Does Shaving Your legs Make You Run Faster? 5 Benefits

If you’re an athlete, you may have wondered at some point, “does shaving your legs make you run faster?”

Maybe you’ve heard about other athletes shaving their legs for their sports. Or perhaps your uncle claims to know an Olympian from the 80s who swore by shaving his legs.

Is there any validity in these claims? Let’s review whether or not shaving your legs might be the missing link to becoming a faster runner.

Does Shaving Your Legs Make You Run Faster?

No, shaving your legs won’t make you run faster, unfortunately.

While athletes who participate in running and other sports may choose to shave their legs, it’s unlikely to speed you up.

While athletes who compete in swimming competitions have an advantage proven in studies, the reduction in drag is not present in running. This is because water is denser than air, making it more challenging to move forward.

Although shaving your legs won’t help to increase your speed as a runner, feel free to test it yourself. In the worst-case scenario, you may learn that you prefer the feeling of running with shaven legs.

Shaving Your Legs as a Runner: FAQ

Many questions surround shaving your legs as a runner and athlete. Here are the most frequently asked questions we’ve found.

Does the Shaving of Leg Hair Help Runners?

Yes and no.

While shaving your leg hair won’t make you run faster, there are other ways shaven legs can help you as a runner. However, if you’re looking to shave time off your current PR, shaving your legs likely won’t get you there.

Why Would a Runner Shave Their Legs?

These are some of the most common reasons runners choose to shave their legs:

1. Personal preference.

This is a great reason. If you simply prefer to shave your legs, great! Have at it.

As a female runner, I have been shaving my legs for a long time. Although it’s more because of what society had once deemed appropriate for a woman, I love how my legs feel after shaving them.

I don’t recognize it helping me with running at all. However, I will continue to shave my legs because it’s what I prefer.

2. Easier when treating medical needs.

Whether you fell while running and got a cut or scrape, or if you’re stabilizing a previously injured spot with KT Tape, the absence of hair could be a significant benefit.

When you put on a cream or lotion, leg hair can make it more complicated. Likewise, pulling off KT Tape from a hairy leg could be pretty painful. If hairless legs sound like a benefit to you, shaving your legs is something you should try.

3. Cleanliness.

Although you don’t need shaven legs to keep clean, it makes things easier.

When we run, we often sweat. If you’ve got an open cut, it may become infected with sweat and dirt. Having shaven legs can help keep your legs as clean as possible.

It also makes cleaning your legs post-run much easier and faster. So I’d say that’s a win.

4. Better handle of the hot weather.

If you’re a runner who trains during hot and sunny summer days, shaving your legs might help cool you down.

While it’s likely to be minimal, runners with a lot of leg hair might find that it causes them to sweat more than if their legs were shaved. I hate running in the heat, so this one is worth trying, in my opinion, to be a little cooler.

5. Placebo affect.

When studying to become a UESCA-certified running coach, I learned about the impact of the placebo effect on runners.

If you think shaving your legs might help you run better for any reason, do it. There’s certainly no harm in shaving your legs (aside from maybe nicking yourself.. ouch!), so if you think it’ll help, then do it.

While shaving legs has never proven to enhance a runner’s performance, there are still some benefits. Focusing on your training and nutrition as a runner is most important, but shaving your legs won’t take up too much time or energy.

Should You Shave Your Legs for Running?

This is entirely up to you.

As I said, I’ve been shaving my legs for decades, and I like how it feels.

Though I rarely even think of my leg hair while I’m running, I’m sure some runners believe they can cut down on their wind resistance or drag if they shave. If you want to shave your legs for how they look and feel, or to make cleaning them easier after a run, then have at it.

The decision is yours, and it’s something you can decide to try once to see if you like it. So while science won’t back up your decision and claims that it makes you faster, that shouldn’t stop you from trying it yourself.

What Sports Do Athletes Usually Shave Their Legs?

While some road and trail runners choose to shave their legs, it’s not a common practice to help increase speed.

Triathlon competitors are the running athletes who more frequently opt to have shaved legs for competition.

Cyclists and swimmers are the athletes more known for shaving their legs to improve performance.

🚴🏼‍♀️ This is because shaving your legs for cycling can help improve your aerodynamics. After all, Tour de France cyclists can ride at a speed of 25 to 28 mph on flat terrain. That’s significantly faster than you’ll ever run.

🏊🏼‍♀️ As a swimmer, you must propel yourself through water, an element denser than air. This means that every little bit of resistance could hold you back; shaving your legs as a swimmer can be beneficial to cut down on friction and drag.

Athletes also prefer shaven legs to treat their injuries or apply a topical cream. One can imagine the ways shaven legs could improve this experience.

Of course, some athletes shave their legs purely for aesthetic reasoning. This is why I do it. I like the feel of freshly shaven legs.

If you feel that shaving your legs benefits you, you should do it.

Is it Acceptable for Men to Shave Their Legs?

Yes, it’s absolutely acceptable for men to shave their legs.

Although society in some parts of the world may look down on the concept, there are no gender restrictions on shaving your legs. So whether you do it for athletic gain or personal preference, it’s entirely your choice.

In recent years, more male athletes have been opting to shave their legs for athletic enhancement. This includes male cyclists, swimmers, and triathlon competitors. Cutting down on friction and drag is the biggest reason these athletes shave their legs.

Of course, you don’t have to shave your legs for any sport. It’s ultimately your choice. Whatever you feel best meets your needs should be what you follow through on.

Final Thoughts: Does Shaving Your Legs Make You Run Faster?

While shaving your legs isn’t going to make you run faster, there are still several benefits. But, ultimately, it’s your choice to shave your legs. If you’re like me and just like the feel of freshly shaven legs, I say go for it!

Maybe it makes you feel faster, and that’s good enough for you.