Shaving Accessories

In the annals of grooming history, shaving can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt when a combination of creams, essential oils, and pumice stones were used to remove hair from unwanted places. But it was Alexander the Great who popularized the grooming ritual when he encouraged soldiers under his command to shave their heads and faces to prevent enemies from grasping a handful of hair in hand-to-hand combat.

Since then, shaving has been elevated to an art form and science. Today, shaving tools take myriad forms from bare-bones single-bladed straight razors sharpened by a leather strop to high-tech devices like the Philips Norelco electric razor.

Whether the traditional double-edge safety razors and shaving soap of a wet shave, or more modern offerings including the range of Gillette products, an interest in shaving products has never flagged. Now, shaving items from antique straight razors and handcrafted badger-hair shaving brushes to once-cutting-edge mid-century "butterfly" razors attract the attention of aficionados the world over.

Quick Facts

• Prehistoric man is thought to have shaved using the edge of clam shells, sharpened flint stone, and shark teeth
• In February 2008, a vintage occupational shaving mug with a horse-drawn ambulance theme set a new record, selling at W. Yoder Auctions for $29,000. The mug is one of only two known to exist
• In October 2013, former United States President John F. Kennedy's elegant monogrammed brass Gillette shaving kit sold at an RR Auction for $27,600. The kit was frequently used from his youth through the White House years