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<font size=3>From
<a href="http://www.star-k.com/kashrus/kk-mitzvos-shavers.htm">
http://www.star-k.com/kashrus/kk-mitzvos-shavers.htm</a> <br><br>
How would the electric shaver fare in the kosher shaving arena? The
electric shaver is a relatively recent introduction to the shaving
scene. Prior to the shaver, the only practical method of kosher
beard removal was the use of shaving powder. The powder was mixed
with water and made a very offensive smelling paste that was spread on
one's face and ate away the person's facial hair. One had to be careful
to remove the paste in haste so that only facial hair, and not facial
skin, would be removed.<br><br>
The electric shaver seemed to be a welcome technical <i>halachic</i>
introduction, although shaving in general has not been without
controversy. However, those <i>halachic</i> authorities that
permitted shaving with electric shavers did so because it seemed to
fulfill all <i>halachic</i> requirements. The shaver was made up of
a vibrating head and screen, with the beard hair passed between the
cutting edges of the screen and the vibrating head; the hair is cut off
in a scissor-like cutting fashion between head and screen. The
shave was closer than manual scissors, since the shaver cut the beard
close to the skin, yet it never effectively gave a smooth shave because
they were not as powerful as they are today.<br><br>
As shavers became more sophisticated, they also became more
<i>halachic</i>ally challenging. With some models, the stronger
motors made the head vibrate faster and cut the beard closer. The
lift and cut shaving systems that evolved from the older Norelco
Triplehead system claimed that they could shave as close as a razor. As
the skin was held taut, the shaver alleged to cut the beard below the
skin like a <i>razor</i>. Although shaving professionals will admit
that the closeness of one's shave depends upon a person's beard
conditions and texture, realistically, the system works better in theory
than in practice.<br><br>
<Snip><br><br>
<i>Hagaon</i> R' Moshe Feinstein, ZT"L , who permitted the use of
electric shavers used a criteria similar to the <i>shochet</i> who would
demonstrate how sharp his (<i>shechita</i> knife) was. To show the
sharp edge of his knife, a <i>shochet</i> would take a hair from his
beard, and holding the hair in one hand the <i>shochet</i> would see
whether the cut the dangling hair. If the hair was severed, the
<i>shochet</i>'s steel passed the test.<br><br>
So too, in a similar manner, R' Moshe would often test the sharpness of
an electric shaver's blades. He would take a beard hair and test
the blades! The shaver would be acceptable if the hair was held
taut and was <u>not</u> split in half.<br><br>
The only practical suggestion that can be given to one whose shaver
failed this test is to dull the blades. This can be done by
taking a key or some other hard, flat instrument and running it along the
sharp edge of the blade. Obviously, this shaver will not work as
well; nevertheless, it is still effective and will transform a previously
questionable shaver into one that is acceptable by the <i>Poskim</i> who
permit the use of shavers. <br><br>
See the above URL for more. YL<br><br>
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