Portal:Featured texts/53

"Shaving Made Easy: What the Man Who Shaves Ought to Know" is a 1905 illustrated textbook about shaving published by the 20th Century Correspondence School.

Shaving at home instead of going to the barber has recognised advantages in terms of time, money, and health; but it can also be more difficult. The work is particularly intended for those men who have difficulties in shaving themselves. It examines all aspects of shaving and all necessary objects. The purpose of this textbook is to make each man "able to shave himself easily and even better than the barber can do it for him." First-class tools are necessary at the very outset. No matter how skillfully one may handle inferior tools, they will invariably produce poor results.

Probably as many failures have resulted from the use of poor razors, strops, or soap as from the lack of knowledge how to use them. In order that the best possible results may be attained, good tools and skill in using them should go hand in hand.

The shaving outfit should consist of one or two good razors, a first-class strop, a mirror, a cup, a brush, a cake of shaving soap, and a bottle of either bay rum, witch hazel, or some other good face lotion. These constitute what may be considered the necessary articles, and to these may be added a number of others, such as a good hone, magnesia or talcum powder, astringent or styptic pencils, antiseptic lotions, etc. which, while not absolutely requisite, will nevertheless add much to the convenience, comfort and luxury of the shave. Featured April 2012