Straight Razor – Unlike the razors of today, this razor is a single blade that folds out of a handle. Men would have to be very careful while using this razor. They would also need to sharpen it from time to time on a sharpening stone or a razor strop.
During the 1800s, shaving was done with a steel straight razor, often by a barber. When Gillette patented the first safety razor in 1904, it became easier for men to shave themselves at home. As a result, being clean-shaven became both more convenient and very fashionable.
Cowboys weren't often clean-shaven
In fact, shaving - as with most matters of grooming - was a luxury for working cowboys. They spent most of their time on the range herding cattle, where there weren't really the facilities for a shave or even a wash, so many cowboys would have been bearded.
Cowboys often carried a cast iron skillet, a coffee pot, and a tin plate and cup for cooking and eating meals while out on the trail. These items were usually stored in the saddlebags or tied to the saddle.
History. A rudimentary form of shaving cream was documented in Sumer around 3000 BC. This substance combined wood alkali and animal fat and was applied to a beard as a shaving preparation. Until the early 20th century, bars or sticks of hard shaving soap were used.
Straight Razor – Unlike the razors of today, this razor is a single blade that folds out of a handle. Men would have to be very careful while using this razor. They would also need to sharpen it from time to time on a sharpening stone or a razor strop.
In 1919, he succeeded with the invention of Barbasol – a shaving cream that did not have to be worked into a lather. The original formula was a thick lotion that was still manufactured until 2019 when Barbasol 1919 Classic Shaving Cream replaced it.
This is where cowboy suspenders, also known as galluses, made their humble debut. Initially crafted from durable leather, these early suspenders were not intended as fashion statements. Their sole purpose was to keep the trousers securely in place during long days of physically demanding work.
Perhaps the highlight of a cowboys time was cooking up a hearty meal for themselves and their friends, a meal that would more often than not feature a large hunk of meat. It wouldn't be unusual for a cowboy to tuck a few pieces of flank steak under their saddle between the leather and the horse.
Later, it was found that the reversed holster can be more comfortable, especially when worn while sitting down, than the normal type holster. In addition, cavalry draw can be performed while sitting, as well as retaining the original off-hand cross draw capability.
People instead used tooth powder, baking soda, salt, or campfire ash. Deodorant wasn't mass produced until 1888, and soap consisted of a musky mix of ash and animal fat. Toilet paper didn't make an appearance until 1880; at best, people used leaves, dry corn cobs, or pages torn from The Farmer's Almanac.
Ancient Rome
The novacila was used for shaving, the pumice stone to help rub off stubble, and afterwards, massage oils and perfumes would be used to soften the skin.
The Lack of Bathing Introduced Multiple Fungal Infections
It wasn't unusual for cowboys to go weeks - and sometimes even months - without a proper clean. But cowboys paid the price for wearing the same clothes for days on end and spending hours on the back of a horse.
“The Romans didn't remove body hair to look beautiful, they did it for cultural and religious reasons – men removed it as a sign of purity,” said Viren Swami, a professor of social psychology and an expert in body image at Anglia Ruskin University.
The 1940s and World War II brought a shortage of nylon, so women were more likely to shave their legs because stockings were harder to come by. Bikinis became mainstream in the late 1940s, and coupled with the popularity of Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine, encouraged the hairless pubic area.
Later in history, in Ancient Greece and Rome, it was considered uncivilized to have pubic hair, so men and women used tools to pluck the hairs individually or singed them off with fire. Other forms of hair removal included razors, sharpened stones, and even forms of depilatory cream.
On roundups and trail drives, cowboys slept outdoors for weeks at a time. Their bedroll often consisted of a pair of blankets rolled in a piece of oiled, waterproof canvass. Inside his bedroll, he kept extra clothes, letters, and other personal items. The bedroll was the cowboy's personal bedroom on the prairie.
Brine was saltwater that was traditionally "strong enough to float an egg." Preserved in this way, homesteaders could keep meats for weeks and months at a time. However, like the other staple of pioneer diet, salt pork, "salted down" meat had to be laboriously rinsed, scrubbed, and soaked before consumption.
Some early horse trainers noted horses preferred to be approached and worked from the left. Many people believe this was one of the elements that led to mounting on the left becoming a standard practice.
Whether driving cattle through the high desert of the Southwest or across the plains of the Midwest, cowboys would often carry an elaborate system of heavy quilts, blankets, ropes, and tarps lined with rings and snaps, tucking themselves away from the elements like human burritos in what they dubbed a roundup bed.
The very first cowboy bandanas were worn for warmth in cold temperatures, and for protection from sun, wind, and dirt anytime. In many regions bandanas are still a standard part of cowboy dress for work or social occasions.
In 1919, Barbasol invented the very first no brush, no lather, no rub-in shaving cream. Our thick and rich formula has been the American standard trusted by generations for a close, comfortable shave. Today, we celebrate this milestone with a fresh take on THE ORIGINAL.
Sales declined in the 1950s, and in 1963 the company was sold to Philip Morris. Its well-known advertising signs were removed at that time. The brand decreased in visibility and eventually became the property of the American Safety Razor Company.