Shaving

A man shaving using a straight razor.

Closeup of a disposable razor shaving stubble off the underside of a chin. Note the direction of razor travel is the same as the direction as the stubble hairs.

Shaving is the removal of body hair (depilation), using a sharp blade known as a razor or with any other kind of bladed implement, to slice it down to the level of the skin. Shaving is most commonly used by men to remove their facial hair and women to remove their leg and underarm hair. A man is called clean-shaven if he has had his beard totally removed.

Both men and women sometimes shave their facial hair, chest hair, abdominal hair, leg hair, underarm hair, pubic hair or any other bodily hair. Head shaving is much more common among men. It is often associated with religious practice, the armed forces and some competitive sports such as swimming and extreme sports. It has become common for men with partial baldness. Head shaving has also been used to humiliate, punish and show submission to an authority.

In most societies there is a social stigma around the presence of perceptible beard growth on a woman and strong pressure to remove it.

History

Alexander the Great's shaven image on the Alexander Mosaic, 2nd Century BC

Before the advent of razors, some humans removed hair using two shells to pull the hair out. Later, around 3,000 BC, when copper tools were developed, humans developed copper razors. The idea of an aesthetic approach to personal hygiene may have begun at this time, though Egyptian priests may have practiced something similar to this earlier. Alexander the Great strongly promoted shaving during his reign in the 4th century BC.

Shaving methods

Shaving can be done with a straight razor or safety razor (called 'manual shaving' or 'wet shaving') or an electric razor (called 'dry shaving'). If a manual wet razor is used, some lathering or lubricating agent such as creams, soaps, gels, foams or oils is normally applied to the area to be shaved first; this helps avoid a painful razor burn. These lubricate the area to be shaved, moisturize the skin and lift, soften and swell the hairs. This enhances the cutting action and sometimes permits cutting the hairs deeper below the surface of the skin.

Wet shaving

Collection of modern cartridge razors.
From left to right: Gillette Fusion Power, Gillette M3power, Gillette Mach3 Turbo, Schick Quattro Chrome, Schick Quattro Power, Gillette Mach3, Gillette Sensor, Schick Xtreme3 System, Schick Xtreme3 SubZero and Schick Xtreme3 Disposables

There are two types of manual razors: straight razor and safety razors. Safety razors are further subdivided into double-edged razors, injector razors, cartridge razors and disposable razors.

Straight razors are still made today, notably by Dovo, Zowada Razors, Thiers-Issard, and Feather. Shaving with these razors requires some practice but one can pick up the art very quickly. Once it was more common place but now you see them mostly in use in barber shops wielded by a skilled barber.

While straight razors did give a good shave, there was the task of sharpening and honing the razor that the invention of the double-edge razor offered freedom from. Double-edge razors are also readily available and are still made by Merkur in Germany, Antique Gilette, Schick, and Feather (a Japanese company). Moreover, safety razors, old and new are readily available on eBay. Double-edge razors are named so because the blade that they use has two sharp edges. Many are returning to the art of using the double-edge razor because replacement blades are cheaper than the cartridge razor replacements and result in closer shaves with minimal or no razor burn.

Cartridge razors are the most expensive type as the blades are designed to only fit the razors of the manufacturer. Current multi-bladed cartridges claim to improve shaving and have seen a design war with manufacturers adding greater numbers of blades than competitors.

Disposable razors are the cheapest available and have a simple handle built into the blade. Purchasers are not tied to a single manufacturer but can easily switch to cheaper or better brands thus keeping prices low.

These methods can be used with disposable cartridges, disposable razors, safety razors and straight razors.

Shave once method

References

1. Wet face (or other part of body to be shaved) with warm or hot water
2. Apply shaving cream or lubricant
3. Shave once in direction of the hair nap (grain) (Use the fingers to detect the direction of nap by rubbing over the skin. One direction will feel more resistance than others, that direction is against the nap)
4. Rinse razor often
5. Rinse face or area of skin being shaved in cold water
6. Apply aftershave if desired

Shave twice method

Some tough beards may get a closer shave by shaving again immediately after the first shave, but this time going in the direction across the grain or against the grain. (Some find that shaving against the grain leads to cuts, soreness and ingrown hairs.)

1. Omit the cold rinse and aftershave application after the first shave
2. Apply shaving cream or lubricant again
3. Shave again in direction against or across the grain.
4. Rinse face or area of skin being shaved in cold water
5. Apply aftershave if desired

Shaving soap or cream

Shaving cream acts as a lubricant and a moisturizer, and also as an indicator of which areas have not been shaved. Shaving gels may dry out the skin. The modern shaving cream may be slightly more expensive but offers a more comfortable shave, creams are often found to be enriched with aloe vera (soothing) and tea tree oil (natural anti-septic). A cheaper alternative is to use any soft soap and a brush with long soft bristles called a Shaving brush. The soap is worked up into a foam by the brush, either against the face or in a container called a bowl or Shaving scuttle.

Aftershave

Main article: Aftershave

Many men use an aftershave lotion after they have finished shaving. It may contain an antiseptic agent such as isopropyl alcohol to prevent infection from cuts, a perfume to enhance scent, and a moisturizer to soften the facial skin.

Electric shaving

A rotary design electrical shaver

The Electric razor consists of a set of oscillating or rotating blades, which are held behind a perforated metal foil that prevents them coming into contact with the skin. Bristles poke through holes in the foil and are sliced by the moving blades. In some designs the blades are a rotating cylinder, in others they are one or more rotating disks, and in others a set of oscillating blades. Each design has an optimum motion over the skin for the best shave and manufacturers provide guidance on this. Generally for circular blades it is a circular motion and for cylindrical or oscillating blades it is up and down. The first electric razor was built in 1928.

