more as time goes on. Getting tired of it getting pinched and pulled in the saddle area.

I've been considering that also. That pinching and pulling caused me some issues after a 50 mile ride. I had to do 40 the following day and I was more than a bit uncomfortable. If I can just keep my wife from freaking out...

 

[mtb4x4mad]

I'm curious as to whether time trialists shave their arms as well; does anyone know?

 

[John Picton]

Fairly dumb question maybe, but why do you all shave? What's the main benefits to you?

 

[paul smalley]

Fairly dumb question maybe, but why do you all shave? What's the main benefits to you?

Yeah very interested here too, this is scary stuff! Being from the more conventional upbringing etc I believed that only girls and swimmers shave their legs! I'm in the process of trying to replace my old mountain bike (nearly 10,000 road miles since new [maybe 10 off road]- my first real bike aged 13) with something a lot quicker.
Do you guys fall off a lot then? how does shaved legs help with the pain? Is there a lot of pain? Has anyone NOT crashed their road bike???

(complete beginner here)

 

[trekryder]

Yeah very interested here too, this is scary stuff! Being from the more conventional upbringing etc I believed that only girls and swimmers shave their legs! I'm in the process of trying to replace my old mountain bike (nearly 10,000 road miles since new [maybe 10 off road]- my first real bike aged 13) with something a lot quicker.
Do you guys fall off a lot then? how does shaved legs help with the pain? Is there a lot of pain? Has anyone NOT crashed their road bike???

(complete beginner here)

I don't fall a lot but when I do, it's easier to clean. I've also found that bugs don't stick to my legs. I do a lot of riding in the evening and I used to have a problem with bugs sticking in my leg hair and then I would have to take my hands off the bars to knock them away. Not the safest or smartest thing while riding in traffic. I don't think it helps with the pain at all, just the clean up. I think it's mostly personal preference, though. And IMHO, if you ride and love it, you're going to end up going faster and taking more risks, which means you're more likely to end up with road rash.

I wonder why people think it's ok for swimmers to do it but not other sports. A friend of mine who was a speed skater (inline) recommended I try it.

 

[drmac618]

I don't fall a lot but when I do, it's easier to clean. I've also found that bugs don't stick to my legs. I do a lot of riding in the evening and I used to have a problem with bugs sticking in my leg hair and then I would have to take my hands off the bars to knock them away. Not the safest or smartest thing while riding in traffic. I don't think it helps with the pain at all, just the clean up. I think it's mostly personal preference, though. And IMHO, if you ride and love it, you're going to end up going faster and taking more risks, which means you're more likely to end up with road rash.

I wonder why people think it's ok for swimmers to do it but not other sports. A friend of mine who was a speed skater (inline) recommended I try it.

Are Mountain Bikers more likely or less likely to shave than roadies?