Classic wet shaving is masculine, exciting, and sexy
For many men, shaving is a daily morning routine. A ritual that you don’t always think about. Well, in the morning you’re not yet 100% awake. Shaving is often done on 'autopilot'. Just putting a cloud of foam on your face and quickly shaving with the razor along your usual shaving paths. Rinse off, aftershave, and 'job done'. How different it often is in movies. In films, actors manage to give shaving 'depth'. Shaving is an artistic expression. In many cases, it is, of course, about classic wet shaving: shaving foam, shaving brush, and razor. Classic wet shaving is a ritual. It is utterly masculine, exciting, and sexy. We have mapped out 10 fun, fantastic, and famous shaving scenes.
Why is classic wet shaving masculine, exciting, and sexy
Filmmakers usually opt for classic wet shaving. Why? It is still a typically masculine ritual in this modern age. Shaving with a sharp razor over your facial skin is a skill and requires control. Shaving is also an intimate moment for oneself. After shaving, the man is smooth, fresh, and well-groomed. Ready for battle. Women find shaving and men who shave exciting and sexy. It is a masculine activity and because the man is very vulnerable at that moment. It also evokes strong associations with their own childhood: standing next to your shaving father as a young girl. It gives them a feeling of safety and security.
Mississippi Burning, 1988, Gene Hackman
This thrilling biographical thriller is set in the 1960s in the deep South of the USA. 2 FBI agents investigate the disappearance of 3 civil rights activists. They are confronted with racism and encounter much resistance from the local police. FBI agent Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) meets the corrupt deputy sheriff Clinton Pell (Brad Dourif) in a barbershop. The deputy sheriff is being shaved by the barber at that moment. Gene Hackman takes the open razor from the barber and presses the razor to the cheek and neck of the deputy sheriff. He warns the sheriff not to obstruct the investigation.
In this scene, an open razor is used. What stands out is that the barber immediately starts shaving against the direction of hair growth on his client's cheeks. Usually, you start shaving on the cheeks with the direction of hair growth.
The open razor is used here as a dangerous weapon; the razor commands respect. Wet shaving with a razor on your skin is a skill and requires control.
The Great Dictator, 1940, Charlie Chaplin
This satirical film by Charlie Chaplin is set just before World War II. It is a parody of the dictator Adolf Hitler. Charlie Chaplin plays two main roles, namely the dictator and a Jewish barber. Because both characters look strikingly alike, they are accidentally switched at the end of the film. The Jewish barber is mistaken for the dictator. This causes confusion when he ultimately has to give a speech to a large audience.
Halfway through the film, there is a fantastic scene where the barber shaves a customer with a shaving brush and an open razor. In this scene, all the steps of shaving are performed to the rhythm of the music.
At that time, barbers still used real open razors. Nowadays, barbershops only shave with shavette razors or a regular razor. Charlie Chaplin closely observed the shaving method of barbers. The barber first starts by making shaving foam in a shaving bowl. Unfortunately, it is not shown whether he uses shaving soap or shaving cream. He applies it with the shaving brush and his hands. Then he sharpens the razor on a whetstone and afterwards polishes it on the strop. Very smoothly and skillfully, he shaves his customer. After shaving, a quick after shave splash. Apparently, 'time is money' was also true back then.
In this scene, the creators want to show that the profession of barber is a respectable and noble craft.
Tootsie, 1982, Dustin Hoffman
In this comedy film, Dustin Hoffman plays a frustrated and demanding actor, Michael Dorsey. As a male actor, he struggles to find work. He decides to transform into a woman to land a role in a soap opera. He succeeds in playing the lead role as a woman in this soap. The character Dorothy in this series becomes so popular that the directors decide to extend his contract for another year. This, of course, leads to hilarious situations. He falls in love with Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange), one of his female co-stars in this soap. Julie's father also falls in love with Dorothy.
He spends hours getting ready and dressing up as a woman. In one scene, you see Dustin Hoffman as Dorothy shaving her legs in the bath. It clearly shows how much work it is for a man to shave and groom every morning.
James Bond/Live And Let Die, 1973, Roger Moore
In this film, Roger Moore as James Bond is shaving in the bath with a multiblade cartridge razor and ready-made shaving foam from a spray can. At that moment, a poisonous snake slithers in through a hatch. After shaving, he is smoking his cigar and sees the snake in his mirror. He quickly grabs a can, probably hairspray, and his burning cigar and burns the snake on the spot.
It's a pity that James Bond shaves with shaving foam from a spray can. If you look closely, it is shaving foam from the brand Schick. This is probably product placement for this brand. It is unclear what exactly is in the can of hairspray. But it is definitely very flammable.
This scene shows that shaving is a moment for yourself and that you should not be disturbed during your morning ritual.
James Bond/Skyfall, 2012, Daniel Craig and Naomi Harris
In this film, Daniel Craig stands in front of the mirror with a shaving brush. At a certain moment, Moneypenny (Naomi Harris) enters the bathroom. James Bond continues shaving and grabs his open razor. Moneypenny is charmed that he shaves in the classic way. She takes the razor from James Bond and then starts shaving him.
