Hair removal is not a new invention. We may have new methods, and technical styles and be doing it more for personal preference than a requirement but it’s been something our ancestors have found ways to do for centuries. The first prehistoric barber probably wasn’t shaving in the most sophisticated of undercuts, but needed to find innovative ways to remove and deal with unwanted hair.
The Prehistoric Barber
Barbering and hair removal dates back thousands of years, approximately 60,000 years in fact. Around 3000 BC copper tools were made to shave and remove hair and before this, man would use everything from sharp stones to shells to help remove hair.
Early cave paintings even show early man would pull out or burn their own hair to prevent the development of skin diseases including frostbite.
Hairless Egyptians
Specialists in Egyptology highlight how these ancient people had particularly high standards of personal hygiene, to the extent that they kept themselves completely hair-free. Every hair (from their heads to their balls…) was stripped from their body to maintain the highest levels of hygiene.
In Ancient Egypt hair was a sign of poverty and the richest in society had the least hair. The heat in Egypt meant long hair attracted pests and lice and the priests of the time considered hair both unclean and shameful. The richest Egyptians would have their own personal in-house barber, responsible for their daily shaving routine. They used to rub their bodies with pumice stones and use concoctions and creams that could strip the hair from the body.
Greeks and Romans Follow Suit
The excellent hygiene of the Egyptian people was well-known amongst other nations too. Alexander the Great of Greece was a convert to shaving and believed it gave a tidy and disciplined look. He expected his troops to shave too, and this practice became commonplace amongst other armies too, including the Romans.
The Invention of the Razor Blade
It wasn’t until the 18th century that razor blades became more defined than sharp pieces of metal. The first “safety” razor was created by Frenchman Jean-Jacques Perret when he applied a wooden guard to a straight razor, but its actual safety properties were minimal.
Sheffield, the UK’s home of steel production, began producing straight steel razors in the 18th and 19th centuries and around the same time in the USA, the Kampfe Brothers also put in their patent for the first-ever safety razor. A little later in the early 20th century, the recognisable name of King Camp Gillette came up with the beginnings of the first disposable razor blade. This was obviously a game changer but since then the development of electric tools has allowed the barbering industry to advance and combine traditional methods with the latest technologies to keep innovating and creating unique personal styles.
Our Personal History
At Chaps & Co our own personal history is also of great importance to us. Founded in 2015, our whole ethos works around the idea of turning the chore of a haircut into a pleasurable enjoyable experience. Our founder Jordan was looking for reliable male grooming living as an expat in Dubai and found his options limited. That’s when he knew Chaps & Co was both much needed and could transform the male grooming experience for men in the UAE. We’re still growing, learning, and expanding, spreading our style of male grooming as far and wide as possible, book in to see what we’re all about.
Hair removal is not a new invention. We may have new methods, and technical styles and be doing it more for personal preference than a requirement but it’s been something our ancestors have found ways to do for centuries. The first prehistoric barber probably wasn’t shaving in the most sophisticated of undercuts, but needed to find innovative ways to remove and deal with unwanted hair.
The Prehistoric Barber
Barbering and hair removal dates back thousands of years, approximately 60,000 years in fact. Around 3000 BC copper tools were made to shave and remove hair and before this, man would use everything from sharp stones to shells to help remove hair.
Early cave paintings even show early man would pull out or burn their own hair to prevent the development of skin diseases including frostbite.
Hairless Egyptians
Specialists in Egyptology highlight how these ancient people had particularly high standards of personal hygiene, to the extent that they kept themselves completely hair-free. Every hair (from their heads to their balls…) was stripped from their body to maintain the highest levels of hygiene.
In Ancient Egypt hair was a sign of poverty and the richest in society had the least hair. The heat in Egypt meant long hair attracted pests and lice and the priests of the time considered hair both unclean and shameful. The richest Egyptians would have their own personal in-house barber, responsible for their daily shaving routine. They used to rub their bodies with pumice stones and use concoctions and creams that could strip the hair from the body.
Greeks and Romans Follow Suit
The excellent hygiene of the Egyptian people was well-known amongst other nations too. Alexander the Great of Greece was a convert to shaving and believed it gave a tidy and disciplined look. He expected his troops to shave too, and this practice became commonplace amongst other armies too, including the Romans.
The Invention of the Razor Blade
It wasn’t until the 18th century that razor blades became more defined than sharp pieces of metal. The first “safety” razor was created by Frenchman Jean-Jacques Perret when he applied a wooden guard to a straight razor, but its actual safety properties were minimal.
Sheffield, the UK’s home of steel production, began producing straight steel razors in the 18th and 19th centuries and around the same time in the USA, the Kampfe Brothers also put in their patent for the first-ever safety razor. A little later in the early 20th century, the recognisable name of King Camp Gillette came up with the beginnings of the first disposable razor blade. This was obviously a game changer but since then the development of electric tools has allowed the barbering industry to advance and combine traditional methods with the latest technologies to keep innovating and creating unique personal styles.
Our Personal History
At Chaps & Co our own personal history is also of great importance to us. Founded in 2015, our whole ethos works around the idea of turning the chore of a haircut into a pleasurable enjoyable experience. Our founder Jordan was looking for reliable male grooming living as an expat in Dubai and found his options limited. That’s when he knew Chaps & Co was both much needed and could transform the male grooming experience for men in the UAE. We’re still growing, learning, and expanding, spreading our style of male grooming as far and wide as possible, book in to see what we’re all about.
