Thread: How Sailors shaved

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

The swaying isn't random at all, if you've spent any time on a small ship at sea, you will acclimate to the rocking, or get very sick, but in normal seas the swaying is something you get acclimated to very quickly. It takes time to get your land legs back, and I've noticed I'll stand in the mirror after a week at sea, and can see myself rocking as if I were still on the water.
After a short time aboard ship, they would have no difficulty shaving in normal/calm seas.

first time i got off the ship after being on more then a week i felt like the sidewalk was waving for me. fun times for a day or so but then all back to normal.

I read somewhere that sailors of old used to plait their baccy into the braids of the hair.
If they did shave aboard I wouldn't be surprised if riggers goop wasn't utilised in some way, (Tallow, Lanolin etc ) For aftershave would they have used Stockholm tar (my fav smell)?

PuFF

Don't know if it means anything but I have an old W&B 8/8 wedge that has a huge anchor on the tang next to the maker's mark. I'll attach a photo. Maybe it belonged to a captain?

This speculation is all well and good, but how did sailors shave coochies? We get now to the real crux of the matter and its about time.

That's a beautiful razor Alex.....I love the look that the anchor adds along with the mistique.