For actress Naomi Harris, it was the first time she was going to shave a man with an open razor. She took some practical lessons from a barber (the father of her hairdresser) beforehand. She practiced a lot on balloons and on some male crew members. While shaving Daniel Craig, she was a bit nervous. Fortunately, everyone had confidence in her.
In the beginning, James Bond uses a classic silver-tipped badger hair shaving brush. It is probably an English shaving brush. Unfortunately, you cannot see whether he is using shaving soap or shaving cream in the shaving bowl. What stands out is that he applies the foam to his cheeks and chin with a circular motion. The open razor is a 5/8" blade with a wooden handle. It is not visible which brand it is. Perhaps it is a DOVO razor.
In this scene, the creators show four aspects of shaving:
- shaving is a masculine ritual;
- the vulnerability of the man;
- classic wet shaving is erotic;
- women appreciate men who shave classically wet.
North by Northwest, 1959, Cary Grant
In this thrilling classic, Cary Grant plays the charming advertising man Roger O. Thornhill. Roger is accidentally mistaken for a secret agent. He is kidnapped by two armed men and taken away. Various chase scenes follow. The scene where he is chased in a cornfield by a low-flying crop-dusting plane is very famous. He is also being pursued by the police. To avoid being recognized by the police, he shaves in a public restroom and washroom. He uses extra shaving foam in order not to be recognized. He uses a travel shaving brush and a mini safety razor.
The travel shaving brush is a classic badger hair shaving brush. The safety razor has a metal and plastic shaving head. The man next to Cary Grant is shaving with an open razor.
This comedic scene shows that you should be able to shave yourself under any circumstance or situation.
The Untouchables, 1987, Robert De Niro
In this fantastic mafia movie, several top actors, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Andy Garcia, and Robert De Niro, star. Robert De Niro plays Al Capone. This film is based on the true story of Eliot Ness during the 'Prohibition' in the 1930s in America. Kevin Costner and Sean Connery play the agents Eliot Ness and Jimmy Malone, respectively. In the shaving scene, Al Capone sits relaxed and comfortably in the barber chair in the barbershop. He is surrounded by male journalists who are interviewing him and asking various questions. During the shave with an open razor, the barber accidentally cuts his cheek. The legendary words of Al Capone during this scene: 'You can get further with a kind word and a gun. Than you can with just a kind word.'
Al Capone undergoes a luxury Italian shave. His barber starts with wet warm towels. The shaving cream is applied with an XL-sized badger hair shaving brush. The handle is made of chrome-plated metal. The open razor has a 5/8" blade and a handle made of ivory-colored plastic. The tip of the blade is a so-called barber tip or barber's notch. Unfortunately, it is not visible what brand it is. What stands out is that Robert De Niro already looks quite smooth-shaven before he is shaved by the barber.
This scene shows four aspects:
- wet shaving is a male affair;
- the open razor commands respect;
- good shaving is a skill and requires control;
- you must always remain calm while shaving.
High Plains Drifter, 1973, Clint Eastwood
High Plains Drifter is an American western film from 1973 directed by Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood stars as a traveler. He is passing through and ends up in the mining town of Lago. At the local barbershop, he gets a shave. During the shave, he is harassed by three men. A struggle ensues and then the traveler shoots the three men dead.
The barber in this film is a timid and obsequious little man. He uses an open razor. Before he starts, the razor is polished on a leather strop. He offers to use Eau de Lilac after the shave if desired. Apparently, this cologne was very popular at that time in the Wild West. The shaving cream is in a large mug and is applied with a shaving brush. It is unclear what type of shaving brush it is. What stands out is that he applies the shaving cream very messily. The open razor has a 6/8" blade. Unfortunately, it is not visible what brand it is.
This scene also shows that shaving is a moment for yourself and that you should not be disturbed during shaving. A botched shave can end badly.
Phenomenon, 1996, John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick
Phenomenon is an American romantic film starring John Travolta as George Malley. George is a mechanic, a lovable and simple man living in a small provincial town. He is in love with a single mother, Lace Pennamin (Kyra Sedgwick). At one point, he is struck by a mysterious white light in the sky. He develops special paranormal powers and intelligence. Ultimately, things do not end well for George.
In an extremely romantic and loving scene, he is shaved by Lace using shaving foam and a safety razor. Lace uses shaving foam from a spray can and a safety razor with a butterfly closure.
In this scene, we also see the vulnerability of the man during shaving and that shaving is sexy.
Casualties of War, 1989, Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox
Casualties of War is a classic Vietnam war drama featuring Sean Penn (Sergeant Tony Meserve) and Michael J. Fox (Private First Class Max Eriksson). The story is based on a true incident during this war in 1966: a Vietnamese woman was abducted by a team of American soldiers, who raped and murdered her. During a firefight, Max Eriksson is saved by his comrade Tony Meserve. Tony was actively involved in the incident. Max faces a moral dilemma of whether or not to report his comrade for this war crime.
In this scene, Sean Penn is shaving with a straight razor. This scene shows two aspects, namely:
- shaving with a razor is a masculine ritual;
- you can only truly start the day or be ready for battle if you have properly shaved and taken care of yourself.
