What are the origins of shaving anyway?

Punchy71 · Nov 22, 2014

Greetings,
Anyone know for sure where the whole idea and concept of shaving originated? It doesn't exactly seem like the most natural and normal of things to do for a human being to drag a razors edge akin to a knife or swords edge across ones skin and cut off all their hair does it?

"Ahhh, let me see here, I'm bored so I think I'll take this knife I have here with a razor sharp edge and drag it across my skin and cut off all my whiskers and hair...." :blink:

Thanks

Columbus · Nov 22, 2014

"Egyptians shaved their beards and heads which was a custom adopted by the Greeks and Romans about 330BC during the reign of Alexander the Great.
This was encouraged for soldiers as a defensive measure to stop enemies from grabbing their hair in hand-to-hand combat.
As shaving spread through the world, men of unshaven societies became known as "barbarians" meaning the "unbarbered". The practice of women shaving legs and underarms developed much later.
Men scraped their hair away in early times man with crude items such as stone, flint, clam shells and other sharpened materials. He later experimented with bronze, copper and iron razors.
In more recent centuries he used the steel straight razor (aptly called the "cut-throat" for obvious reasons)."

http://www.moderngent.com/history_of_shaving/history_of_shaving.php

August West · Nov 22, 2014

When Neandrathal men discovered female Homo Sapiens dug a clean shaven man.

Azpatriot66 · Nov 22, 2014

The kingdom of Arko in 900 BC; there mystical men formed a shaving cult which later became known for the city from which they came.

hdjj00 · Nov 22, 2014

I'm sure it was shortly after the first cutting tools were discovered. Probably a broken piece of obsidian.

cryhavoc · Nov 22, 2014

August West said:
When Neandrathal men discovered female Homo Sapiens dug a clean shaven man.

+1

tejolot3 · Nov 22, 2014

None of us were there to remember what sparked the idea. And that guy didn't keep a diary. It will forever remain unknown.

August West · Nov 22, 2014

tejolot3 said:
None of us were there to remember what sparked the idea. And that guy didn't keep a diary. It will forever remain unknown.

It's in here somewhere. :tongue_sm

TheChariot · Nov 22, 2014

August West said:
When Neandrathal men discovered female Homo Sapiens dug a clean shaven man.

This is true, but you're missing part of the story.

Man creates fire. Fire burns beard. Most efficient shave in history.

BigDogInAZ · Nov 22, 2014

Someone drew a picture of their sundial on their wrist and people suggested it would be better with less hair. Hence shaving was born.

ahntu · Nov 22, 2014

I believe it was so the women could tell cavemen apart cause all bearded cavemen look alike.

captp · Nov 22, 2014

I remember the day well. I was sitting around, bored off my hairy butt, when my beard started to itch. I has been playing with a piece of obsidian, and scratched my face with it. Well, lo and behold, a big patch of hair came off my face. My girlfriend, Oola, laughed at first, then felt the bare patch and said, " Oooh, that feels nice". And so SWMBO actually got this fad started. She got just a bit annoyed a few weeks later when she saw the 128 pieces of obsidian I was hoarding; thus was the start of AD. A mere month later, Oola invented soap and it's all been downhill from there. So, folks, now you know.

rxonmymind · Nov 22, 2014

August West said:
It's in here somewhere.

View attachment 522015

Damn! is that DE?....

BSAGuy · Nov 22, 2014

All driven by competition for women, like everything else on this planet!

PalmettoMan · Nov 22, 2014

Lice and fleas or wanting to be rid of them.

Toothpick · Nov 22, 2014

Because Chuck Norris doesn't like competition.

Well, who am I kidding, mankind is no competition to Chuck Norris.

euro · Nov 22, 2014

Columbus said:
"Egyptians shaved their beards and heads which was a custom adopted by the Greeks and Romans about 330BC during the reign of Alexander the Great.
This was encouraged for soldiers as a defensive measure to stop enemies from grabbing their hair in hand-to-hand combat.
As shaving spread through the world, men of unshaven societies became known as "barbarians" meaning the "unbarbered". The practice of women shaving legs and underarms developed much later.
Men scraped their hair away in early times man with crude items such as stone, flint, clam shells and other sharpened materials. He later experimented with bronze, copper and iron razors.
In more recent centuries he used the steel straight razor (aptly called the "cut-throat" for obvious reasons)."

http://www.moderngent.com/history_of_shaving/history_of_shaving.php

I have heard the Romans used to shave with clam shells but I do wonder if they used aftershave.

August West · Nov 22, 2014

captp said:
I remember the day well. I was sitting around, bored off my hairy butt, when my beard started to itch. I has been playing with a piece of obsidian, and scratched my face with it. Well, lo and behold, a big patch of hair came off my face. My girlfriend, Oola, laughed at first, then felt the bare patch and said, " Oooh, that feels nice". And so SWMBO actually got this fad started. She got just a bit annoyed a few weeks later when she saw the 128 pieces of obsidian I was hoarding; thus was the start of AD. A mere month later, Oola invented soap and it's all been downhill from there. So, folks, now you know.

That is hilarious!

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What are the origins of shaving anyway?

Punchy71

Columbus

August West

Azpatriot66

hdjj00

cryhavoc

tejolot3

August West

TheChariot

BigDogInAZ

ahntu

captp

Pretty Pink Fairy Princess.

rxonmymind

BSAGuy

PalmettoMan

Toothpick

Needs milk and a bidet!

euro

August West

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