HOW THE ROMANS SHAVED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 18 July 1925, Page 9

HOW THE ROMANS SHAVED

THE USE OF THE RAZOR UN ANCIENT TIMES Most men shave once a day; at least a tenth of the world’s population toys with a razor every morning; yet tho literature of shaving is non-existent. Recently, however, the readers of The Times unbent so far as to discuss the question of how the Romans shaved, and John o’ London’s Weekly is indebted to tho Hairdressers’ Weekly Journal for the following comments, interesting, ; amusing, and instructive, on that cor- ; rcspondencc:— I One of the writers raised the question whether it. was not probable that the Romans shaved with pumice-stone. Samuel Pepys undoubtedly practised this method, we are told, and found it “very easy, speedy, and cleanly.” This brought forth a reply to the effect that tho Romans certainly used pumice-stone, but this correspondent suggests that the substance was used for what he describes as a “super-shave.” 110 cites tho younger Pliny in confirmation, as he describes a- dandy of his day as 1 icing both shaved and pumice stoned — rasus atquo et.iarn pumieatus. Although shaving did not become a part of the regular toilet for some centuries, it appears to havo been tho fashion in Rome from some time after 300 R.C. to the reign of Hadrian. The first person of note to practise shaving every day was the younger Scipio Africanus. Under the Empire beards came in again. No doubt even in those days the hairdresser’s customers varied just as much as they do in the twentieth century. Martial, in one of his epigrams, draws a picture of one of the “gilded youth who had time enough on his hands to have his beard treated in all three possible ways —tonsa (clipped with scissors), rasa (shaved), vulsa (the hairs pulled out). But while the methods were freely discussed, very little information was forthcoming as to the material of which the razors were made. One writer, however, is emphatic. He says the Romans used steel razors, as we do. 'lliis correspondent, also brings to our notice an interesting sidelight on the training of tile Roman barber’s apprentice. Apparently he received his early instruction by means of an implement which precluded him from making a sanguinary mess of the customer’s face. In conclusion, Cicero’s story of Hi'* nysius, the hated tyrant of Syracuse, who flourished from 430 to 367 15. C., may be quoted, although it does not properly come under the heading of “How the Romans Shaved,” for Dionysius was a. Greek : “Further, to avoid entrusting his neck to a barber, he (Dionysius) taught his own daughters to shave him. So the Royal maidens, acting in the mean and servile occupation of barbers, shaved their father’s beard and head. Nay, even then, as soon as they were grown up, he deprived them of the iron (instrument), and ordered them to singe his beard with heated wal- ( nut shells.” Even if we are wrong in concluding that here we have the earliest mention of lady barbers and singeing, the references to the “mean ami servile occupation” would seem to emphasise the fact that even over 2000 years ago the slogan of tho “elite”was “Only a barber! Two it .u comfort The L’N'iQl i HOT WATER BOTTLE will keep you feet as warm as toast on the coldest night. Insist on “UNIQUE”—none as good.