Grooming Guide · A Short History of the Shave

The Shaving Chronicles: A Trim Down Memory Lane

Shaving is one of the oldest grooming rituals there is. Long before razors came in cartridges and cans, men were scraping, sharpening and soothing their way to a clean face with whatever the age gave them. It's a small daily habit with a surprisingly long history, and the one thing that hasn't changed in thousands of years is what your skin needs afterwards. Here's the short version of how we got from flint to the modern shave.

The earliest shaves

The first shaves were not comfortable. Prehistoric men are thought to have used sharpened flint, shells and other found edges to remove hair, more for practicality than style. By ancient Egypt, shaving had become a mark of cleanliness and status: copper and later bronze razors were used to keep both the face and head smooth, and being clean-shaven set you apart. The Egyptians took grooming seriously enough to be buried with their razors.

Greece, Rome and the barber's chair

In ancient Greece, a trimmed beard was a sign of a man who looked after himself, and philosophers debated the merits of the beard versus the blade. Rome took the clean-shaven look and ran with it. The first daily shave became something of a rite of passage for a young Roman man, and the barbershop, the tonstrina, became a social hub where men gathered to be groomed and to gossip. The tools were simple iron razors, and a shave was as much a social event as a grooming one.

The straight razor and the barbershop era

For centuries the cut-throat, or straight razor, was the tool of the trade. It demanded skill, a steady hand and regular stropping to keep its edge, which is part of why the professional barber mattered so much. The barbershop became a fixture of the high street, a place for a proper shave, a conversation and a moment of calm in the week. For many men it still is.

The safety razor and the modern routine

The turn of the twentieth century changed everything. The safety razor put a guarded blade in every man's hand and made the daily shave something you could do yourself, quickly, at the bathroom sink. Disposable blades, then cartridges, then electric razors followed, each one making the shave faster and more convenient. What started as a skilled ritual became a two-minute morning job.

The one thing that never changed

Through all of it, from flint to five-blade cartridge, the shave has always done the same thing to your skin: dragged a blade across it. However good your technique, shaving lifts away the top layer of skin along with the hair, which is why skin so often feels tight, dry or irritated afterwards. The Romans reached for oils. We have something better suited to the job.

What's in it, and why

The balm is built for exactly the moment after the blade:

• Grapeseed and Coconut oils to moisturise and help restore comfort to freshly shaved skin.
• Vitamin E, an antioxidant, to support the skin barrier.
• A paraben-free, natural formula that absorbs quickly rather than sitting greasy on the surface.

The scent comes from the RUNESILK Elements collection, tuned for a little more staying power: a citrusy wood profile with Lemon, Bergamot, Ho Leaf, Frankincense and Patchouli. It's the shave finished properly, skin looked after and a scent that lasts.

How to use it

Shave as normal, rinse with cool water to close the skin, and pat dry. While the skin is still slightly damp, warm a small amount of balm between your fingers and massage it in. A little goes a long way, and because it absorbs quickly you're ready to go in moments.

Prefer to grow it out?

Not everyone shaves it all off. If you're growing a beard rather than removing one, the aftercare shifts from balm to beard oil: a few drops worked into the skin and hair keeps both conditioned, tames the beard and helps with the dry, flaky skin underneath. Have a look through our beard oil collection to find a scent that suits you.

FAQ

A short history of the shave, from RUNESILK. Finish yours with the Elements Aftershave Balm.