A Brief History of Shaving − 17 June, 2008
In general, both men and women shave: men shave their faces and women shave their legs, armpits, and bikini lines. For the most part, men like to shave. It's a man thing; a morning ritual that advertises our masculinity almost as much as scratching our nuts in public. And, judging by the string of curses emanating from the bathroom once a week, women do not like to shave.
When a guy is shaving, so much the better if he has an audience. It is a practiced skill, almost a form of art, to lightly dance a razor over a soaped-up face to achieve the ultimate: baby-butt smooth cheeks. When a woman shaves, on the other hand, there had better not be another living soul within 100 yards. Not even the dog.
I've thought a lot about shaving ever since high school. When the peach-fuzz started sprouting, I immediately lunged for an electric razor. (Incidentally, my first shave was with a fingernail clippers. Don't ask.) Truth be told, I was a bit nervous about razor blades -- I always figured I'd slice my face to ribbons with one. So, for years I clung to my electric razors, and I went through them almost as fast as razor blades. I must have tried them all, and I never found one that did a very good job.
Through all the years of using an electric razor, I felt a small pang of... something. Guilt? Shame? I had grown up watching my dad shave with a razor blade. I remember watching with awe as he lathered up his face and carefully swished away the white foam with his razor. It was mesmerizing.
I also remember my grandpa using an electric razor to "clean up" before dinner after a long day on the farm. But, then, he always used a razor blade in the mornings.
I finally made a clean break with my electric razor when we were living in England. At the time, my wife and I had been seriously talking about starting a family. I was thinking about this one morning as I was mowing my face with the electric razor.
I couldn't do it. I could not in good conscience subject my future children to watching their father attack his face with a battery-powered weasel. Children need to see their dad lather up his face with soap and skim a razor blade over his cheeks, chin, and neck. Watching dad shave is one of those oddly comforting memories.
That was the last day I ever used an electric razor. The razor blades took some getting used to, but now I can't see ever using an electric one again. I even got a shaving brush to apply the lather -- my son likes to help "daddy paint his face."
I have heard there are shaving "purists" that actually use a straight razor. That, my friends, is the ultimate in manliness. However, I have no intention on getting a straight razor; no doubt I'd quickly lose my nose were I to try it.
Oh, plucking nose and ear hair is manly, too. Just not nearly as cool.
Comments:
PandoraBox (June 17, 2008. 03:54pm)
Nothing is sexier than a man shaving. Smells so good and you're right, it's mesmerizing to watch. I have tried shaving a man's face, it made me so nervous. I could just watch a man shave all day. Excpet for Adama on Battlestar Galactica. He is soooo unattractive.
metalpower (June 18, 2008. 02:07am)
When I was younger, I used an old fashion razor with a special kit from my grand father (but I loss it a long time ago), I used for a while an electric one and mechanic one since a couple of years. Actually, I like the one with a battery. I miss the very old method but very dangerous, but it was really a ritual…