Beards and shaving

**GillsMan** · 29 October 2010, 08:21

They had blades in medieval times and I'm fairly sure they had rudementary mirrors (or perhaps they just used water for reflections) so I guess that's how they shaved. Henry VII is always depicted with a nicely trimmed beard.

**gingerjedi** · 29 October 2010, 08:37

Them Chileans came up clean shaven, I doubt that went unnoticed by the compo assessor.

**shaunbhoy** · 29 October 2010, 08:45

I have been told, by a couple of women friends, that I suit a beard. But I can never stand having one for more than a few weeks as it irritates the life out of me!
And latterly I have noticed that there is more than a hint of grey appearing in it also.................which is far from ideal unless you want to look like a badger.

**OwlHoot** · 29 October 2010, 09:11

Originally posted by MarillionFan View Post

How come whenever you see a medieval or ancient film (Robin Hood, King Arthur, 300) etc the vast majority of people are clean shaven (including the
women). I haven't shaved for a week I look like EOs avatar.

When you see images of cavemen they all have bushy beards. So how come everyone else since is clean shaven. How did everyone shave???

They had someone else shave them. It helped prevent lice, easier to treat face wounds, and made wearing a helmet more bearable.

Norman soldiers shaved the back of their heads, and wrapped a kind of bandage round their head before donning their helmet. So you can imagine
how hot and scratchy it would have been with a beard too!

**kandr** · 29 October 2010, 09:15

Originally posted by MarillionFan View Post

How come whenever you see a medieval or ancient film (Robin Hood, King Arthur, 300) etc the vast majority of people are clean shaven (including the
women). I haven't shaved for a week I look like EOs avatar.

When you see images of cavemen they all have bushy beards. So how come everyone else since is clean shaven. How did everyone shave???

I think as these films, weren't actually filmed in the time they are set, but rather the 20/21st century, they did have access to shaving equipment. Probably you wouldn't be able to recognize any of the stars if they were all sporting beards.

**MarillionFan** · 29 October 2010, 09:16

Originally posted by OwlHoot View Post

They had someone else shave them. It helped prevent lice, easier to treat face wounds, and made wearing a helmet more bearable.

Norman soldiers shaved the back of their heads, and wrapped a kind of bandage round their head before donning their helmet. So you can imagine
how hot and scratchy it would have been with a beard too!

But shaved with what?

**Spacecadet** · 29 October 2010, 09:16

Razors have been around since the bronze age... although I think they only had 1 blade on them

**Gonzo** · 29 October 2010, 09:30

The ancient Romans were clean-shaven. They saw it as a mark of civilization that set them above the barbarians that they conquered.

They didn't shave themselves though, they would get a barber to do that.

**AtW** · 29 October 2010, 09:36

Wilkinson sword.

HTH

Beards and shaving