"Shaving is a ritual of masculinity. Peter Berger

**Steveareno** · 09-07-2012, 04:49 AM

For your reading pleasure, an essay from Peter Berger on "Beards," but with a nice paragraph on the ritual of shaving about halfway through:

http://blogs.the-american-interest.c.../09/05/beards/

**jmsodpc** · 09-07-2012, 07:57 AM

So if shaving is masculine....does anyone think buying all these products is a bit metrosexual?

I never used so many products before wet shaving.

**The Kiwi** · 09-07-2012, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by jmsodpc

So if shaving is masculine....does anyone think buying all these products is a bit metrosexual?

I never used so many products before wet shaving.

Only if you arrived here directly from using dry shaver hardware (Electric) ever since starting to shave, is that an accurate rendition. Cartridge razors are also "wet shaving" hardware, and canned goop is also a variety of "wet" shave product.

**ZackP** · 09-07-2012, 08:08 AM

Nothing metrosexual about caring about your looks and overall hygienic health!

**joshua1970** · 09-07-2012, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by jmsodpc

So if shaving is masculine....does anyone think buying all these products is a bit metrosexual?

I never used so many products before wet shaving.

labels. eff em. :)

**BrookR1** · 09-07-2012, 08:36 AM

I get metrosexually harassed constantly by my buddies. It helps to have a few straights in sight so you can offer them a quick go with it. That usually shuts them up.

**joshua1970** · 09-07-2012, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by BrookR1

I get metrosexually harassed constantly by my buddies. It helps to have a few straights in sight so you can offer them a quick go with it. That usually shuts them up.

**celestino** · 09-07-2012, 08:51 AM

Nice read and thanks for sharing.

**CountZer0** · 09-07-2012, 08:59 AM

Unfortunately somewhere in our culture it became popular NOT to care about how you look and how you presented yourself. My grandfather never wore a t-shirt in his adult life (with the exception of an undershirt.) He was a mechanic, farmer, framed houses, and was an electrician… never once did he go to work or leave the house without a collared shirt tucked in; and he was always clean shaven. Somewhere between his generation and mine (35) we have lost that. T-shirts a pair of flip flops and baggy jeans are common garb for myself and my peers. With the passing of my grandfather early this year I have made a conscious effort to chance my habits. If I leave the house I wear a shirt with a collar, I traded my baggy jeans for a few nice pair of dark blue jeans, my flip flops and ratty converse for leather shoes. My wife and my friends have noticed, SWMBO loves it, I get complements from her whenever we go out, even if just to run out grocery shopping. Does this make me a metrosexual, the fact that I realized maybe in the long process to be a better man a simple step is to dress like a man. I apologize for the rambling but I don’t think my grandfather of his father was ever called a metrosexual. So when in the rare occasion someone throws that out I just grin.

**retturn2blades** · 09-07-2012, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by CountZer0

Unfortunately somewhere in our culture it became popular NOT to care about how you look and how you presented yourself. My grandfather never wore a t-shirt in his adult life (with the exception of an undershirt.) He was a mechanic, farmer, framed houses, and was an electrician… never once did he go to work or leave the house without a collared shirt tucked in; and he was always clean shaven. Somewhere between his generation and mine (35) we have lost that. T-shirts a pair of flip flops and baggy jeans are common garb for myself and my peers. With the passing of my grandfather early this year I have made a conscious effort to chance my habits. If I leave the house I wear a shirt with a collar, I traded my baggy jeans for a few nice pair of dark blue jeans, my flip flops and ratty converse for leather shoes. My wife and my friends have noticed, SWMBO loves it, I get complements from her whenever we go out, even if just to run out grocery shopping. Does this make me a metrosexual, the fact that I realized maybe in the long process to be a better man a simple step is to dress like a man. I apologize for the rambling but I don’t think my grandfather of his father was ever called a metrosexual. So when in the rare occasion someone throws that out I just grin.

Yes, exactly. When I watch old movies from the 40s, I see how great men dressed back then...even men from humble means dressed decently. What happened to suits, ties, Fedora hats, real leather shoes? I know I'm very tired of t-shirts, jeans, flip flops and a baseball cap turned backwards. We are the slob society.

**sparco** · 09-07-2012, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by CountZer0

Unfortunately somewhere in our culture it became popular NOT to care about how you look and how you presented yourself. My grandfather never wore a t-shirt in his adult life (with the exception of an undershirt.) He was a mechanic, farmer, framed houses, and was an electrician… never once did he go to work or leave the house without a collared shirt tucked in; and he was always clean shaven. Somewhere between his generation and mine (35) we have lost that. T-shirts a pair of flip flops and baggy jeans are common garb for myself and my peers. With the passing of my grandfather early this year I have made a conscious effort to chance my habits. If I leave the house I wear a shirt with a collar, I traded my baggy jeans for a few nice pair of dark blue jeans, my flip flops and ratty converse for leather shoes. My wife and my friends have noticed, SWMBO loves it, I get complements from her whenever we go out, even if just to run out grocery shopping. Does this make me a metrosexual, the fact that I realized maybe in the long process to be a better man a simple step is to dress like a man. I apologize for the rambling but I don’t think my grandfather of his father was ever called a metrosexual. So when in the rare occasion someone throws that out I just grin.

Sadly most of men/boys these days doesn't care about their appearances and how they dress. As for myself, I always use a polo/shirt once I go out. Chinos / Suit-pants or one colored jeans together with some polished shoes.
Other friends of mine may use gym-clothes / exercise clothes with sneakers and (New Era)hats from Lids.

**Britva** · 09-07-2012, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by retturn2blades

Yes, exactly. When I watch old movies from the 40s, I see how great men dressed back then...even men from humble means dressed decently. What happened to suits, ties, Fedora hats, real leather shoes? I know I'm very tired of t-shirts, jeans, flip flops and a baseball cap turned backwards. We are the slob society.

While I'm sceptical about harking back to the dress code of a bygone age, I agree with you about the slob society. I think there's something bordering on peer pressure to dress down these days. It's okay when you're 16, but as we all get older, the one option open to everyone is to at least make an effort to be presentable.