Shaving … A daily ritual that can be of mind numbing repetitiveness.   We push a button on an aerosol can and outcomes a fluffy cloud of god knows what chemical composition.  We carelessly slather our faces trying to cover all the targeted, bewhiskered areas.  We grab our multi bladed shaving accessories (what are we up to 5, 6 blades?) and begin to hack away as quickly as safety allows.  Once most of the foam is removed, with or without all the available whiskers, we splash on a bit of water, dry and head for the door.  Mission accomplished.  Only to be repeated the following day and again and again all the days of our lives.

Let’s do a little math.  Say a typical shave takes 5 minutes from beginning to end.  You shaved 7 days a week.  You begin regular shaving when you’re what? 16 years old? You live to be, say, 80. Thirty five minutes a week times 3,328 weeks equals 116,480 minutes or 1,940 hours or 80 days.

We will spend nearly three months of our lives shaving.  Surely an investment of that kind of time and effort should be undertaken with more care and have a bit more payout on the back end. No????

That’s what the Symphony of Shaving Accessories is about… The Zen of Shaving… Shaving as a Metaphysical Act…. The Quest for the “Perfect Shave”.

How would one define the “Perfect Shave”?  Hard to say.  I suppose I’d have to paraphrase the famous dictum from Justice Potter Stewart regarding pornography.  In this case … “It’s hard to define but I’ll know it when I feel it”.  Having said that, I believe we can we create a short list of critical features to help us zero in a bit.

• First and foremost, the end result. The shave should end with a smooth, clean face free of any trace of stubble.
  
• In addition, the “Perfect Shave” should be comfortable, nick and pain free.  No razor burns or excessive tugging and pulling.
  
• I believe it should have a comforting quality to it, the same way a warm blanket is comforting on a cold day.
  
• The shaving accessories employed should be “exactly right” for the task: the razor sharp, easy to handle and a lather that softens and lubricates.
• As your first assertive act of the day, the “perfect shave” should leave you invigorated, ready to face all oncoming challenges.

A highly subjective list  I admit, but all necessary to achieve that transcendent experience.  If anyone has any additional thoughts on this subject let’s hear from you.

So that’s the task we have before us.  We’ll explore wet, classic wet (soap, mug and brush) and dry shaving in all its’ manifestations.  Note:  I’ll have to fess up to a certain biases here.  I’ve been a classic wet shaver for 20 plus years.  So don’t be surprised if we focus a good deal of attention in that direction.  We’ll examine at all manner of shaving accessories, accouterments and techniques.  Conduct an exploration of the cultural issues surrounding shaving both now and in the past. Truly, a celebration of all things shaving.

So won’t you come along and join me as we begin….. The Quest for the Perfect Shave.

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