Body shaving

[wanting]

I was wondering when people were first able to shave their beards and legs. What type of instruments did they use. Was it important for a woman to have smooth legs, or was it normal for them to have leg hair?

[jno]

tweezing first, probably with shells; copper razors later. Women started to shave legs once dresses got shorter last century; before that their legs were mostly covered. Ancient Egyptians went in for depilation, I think, maybe because it was so hot.

http://web.archive.org/web/20061019123013/http ://www.shaving.com/history/war.asp

[figure]

I think pumice stones were the first hair remover.

[Ice.Maiden]

Ha ha ha - be a bit rough round the nether regions though, wouldn't it!

[perigra]

i remove my pubic hair using a scythe, one good swipe and hey presto!!!

[Octavius]

This should help answer many of your Qs:

http://www.quikshave.com/timeline.htm

[Ice.Maiden]

Scythe??? A somewhat hazardous task I'd imagine perigra! Eyes water at the thought.

[Lil O'lady]

Hill tribe women in afghanistan used a piece of taut string to remove facial hair on a 'roll n pluck' principle. Ave a go, Legend, it'll keep your hands off the keybard for a while.

[Lil O'lady]

Re. Jno's point about shaving in ancient egypt : hair was removed from all over the body - including eyelashes - for people involved in ritual such as priests, mixture of plucking and shaving. Hair is often found ritually included in tomb deposits and was viewed as having mystic values, possibly based on observation of hair growing after death of owner.