Were you able to identify all the items in our lobby case? Check your answers below. 

  1. Curling Irons - Heated on a stove-top or open flame, these tools helped women gain perfect ringlets for their hair. But you needed caution, as you could burn your hand or hair. You can learn more with our Artifact Spotlight. 
  2. Safety Razor and Blade - The safety razor from Gillette in 1904 made shaving easier, safer, and cheaper, making the clean-shaven face popular. Before, one went to a barber shop where a straight razor was used (see image below). 
  3. Shaving Soap Dish and Brush -  Shaving soap gave a rich lather and added hydration to the skin. Once wet, the brush helped lather the soap and apply it to the skin. Soaps fell out of favor with the rise of aerosol cans for shaving cream.  
  4. Nail Clippers - Archeological evidence shows knives used for nail cleaning and clippers as early as the 8th century BCE. Modern nail clippers appeared around the 1870s. 

 

drawing for how to use a straight razor
In "The Art of Shaving" from 1846, these illustrations show how to use a straight razor. While you could do this at home, this was a service barber shops offered as well. Wikimedia Commons