Skarp raises $2 million on Kickstarter in less than 10 days
October 2, 2015
Alan Adamu
Skarp is redefining something that we all use, a razor. While it looks
like a conventional razor, it works in a completely different way.
Instead of using the old fashioned blade, Skarp razor uses lasers
to cut your hair, and that is what makes this design very interesting.
...
The laser is designed to cut through the hair at a very close shave,
making it feel smoother than ever. Another interesting aspect of
this design is that it is claimed to leave no scratches, razor burns,
infections, itches, accidental cuts and irritations...
.... After over a decade of research, Morgan
[Gustavsson MBBS] discovered a chromophore in human hair that gets cut
when it comes in contact with a certain wavelength of light. These
so-called chromophores are particles within the human hair that
have the ability to absorb certain wavelengths of light. What is
interesting about this discovery is the fact that this chromophore is
present in every single human being, meaning that this laser could be
used to cut the hair of any person, irrespective of gender or race.
...
Copyright 2015 Interesting Engineering All Rights Reserved
(Refer to the original post for more information about how this shaving
device works.) The first and most obvious comparison would be to a
lift-and-cut electric shaver, which many forbid because it cuts the hair
too close. However, I was taught that the issur of hashchasa refers not to
the destruction of the beard, but to destruction of the skin, and since ALL
electric shavers have some sort of screen or guard between the skin and the
cutting mechanism, they are all mutar to use. According to this view, I
would imagine that the critical question is how well this device can
distinguish between hair cells and skin cells. (I imagine that the
designers have already solved this, or else everyone would consider it
unsafe.)
: ..., I was taught that the issur of hashchasa refers not to
: the destruction of the beard, but to destruction of the skin, and since ALL
: electric shavers have some sort of screen or guard between the skin and the
: cutting mechanism, they are all mutar to use. According to this view, I
: would imagine that the critical question is how well this device can
: distinguish between hair cells and skin cells...
It is allegedly tuned to a color which is absorbed by hair but not skin.
To quote their kickstarter:
After years of research & development, they discovered a chromophore
in the hair that would be cut when hit with a particular light
wavelength.
Chromophores are particles that absorb certain wavelengths (colors)
of light.
This chromophore they identified is shared by every human, regardless
of age, gender or race.
Still, here we discuss halakhah, and even if the case turns out to be
hypothetical, at least for the foreseeable future, I still think it
could push us to turn up some interesting lomdus.
AIUI, he doesn't see a problem of hashchasas zaqein, since it's not a
razor. Ths is sereifah, not hashchasah. However, then it comes to pei'os,
where the SA (YD 181:3) has a yeis lachush to those who prohibit using
scissors too...