A Brief History of Shaving
Shaving and hair trimming has been around for a long time. Back before metal was used, the two parts of clam shells were used as tweezers to pull hair out of the face. After that, flint was discovered to have been used as it can be broken into sharp edges. Once copper tools were developed around 3,000 BC though, razors were born, and a few cultures began to shape their hair, including shaving of their face using razors. There are documented uses of a rudimentary form of shaving cream during this time as well.
Around 300 BC, Alexander the Great started a true trend of shaving. It has been said that he was obsessed with shaving. Some believe that he insisted that all solders shave and keep close cropped hair to prevent enemies from grabbing their hair in close combat.
For hundreds of years after Alexander the Great, fashions came and went just like they do today. The choice of men to either shave their beards or grow them had much to do with the ancient role models of kings, generals and emperors. Razors were made from different materials, such as obsidian, copper, and iron. During this time, many men still used plucking as a means of removing facial hair.
In the 1750’s shaving brushes began to appear. During this time, soap was generally used to lubricate the face while shaving, and shaving brushes were developed to apply the soap to the face. The quality of these brushes depended then, as it does today, upon the quality and rareness of the materials used to create it. Handles were made of different materials such as ivory, gold, wood, or porcelain. The bristles would be made out of boar’s hair, however the more expensive brushes were made from badger hair because of its improved ability to retain water, and create a better lather.
By the 19th century razors were being made from steel, and differences in shapes of razors began to emerge. Innovations such as the Perret Razor and other hoe type razors begin to emerge, transforming shaving into a closer representation of what men do today. By the 20th century, Mr. King Camp Gillette started a revolution in the razor business with his invention of the safety razor with the help of MIT graduate engineer and machinist William Nickerson. Also by the 1920’s the electric, or “dry” shaver becomes more and more commonplace.
Also during the 19th and 20th centuries shaving creams and soaps were developed. Before this time, generally just regular soap was used for shaving, but during the 1800’s, soap specifically designed for shaving was introduced as the Walnut Oil Military Shaving soap. After the invention of shaving soap, the invention of modern shaving cream is credited to George Washington Carver, and after the invention of the aerosol can in World War II, the modern can of shaving cream was created.
By the 21st century, razors and shaving cream have employed many different methods of design, manufacturing and materials. Disposable razors designed to work 2 or 3 times before becoming dull, are extremely popular and are made out of different modern techniques and materials. Shaving cream comes not only in a cream but also in a gel, and today’s razors and shaving techniques are designed to be as quick and inexpensive as possible.
Men today however are starting to realize that quick and inexpensive does not particularly lead to a good shave. Many are looking back in history to the days before disposable razors, realizing that using more substantial shaving creams, brushes and razors tend to give the best shave, and making purchases that do not coorespond to the mainstream shaving trends of today.