I have a wonderful book by Donald Dallas, The British Sporting Gun and Rifle: Pursuit of Perfection 1850-1900 that includes photographs of [predominantly] British Empire sportsman and gamekeepers. Dallas' book shows by my estimate 90 percent of those pictured have facial hair - that is, mostly beards, fewer with "mutton chops" or mustaches or "Burnsides" or other types to which I can put no name. In Dallas' book facial hair appears at this constant percentage until it tapers off beginning in the 1880s. By the end of the 19th century Dallas' photographs show facial hair, except for mustaches, to be nearly gone. Photographs in this book prompted me to the following question.

With the popularization of photography from the middle of the nineteenth century I have seen many photographs of American field grade and general officers, many of whom wearing beards and few clean shaven. I have viewed many times fewer photographs of comparable British army officers, so I have little knowledge of their facial hair. Regarding private soldiers of either army, I have viewed so few photographs that I have still less knowledge of their facial hair.

While I anticipate that during war and/or on campaign any regulations pertaining to facial hair and grooming were significantly relaxed or overlooked, what about during peacetime or on garrison duty?

I suspect a lot of it had to do with the difficulties of using a straight razor in the field. The first safety razor was invented in 1762 but was clumsy and not very effective. A big improvement came in the 1870s when a handle was added and the blade was improved upon. However, all early safety razors had forged blades that required resharpening and were not very handy in the field.

The first truly successful version of the safety razor was designed by King Camp Gillette in 1901. Gillette's razor used disposable blades. Even with months of blades Gillette's design was light, compact, and made it very easy for soldiers to safely get a close, quick shave in the field. After the appearance of the Gillette safety razor there was no longer any excuse for soldiers to go unshaven. By WWI, the ranks of American and most European armies contained well disciplined, hygienic, clean shaven soldiers.

The safety razor also allowed women to get a close shave. By WWI most of the prostitutes in France were shaving their legs and underarms. American doughboys learned to like women with shaved legs. After returning from the war they convinced their girlfriends and wives to shave. And they have been shaving ever since.

Here is a WWI advert:


WWI military shaving kit. Blades go in the little box and there is a mirror in the lid. The mirror comes out and has a lanyard for hanging.


Here is a Gillette shaving kit from 1930:


Gillette Milady Decolletée appeared in 1915. It was the first razor built specifically for women.

Metallurgy serves men [and women ]once again !!
Much technology goes into such products .Now electric razors get most of the technology.

Another thing to consider about beards on soldiers. ..
World War 1, GAS ATTACKS. You cannot get a good seal with a gas mask if you have a beard.

So since WWl, beards have been not allowed in most Armies.

However, since the USA has been fighting in the "Sand Box", many USA forces have been allowed beards because of their cultural significance in the Muslim world.

Mustaches were popular during the Vietnam Era. You had to have served in RVN to sport one.

A badge of distinction!

When I cam in the Navy you had to route a request chit (every document where you request something in the Navy and Marine Corps is called a chit) to have a mustache. I missed the bearded Navy by 4 years.

We had beards in Afghanistan, originally you had to be in the SOCOM community and have direct contact with the enemy to wear one, then the commander of SOCOM forces in Afghanistan changed and included us fat support dorks, and I got a beard the last few months I was there.

We were already doing the clown shoes thing with the fireman (asskicker) mustaches and big sideburns. Just had to grow the middle part in.

Baghram was kind of stupid, the Air Force owned it and you had to salute on base. I quit wearing a uniform jacket and bought a North Face brown one at the PX. Our team looked like contractors, we all started doing it and wearing "flag caps" which were illegal, but i t meant that we had ZERO chance of one of our officers getting killed.

We had enough problems, see below!

http://archive.navytimes.com/a...rash-behind-training

i have an old single edge razor i still use once in a while when me beard gets neglected for a few days.... it's a neat old brass gem junior but if you're not careful your can really butcher your face up with it........


democrat or american.... who are you???????????

Tasco:

Seems like an either or to you.

Same to me too.

Royal Navy was, and still I think is, clean shaven or a 'full set' of beard and moustaches. A moustance on its own not being permitted.

British Army regulations were clean shaven or a moustache with only Pioneer Sergeants or cavalry Farrier Segeants being permitted a beard.

Moustaches...I think....could not extend below the lower lip and sideburns could not connect to any moustache. Had to be a clear gap.

Civilians were as hairy as they wanted. Edward VII and George V wore beards so 'when in Rome'...what 'the Royals' did was copied, aped, adopted by many.