{"id":6141,"date":"2019-06-28T17:46:59","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T17:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.star-k.org\/articles\/?p=6141"},"modified":"2019-06-28T17:46:59","modified_gmt":"2019-06-28T17:46:59","slug":"a-cut-above-or-is-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.star-k.org\/articles\/kashrus-kurrents\/6141\/a-cut-above-or-is-it\/","title":{"rendered":"A Cut Above – Or Is It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Much discussion and halachic<\/em> energy have been expended discussing the halachic<\/em> legitimacy of Norelco\u2019s Lift-and-Cut shavers. The Lift-and-Cut claims to lift up the hair by one blade and then cut it with a second blade, instead of using a screen-blade scissor action.<\/p>\n

It is a fascinating fact that the lift-and-cut \u201ctechnology\u201d is based on a concept fostered by Gillette razor blade producers that if you insert two razor blades together with a slight gap between them, the first will pull the shaft of the hair up and the second blade will cut the hair below the skin line. Hence, the term \u201clift and cut\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind that the edge of the razor blade is sharpened to a point of .1mm to .2mm (1\/16 of an inch = 1.5mm), so the point of a razor is unquestionably razor sharp! However, users of the dual blade have dispelled the lift-and-cut \u201ctheory\u201d. Below are some of the reactions from disgruntled consumers who tested the lift-and-cut straight edge razors.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the blade is sharp enough to cut the whisker, it will cut the whisker without pulling it up.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve accidentally shaved with two blades. It was awful. They don\u2019t shave any better than a single blade.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI tried it despite my better judgment, loaded up my razor with two blades. It didn\u2019t look like it had two blades. Shave felt like it was twice as aggressive but half as efficient.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The comments dispelling the straight-edge lift-and-cut are very compelling. There were a myriad of \u2018Nays\u2019 and not one \u2018Yea\u2019 endorsing the lift-and-cut shaver. The overwhelming response of all those attempting to shave with a dual blade was that it doesn\u2019t work. A theory is just a theory, and reality tells the story.<\/p>\n

Halachically,<\/em> where does the Phillips-Norelco electric \u2018lift-and-cut\u2019 shaver weigh in? It is the opinion of Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbinic Administrator of STAR-K, that the \u201clift-and-cut\u201d is no different than a conventional triple header. The inner blade would have to be tested to see if it is too dull to cut a hair without the assist of the screen. If the blades are too dull to sever a beard hair, then the shaver will qualify for the halachic \u201cmisparayim k\u2019ein taar\u201d<\/em> that Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt\u201dl,<\/em> permits. It is interesting to note that Phillips-Norelco now produces many non-lift-and-cut models whose quality is comparable to their lift-and-cut counterparts. The new conventional triple head blades have to be checked to see if the inner blade is \u201cdull compliant\u201d.<\/p>\n

The next halachic<\/em> challenge in the new One Blade trimmer is that it looks like a straight-edge razor but operates like a linear shaver. The inner blade vibrates in a back and forth linear motion. The screen and inner blade work in tandem, and there are three attachments that will trim down to a five o\u2019clock shadow or a stubble, but not a close shave.<\/p>\n

The thickness (or thinness) of the inner blade of the One Blade has been measured at anywhere from .5mm to .9mm, certainly thicker than a straight-edge razor. In fact, when I presented this statistic to Rav<\/em> Heinemann, shlit\u201da,<\/em> he said a shochet\u2019s \u201cchalaf\u201d<\/em> is honed to .9mm sharpness \u2013 definitely sharp enough to cut a beard hair! Even though the One Blade only trims in an unconventional fashion, the inner blade would have to be checked. If it is too sharp, the blade would have to be dulled. The problem with the One Blade is that there is no easy way to dismantle the head without ruining it. Therefore, Rav<\/em> Heinemann left the halachic<\/em> status of the One Blade as inconclusive. If it\u2019s sharp enough to shecht<\/em> a beheima,<\/em> it\u2019s sharp enough to cut a beard hair.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Much discussion and halachic energy have been expended discussing the halachic legitimacy of Norelco\u2019s Lift-and-Cut shavers. The Lift-and-Cut claims to lift up the hair by one blade and then cut it with a second blade, instead of using a screen-blade scissor action.<\/p>\n

It is a fascinating fact that the lift-and-cut \u201ctechnology\u201d is based on a concept fostered by Gillette razor blade producers that if you insert two razor blades together with a slight gap between them, the first will pull the shaft of the hair up and the second blade will cut the hair below the skin line. Hence, the term \u201clift and cut\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind that the edge of the razor blade is sharpened to a point of .1mm to .2mm (1\/16 of an inch = 1.5mm), so the point of a razor is unquestionably razor sharp! However, users of the dual blade have dispelled the lift-and-cut \u201ctheory\u201d. Below are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[169,27,174],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kashrus-kurrents-2019","category-kashrus-kurrents","category-summer-kashrus-kurrents-2019"],"yoast_head":"\nA Cut Above - Or Is It? | STAR-K Kosher Certification<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Much discussion and halachic energy have been expended discussing the halachic legitimacy of Norelco\u2019s Lift-and-Cut shavers. 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