OUR OLD SHAVING BOX

                                           

OUR OLD SHAVING BOX.

 Shaving is most commonly practised by men to remove their facial hair. A man is called clean-shaven if he has had his beard entirely removed.It is believed that the ancient Egyptians and the Greeks were the first to promote shaving.

 In my childhood and youth, Godrej and Erasmic shaving soaps were quite popular though shaving creams had also arrived in Kashmir. A piece of alum (Phatkari) was always there in the shaving box. It was used to prevent infection from cuts , act as an astringent to reduce skin irritation and a moisturizer to soften the facial skin.The shaving box also had a shaving brush, a small iron scissor, a metal Katori ( cup) for hot water, a napkin, some old and new shaving blades and a blade sharpening tool called hone. A three-piece metallic shaving razor (machine) was the core device. The metallic shaving razor consisted of three parts, you had to put the blade on the top part then the bottom one and screw the handle.Some elderly persons used the old single piece barber’s razor (straight razor). They felt more comfortable with this oldest shaving device.

Safety razors have been known to exist since at least 1876 when the single-edge ‘Star’ safety razor was patented by  two brothers ;Frederick and Otto Kampfe.In 1895, ‘King Camp Gillette’ invented the double-edged safety razor, which utilised inexpensive, disposable blades sharpened from two sides. It took him until 1901 to build a working, patentable model, and commercial production began in 1903. Shaving was done with removeable blades or safety razors since the first quarter of the twentieth century.There was a time when single blade manufacturer Malhotra’s brands Topaz and Laser ruled the country. The double blade Wilkinson Sword was a British brand. It was followed by Gillette and 7′o clock edge blade. Ashok, Topaz, Panama, Prince, Gillette, Wilkinson Sword, Erasmic, 7 Oclock, Bharat and Nacet were popular brands of shaving blades sold in Kashmir. Presently cartridge razors, developed in the 1960s are mostly used for shaving the world over.And later during my college days, I noticed that a small bottle of Dettol antiseptic liquid and Boroline cream getting added to many shaving boxes. Even shaving box of S K Kak (IAS) had these items. I happened to see Kak Sahib shaving at his Naidyar, Rainawari residence oneday during morning hours. A marriage invitation card had to be delivered to his family. I believe he was Director Tourism or Controller Tawaza at that point in time. It could be around 1972 or 1973. I am not sure. S K Kak  finds mention in V.S. Naipaul's book" An Area of Darkness" as well.

Watching my father use his shaving box was something that amused me. Like bathing and having breakfast, shaving was a ritual that he performed everyday early in the morning. I always wished to have my individual shaving box as a decalaration of my  adulthood and manhood .And the day I had my first shave , I vividly remember the comments of my family and close relatives ; ‘you should shave daily now’, ‘ you look different today ‘, ‘ keep your box separate ‘, ‘your face looks small today ’ and many more . After-shave lotions and shaving foams were unaffordable. We would use Erasmic/ Godrej soap cake, Topaz blade and a brush with nylon bristles. Skin irritation was unavoidable. Shaving was followed by a facewash under tapwater. Finally the popular Boroline cream was applied on the shaven face to keep the skin soft and moist. That was common man’s shaving in the Kashmir valley.I believe it was so everywhere.

  It is believed that shaving helps to rid our face of the harmful bacteria. We look younger and better. Research has shown that a beard can make a man look older by almost 10 years.  Shaving helps to remove the daily skin debris that is created along the outermost layer of the skin.  This debris can get impacted within the hair follicles and lead to acne. However, with regular shaving one can remove these dead skin cells without the need to scrub his face.Even skin specialists believe so.

 (Avtar Mota)

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