In partnership… 
The shaving industry hasn’t changed in more than 100 years. With its advertisements that promote one single type of masculinity (usually white, straight, athletic, hypermasculine), it’s one of the least inclusive of industries. We want to change that. For an entire week, we at Very Good Light want to redefine what shaving could look like if the industry was more open to all types of guys. It’s our goal to completely shatter shaving’s traditional perceptions of masculinity with positive, culture-pushing stories from diverse communities. Together with Harry’s, we’re launching a video series called “My First Shave,” one that reimagines the shaving industry’s messaging altogether. Each of the videos document powerful, real, raw stories from all types of guys from all walks of life. To them, shaving isn’t about becoming more of a man. Rather, it’s about getting that much closer to loving the man you always were, one shave at a time.
“I haven’t shaved in 5 years,” says Gregory Littley.
There’s a mix of excitement and trepidation today as Gregory’s about to do something he hasn’t done in years – completely shave his face. We’re inside a beautiful high-rise apartment in Long Island City, Queens, where the New Yorker is about to embark on an entirely new journey. For Gregory, who’s active on his social pages, his beard is something that’s become synonymous with him. But that’s all about to change.
He’s decided it’s time for a big change and a fresh start. One thing he’s a tad big worried about? How his boyfriend Peter will react. “During our entire relationship, he’s only seen me with facial hair,” he says. “My hope is that I don’t look 15 and that I look like an adult. But who knows?”
With a razor in hand and shaving gel foaming across his face, he takes a big sip of air and goes for it. “That first stroke, there was no going back from there,” he says. And after taking the razor up and down his sanguine cheeks, it seems he’s a shaving maestro.
A few minutes go by, his many whiskers swimming in the sink, he looks at his complexion. He examines it under the dim bathroom light, look at his left cheek, then right. “Okay,” he finally says, breaking the silence. He smirks.
“Well, I did that,” he says. “This is what my face feels like.”
Now for the hard part: showing his fresh face to his boyfriend. “I really don’t know how he’s going to take it…” he says, nervously. Mustering some courage, he walks to the building’s corridor where Peter is nervously waiting. He taps him on the shoulder and Peter turns around. The reaction? Well, you’ll have to watch the video to see it.
