June 10, 2015

"Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor shaved their faces..."

"... according to ['celebrity facialist' Kate] Somerville, who said that an aesthetician who worked with them told her. She declined to reveal which of her celebrity clients shave their faces, but said that she recommends it widely and that many comply."

ADDED: An Esquire cover from 1965:

21 comments:

Bob Boyd said...

So did Bruce Jenner.

MayBee said...

It's very common in Japan. Cheaper than waxing. Easy to get rid of the blonde fuzz, which is unappealing.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

My mother would use some kind of bleach stuff on her mustache.

But that was back in the pre-Women's Lib 1960s.

In the 1970s she dyed it black and went for the full handlebar.

traditionalguy said...

The Facialists Industry seems to be planting stories. The writer hints that one of their experts is needed to shave correctly.

One story has a woman apply "extra virgin" olive oil before she shaves. That is a tell that this article is a BS ad campaign. Extra Virgin means the unfiltered olive oil full of the tasty olive particles which would jam up a blade.

Hagar said...

Women dress and make up for other women. It is about status more than appeal.

Bob Ellison said...

Can I just say that shaving sucks?

Men who don't play Major League Baseball shave faces, and women shave legs. It's awful! Could we just get used to not having to do it? My lower legs are getting less hairy year by year anyway.

We have two sheep who "shed". Don't have to be shorn. I'm wondering what they're worth except as objets d'art.

Etienne said...

My wife shaves her belly. If not, her pube's rise to her belly-button. I think she must have some Sicilian blood. Those are the hairiest women on the planet.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

There are shaves and then there are shaves.

Another magazine cover. Why not?

Anonymous said...

Take it off, take it all off.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

Seems the stubble would be less appealing than the hair.

Jay Vogt said...

About a year ago I read somewhere that shaving cream was not only superfluous, but actually detrimental to a good shave and more importantly the health of your facial skin. The recommendation was to just shave with just hot or warm water. Being of an open mind at the time, I tried it. Damned it didn't work. My shaves are as close and my skin feels and (to my eyes) looks better. For what its worth I'd say try going without for a week or two and see what you think.

Jay Vogt said...

Damned if it didn't work. My bad.

Etienne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
lgv said...

Shaving is a way of exfoliating, which is why shaving is good for men's skin.

Is it beneficial for women? Sure, but a good exfoliator does the same thing, without the downside of shaving.

JAORE said...

[Apologies if this is in the article. Did not read it, but...]

It's not just the hair. Shaving is a micro peel every day. Look around, there are lots of guys with smoother cheeks than their distaff contemporaries despite the lack of smearing skin products on a daily basis.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

Those two "beautiful" movie stars were gross and hairy.

joeknows said...

Shave in the shower without shaving cream. Use a cheap blade with silicon, Wilkersons are fine (Gilette has gone off the deep end with their pricing), shave, rinse and you are all set. I've been doing this for years.

Bill said...

I knew a bike messenger in SF years ago who had a little mustache. She was adorable.

Greg Hlatky said...

I started shaving in the shower with only soap and/or warm water and an inexpensive disposable razor. I get just as close a shave and have never nicked myself since.

Roughcoat said...

Too much information in this thread. Way, way too much.

GRW3 said...

Four decades ago I was in the industrial (chemical production) side of the soap business. Knowing how soaps and emulsifiers work, we could plainly see that the advertising was aimed at consumption, not performance. Too much soap or shaving cream is a waste at best and counter productive at worst. A little soap adds some lubrication to the shaving process and helps the shaved hair wash away from your face/leg and out of your razor.

Another place that soap is misused is shampoo. Commercials show putting huge amounts to your head. The correct approach is to use two small soap applications. The amount varies from a dime size, for the typical guy or ladies with bobs, up to a quarter size for those long locks. The first soap application won't foam very much as its purpose is to lift the salt deposits off your hair and scalp. Apply, massage and rinse off. The second application will foam pretty well and take the dirt and excess oils off. Shampoo for dry hair adds lanolin, or similar oils, and for oily hair adds alcohol.

Rolling back to the topic, I recall hearing/reading that the act of shaving the face requires exercising the facial muscles to greater degree than normal. This was used to explain why it was perceived that men aged more gracefully than women.