How to Impress the Ladies (The 50s-Ad Way)

Check out these vintage advertisements from the 1950s.

On this first one sparks seem to be flying between our cool disembodied gentleman and our long-legged blonde beauty. "They all tell me you feel cool. I'll tell you, you look smooth." Ok, she might be playing it a bit on the aloof side, but no reason to despair when you're using Mennen Menthol-Iced Lather Shave, right?

This one is a bit more daring, and probably the best and only way to shave. I bet even the sand on your face might make for a good scrub. "Bury your summer shaving cares in soothing Barbasol. No brush, no lather, no rub-in".

I'm sold!

Original posts from Glamoursplash here and here.

Plastic, Boar or Badger?

Roger Stewart of the Health & Fitness Report compares the usual suspects when it comes to shaving brushes and gives his verdict based on water retention, life span and friendliness when that brush makes that momentous contact with your face.

Go here for the full article.

For my two cents on the subject see my previous post about shaving brushes.

Shaving Brushes at the Fendrihan Shaving Store

Thiers Issard Straight Razors at Fendrihan.com

Stop by the Fendrihan Shaving Store to see our new selection of Thiers Issard straight razors featuring scales of precious wood, such as bocote and snakewood, exclusive Mount Thiernois gold blade inlays and "Evide Sonnant Extra" singing blades.

Candlelit Shaving?

Blogger R. Jason Bennion of Simple Tricks and Nonsense proves that necessity is the mother of daredevilry. And that lack of electricity won't always succeed at keeping you from your morning shave.

But it occurred to me during the process that it's probably a good thing our ancestors, who lived in much dimmer circumstances than we and shaved with straight-edged razors, tended to reproduce before their beards came in fully. Otherwise, the human race might've died out from accidental throat-cuttings...

Full article here.

A Well-Choreographed Shave

Set to Johannes Brahms's Hungarian Dance No. 5, and said to have been performed and recorded continuously in one take, Charles Chaplin's barbershop scene from his 1940 film (and first "talkie") "The Great Dictator" is nothing short of a masterpiece.

The piece is half shaving ritual, half choreographed dance and with its share of musical references. At times it seems Chaplin is directing an orchestra, as when he shakes his hand to get rid of foam and water in keeping with the tempo of the song. The honing and stropping motions echo the playing of the violins. And as a funny gesture, note how he checks the edge of the razor by slicing one of his own hairs.

One of my favorite movie scenes of all times. And quite an efficient shave, save for the mustache, that got missed. And all for a very reasonable fifty cents.