It was common for Romans to shave and pluck their hair as well as attend barbers. In ancient Rome, the first shave a man received was considered a rite of passage referred to as the tonsura. Most notably, Alexander the Great made it a common practice for Greek soldiers to shave their beards, since having a beard was a liability during battle it gave another soldier the opportunity to grab their face. For example, cutting a man’s beard against his will was a shaming action used after battle, but in other parts of Greece, barbers set up shop in the agora (town square) to shave men with sharpened blades. However, due to the culturally fragmented nature of classical Greece, many different attitudes regarding beards arose. Shaving in ancient times took on particular importance in Greece and Rome, since the ability to grow a beard was celebrated as a rite of manhood and as an indicator of civic duty. Pumice stones used to rub away finer hairs have also been found throughout Egypt. This was a sophisticated tool similar to early versions of what we now call the safety razor, which we’ll see more of later. Copper and bronze razors, with circular or hatch-shaped rotary blades, have been found in Egyptian burial chambers as early as 3000 BC.Īncient Egyptians also used sharpened stone blades that were set into wooden handles. Shaving in ancient Egypt was considered necessary for good hygiene, and, in fact, many of the beards sported around ancient Egypt was were actually wigs. Either of these tools would grow blunt with repeated use, causing them to be frequently dulled and needing replacement, much like the disposable razors on the market today. Specifically, we have found cave paintings that depict beardless men that may have removed their hair using clam shells or flint blades.
Raylene and romi shaving skin#
This was needed as protection from ice accumulating against the skin and causing frostbite.īut evidence of shaving has been found dating all the way back to 30,000 BC. The earliest shaving innovations were rudimentary and developed for survival.įor example, in the stone age, men plucked out their beards using clam shells and other objects used as pincers. The art of shaving has long been a part of culture and self-identity. This article will take a look at the development of shaving practices and the razor, as well as improvements and shaving trends that we can look forward to in the future. It’s been a practice for survival, cultural identity, religious practice, and, nowadays, personal identity and self-branding. However, shaving isn’t just about appearance.
0 kommentar(er)