The primary disadvantage to electric shaving is that it is not as close as wet shaving. The advantages are as follows: less cuts in the skin, no ingrown hairs (also called razor bumps or pseudofolliculitis barbae), less pain and redness.

Many pre- and post-electric lotions are sold but electric shaving does not usually require the application of any lubrication to be effective and can be done dry.

There are special electrical razors available for use by women, but these are essentially no different to those made for men.

Shaving aids

Shaving without the aid of shaving cream, gel, soap, or oil is known as dry shaving. Electric razors are typically used without external shaving aids, and were originally called dry shavers. However, modern electric razors often lubricate the skin slightly, and pre-shave lotions which provide some lubrication without clogging electric razors are available.

The removal of a full beard often requires the use of scissors or an electric (or beard) trimmer to reduce the mass of hair, simplifying the process.

Side effects of shaving

Shaving can have numerous side effects, including cuts, abrasions, irritation and the feeling that something is missing. Some people with curly hair have an adverse response to shaving called pseudofolliculitis barbae, or "razor bumps" due to ingrown hairs. Many side effects can be minimized by using a fresh blade, plenty of lubrication, and avoiding pressing down with the razor, a shaving brush will also help. There are many products on the market to get rid of them, they commonly dry the affected area and some help to lift out the trapped hair(s). Some people choose to use only single-blade or wire-wrapped blades that shave farther away from the skin. Others cannot use razors at all and use depilatory shaving powders to dissolve hair above the skin's surface.

Many people traditionally believed that shaving would cause the hair shaved to become thicker and darker. However, this bit of conventional wisdom has been disproven. The resulting stubble only makes the hairs seem to be thicker, as a shaved hair has a blunt end as opposed to the tapered end of an unshaven hair, and because hair is often darker in color near the root. Clinical studies have demonstrated that shaving does not have an effect on hair growth rates or density.

Cuts

Cuts from shaving can bleed for about fifteen minutes. Cuts can be caused by blade movement which is parallel to the blade or to the presence of bumps on the skin which are sliced by the blade. Common methods used to stop bleeding include putting alcohol on a cotton swab and pressing it onto the cut until the bleeding stops, as well as tearing off a small piece of toilet paper and placing it onto the cut. The latter method, however, can be undesirable for aesthetic reasons. Products such as styptic pencils and styptic liquids can also be used to stop bleeding. Placing a small amount of petroleum jelly on a cut after most of the bleeding has ended can stop the bleeding without forming a scab. Shaving in a cold shower can help prevent bleeding as well, because blood flow to the skin is reduced in these conditions due to vasoconstriction caused by the cold water.

Razor burn

Razor burn is an irritation of the skin caused by shaving either at sensitive areas or not using proper technique. It appears as a mild rash and usually disappears after a few hours to a few days, depending on severity. In severe cases, razor burn can also be accompanied by razor bumps, where the area around shaved hairs get raised red welts or infected pustules.

Razor burn is a common problem, especially among those who shave coarse hairs on areas with sensitive skin like the bikini line, underarms, chest, and beard.

The condition can be caused by shaving too closely, shaving with a blunt blade, dry shaving, applying too much pressure when shaving, shaving too quickly or roughly, or shaving against the grain.

Ways to prevent razor burn include keeping the face moist, using a shaving brush and lather, using a moisturising shaving gel, shaving in the direction of the hair growth, resisting the urge to shave too closely, applying minimal pressure, avoiding scratching or irritation after shaving, avoiding irritating products on the shaved area (colognes, perfumes, etc.) and using an aftershave cream with aloe vera or other emollients.

Ways to heal razor burn include applying witch hazel, mild salicylic acid solutions, aloe vera gel or cold water.

Shaving in religion

Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism

File:Tenzin Gyatzo foto 2.jpg

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama shows a shaved beard and a shaved head.

Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches, and some Hindu and Buddhist temples of shaving the hair from the scalp of priests as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem.

Islam

Muslim men and women are required by the Sunnah to shave their pubic hair and pluck underarm hair. The misconception is that Muslim men are not supposed to shave their beards but are encouraged to shave their moustaches according to the Sunnah. However it is not mandatory to grow a beard since it is not mentioned anywhere in the Quran. In other words, the Sunnah is not directing Muslims to grow beards and moustaches; what they are saying is that if they want to grow both, then the proper way is to lengthen the beard instead of the moustache and clip the moustache instead of the beard. Furthermore growing a beard or not has no consequences.

Judaism

Main article: Shaving in Judaism

Jewish men are forbidden by the Torah to shave their facial hair with a razor. Whether it is permitted to shave with an electric razor is a matter of debate among Jewish legal decisors, but most are lenient.

Sikhism

Main article: Shaving in Sikhism

Sikh men are forbidden to shave any body hair because Hair (called Kesh) is one of the Five K’s which all baptised Sikhs keep in the way Waheguru [God] intended. If God wanted man to have short hair, He would not have let it grow so long. Hair is also considered part of man's natural beauty that should not change. He should not try to make himself look beautiful on the outside because beauty lies within the heart of an individual. Having long head hair is one of the reasons why Sikh men wear turbans to cover their hair.

See also

• Hair removal
• Barber
• Razors
• Leg shaving
• Head shaving
• Burma-Shave
• Acomoclitism
• Pubic hair
• Androgenic hair
• Beard Liberation Front