Shaving as an exercise of character

Taken from The Gentlemen’s Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness, from the best French, English, and American Authorities – printed in 1860!

…every sensible man will shave himself, if only as an exercise of character, for a man should learn to live, in every detail without assistance. Moreover, in most cases, we shave ourselves better than barbers can do.

While it may take a little less character to shave in this day and age than it did back in antebellum America, the idea that men (and women) should strive to be self sufficient to the best of their abilities holds true – at the very least when it comes to shaving!

FaceBook users gives Gillette apiece of their mind

Social media… one of my pet peeves, but sometimes even FaceBook can deliver comedy gold:

Gillette posted a picture on their photostream (is that even the right word?) celebrating* 110 years since their first patent… the comments on it probably isn’t quite what they have hoped for:

The one from 1904 works better

I prefer the 1904 model

The tagline should read: look how we have ruined a perfectly good and cost effective design for 100 years!

And yet the razor from 110 years ago is far superior.

Thanks Gillette. You’ve helped me find a new razor. I will now be buying a Merkur 1904 model from Amazon…

*) “celebrating their first DE safety razor” must be corporate speak for “shilling their new wobbly plastic wonder”…

A clip on light for your razor

http://books.google.no/books?id=zCgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA247&dq=popular+science+%22safety+razor%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FEn2U7vVC4bIyAPs84CAAw&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=popular%20science%20%22safety%20razor%22&f=false

A New-Safety Razor with a Lamp Attachment
AN Englishman, weary of bloodshed, has bethought him of a means of enlightening the gloomy and otherwise dangerous ritual of the shave. He has invented a miniature electric lamp provided with an adjustable clip and flexible cord which may be attached to the razor and light the path of the blade through the tough bristles of the human face.
With his lamp attachment one may plunge fearlessly into the blackest depths of a three days’ growth of beard and emerge from the ordeal unscathed. The lamp is attached to a conventional type of razor by a simple clip. It travels with the blade or with the motion of the hand. By looking in the mirror the man shaving himself can determine just what progress he is making and whether or not he is going to come through the operation with his two ears intact.
The lamp clip can be attached to any one of the many makes of safety razors. The inventor is now busy on another lamp attachment for the old type of razor.

Gloomy and dangerous my bum… well, maybe it was in August of 1916.

All That Newfangled Shaving Gear Can’t Compare to the Old-Fashioned Stuff

Found an interesting article over at WIRED that states what is obvious to me; disposables can’t hold a candle to traditional safety razors.

Also, I liked this comment on disposables:

Some of the pricier varieties are miracles of engineering, with more blades than a flotilla of sea pirates.

Soap sample from Wet Shaving Products

The other day I received a sample for testing from Lee over at Wet Shaving Products. And I have to admit, it’s one of the biggest “samples” I’ve ever seen – if it’s any indications it’ll be a great place to get your wetshaving gear.

Open comb straight? Not so much…

Remember this? I asked over in my favourite shave forum, and the knowledgeable fellows over there agree it’s a trimmer shavette.

Still looks neat though.

Paper cut disposable razors

An origami razor made from waterproof paper? A pretty neat concept, and since it should be easy to bring in the carry-on luggage it should be ideal for traveling by plane.

As mentioned it’s just a concept at this point in time, but it seems like it has potential – not a potential for a BBS, but for a truly disposable razor.

Shaving eBooks

I have recently bought myself a Kindle Paperwhite, and I am rather pleased with the device. For a lark, I checked out what Kindle books there is to buy:

Leisureguy’s Guide to Gourmet Shaving
I have this one in dead tree format. Recommended.

SAFETY RAZOR SHAVING: The Ins And Outs, Dos and Don’ts
Shave Like A Man: How To Save Money On Shaving Products And Get The Best Shave Of Your Life
Shaving Secrets Revealed: How To Shave With A Straight Razor And Get The Best Wet Shave Of Your Life
The Complete Beginners Guide To Shaving Brushes by Mens Shaving: Shave Great. Feel Amazing.
OLD SCHOOL SHAVING: Safety Razors, Straight Razors, Shaving Soaps, Shaving Brushes, Alum Blocs, Etc
All of these are unknowns to me… so for now they go on the wish list.

Shaving with stone blades

A rather interesting video showing making and shaving with obsidian flakes.

“I don’t advice you to try this without a good deal of prior experience… and lots of band-aids.”

Shaving brushes and… anthrax?

Unknown to many these days, it used to be common to have your shaving brush made out of horsehair. Horsehair for a brush makes sense on many levels, not the least of which is the fact that they are animal friendly – the hair is harvested as part of the normal grooming of the horse.

However, the horsehair brush fell out of favour around the Great War, since some suppliers were less than good about sterilizing their products. A bit of searching online brings to light some documents from the time:

Anthrax from Shaving Brushes (July 12, 1918)
Anthrax and the Sterilization of Shaving Brushes (May 9, 1919)
An Investigation of the Shaving-Brush Industry, with Special Reference to Anthrax (May 9, 1919)
Isolation of Anthrax Bacillus from a shaving Mug (November 1, 1922)