Shaving is the practice of removing body hair using a razor.
Shaving is a common method of depilation, and is most commonly used by men to remove their facial hair, and by women to remove their leg hair, underarm hair, or other bodily hair.
History
Before the advent of razors, some humans removed hair using two sea shells to pull the hair out. Later, around 3000 BC, when copper tools were developed, humans developed copper razors. The idea of an aesthetic approach to personal hygiene may have begun at this time, though Egyptian priests may have practiced something similar to this earlier.
Alexander the Great made shaving popular. He was fastidious about shaving. This popularity ended with Roman emperor Hadrian, who let a beard grow to hide a skin disorder.
Shaving can now be done with an electric razor or a regular, manual one. If a non-electric razor is used, some lathering agent such as soap or a special shaving cream or foam is normally applied to the area to be shaved first, to avoid a painful razor burn.
Some men (and very few women) shave the hair off their heads, or at least parts of it. Shaved heads can be considered as a form of haircut.
Some hold the belief that, once shaving commences, the hair will grow out more thickly. However, this bit of conventional wisdom happens to be false. The resulting stubble only makes the hairs seem to be thicker. Because a shaved hair has a blunt end (versus the tapered end of an unshaven hair) and because hair is often darker in color near the root, there is a widely held belief that shaving causes hair to grow in thicker and faster. Clinical studies have demonstrated that shaving does not have an effect on hair growth rates or density (see medical data below).
Shaving can have numerous side effects, including cuts, abrasions, and irritation. Some people with curly hair have a serious response to shaving called pseudofolliculitis barbae, or "razor bumps." Most side effects can be minimized by using a fresh blade, plenty of lubrication, and avoiding pressing down with the razor. Some people can only use single-blade or wire-wrapped blades which do not shave too closely. Others cannot use razors at all and use shaving powders to dissolve hair above the skin's surface rather than cut it.