What are the oldest shaving rituals?

It's no secret at all that nowadays men take much more care of themselves than they used to. A trend that has re-emerged today is the longer the beard, so the men's facial care products industry has started to develop considerably. 

Without a doubt, the more beards, the more dapper gentlemen around us. But what was the situation in the past, when men couldn't choose from the numerous models of clippers or beard and mustache products available on the market today? Throughout history, male grooming has held a special place in human culture. In fact, some methods became real religious ceremonies or symbols of power in various ancient cultures. 

How did men care for themselves in Ancient Greece? 

Referring to statues from that period, we might conclude that Greek philosophers would not have developed so many theories without their famous beards. 

On the contrary, for them, the beard was a genuine symbol of wisdom and virility. According to legends, the first hairs of Greek men's mustaches were dedicated to Apollo (the Sun God) through an elaborate religious ritual. In fact, in Ancient Greece, men were forbidden to cut their hair before their beards began to grow, and cutting the beard was regarded as a sign of mourning. 

What grooming techniques existed in Ancient Egypt? 

In the early phase of Egyptian civilization, men wore both beards and long hair. However, this practice ended at the beginning of the Dynastic Period, when facial hair symbolized a tendency toward masculine animalism. Thus, ancient Egyptians began to shave their facial and body hair. 

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Egyptian priests had the habit of shaving their entire bodies very frequently (every two days), completely removing any signs of hair. 

Over time, however, the beard came to be seen as a sign of power, which is why kings were depicted with beards. Naturally, these were made exclusively of precious metals and were known as "osird" (divine beard), used during religious rituals. 

What methods did the Romans use to maintain their impeccable appearance? 

Unlike other peoples, the Romans used to completely shave their beards, keeping their faces as clean as possible. 

The first beard-cutting ritual was a particularly important event in the lives of young Romans, especially because they grew their facial hair until adulthood, when they were shaved during a religious celebration attended by their friends and family. At the same time, the cut beard was carefully preserved to be later offered to the Roman gods. 

As we can gather from the previous lines, the custom of wearing a beard has experienced many ups and downs over time. Nonetheless, today, the beard is a particularly popular trend among modern gentlemen, underscoring the importance of beard care techniques and products in any barbershop. Discover what new offers we've prepared on the site to provide your clients with high-quality shaving and facial care services.