By Tim Lambert
Early Shaving
At times in history, beards have been fashionable for men, while at other times they were clean-shaven.
In Ancient Egypt, men were usually clean-shaven. They used razors made of copper or bronze. Stubble was removed with pumice stones. Both men and women shaved off body hair.
Egyptians shaved their hair and wore wigs. Children had their heads shaved to prevent lice (although they usually left a braid on one side of their heads).
In Ancient Greece, men usually had beards until the time of Alexander the Great. It’s said he told his men to shave in case their enemies grabbed them during a battle.
In Rome, men were usually clean-shaven until the 2nd century, when beards became common.
Roman women also used razors, pumice stones, tweezers, and depilatory creams to remove unwanted body hair. At that time, there were no glass mirrors, but women used mirrors of polished metal.
Henry VIII’s warship, the Mary Rose, sank in 1545. On the wreck, a pewter shaving bowl was found. It had an indentation so that it could be held to the throat. A barber would shave the man with a cutthroat razor. Shaving brushes were used to apply the soap. They were made with badger hair.
In 1698, Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, imposed a tax on beards to make Russia more like Western Europe.
In 1762, Jean-Jacques Perret invented a new type of razor with a wooden guard along the blade to prevent deep cuts. In 1847, William Henson invented the modern hoe-shaped razor.
Modern Shaving
Shaving became easier in the 20th century. King Camp Gillette sold the first disposable razor blades for men in 1901. Instead of having to sharpen the blade at intervals, you could replace it. In 1960, razors were improved with the introduction of stainless steel blades. Disposable razors were introduced in 1975.
In 1919, Frank Shields invented the first non-lathering shaving cream. You could apply it to your face without a brush.
In 1928, Jacob Schick patented the electric razor. He soon improved the design, and the better version went on sale in 1931. His invention proved to be a great success.
In modern times, women first began shaving under their arms in the 1910s. They began shaving their legs in the 1920s when dresses became shorter. The first modern razor for women was made in 1915. Disposable razors for women followed in 1975.
The Brazilian wax began, as its name suggests, in Brazil. It was introduced to the USA in 1987 when 7 Brazilian sisters opened a salon in New York. Brazilian waxes became popular in the 1990s. In the early 21st century, most women trim their hair.
