The Shulchan Oruch in Siman 531 Sif 1 says regarding preparing for Yom Tov
that one should shave, using the term 'geluach' which means shaving. Later
in Sif 5 he says one should take a haircut.
Ben continued:
<<...Remember that probably until the early part of this century there was
no ELECTRIC shaving as we know it. Men had few options... So, there really
was no practical concept of shaving...>>
Shaving powder or other chemicals were used for hundreds of years. The
concept seems to have been known.
He continued:
<<Therefore the gezairah (decree) of not going into Yom Tov "looking like a
'menuval'" refers to cutting hair, not shaving. In fact, I have never heard
of any Posek permitting getting a HAIRCUT on Chol Hamoed. It is precisely
because the gezairah was almost certainly referring exclusively to
haircutting and not to shaving that there exists a question among Poskim as
to whether or not we can permit shaving on Chol Hamoed. But, to suggest, as
Dovid did, that having stubble is menuval and therefore should be permitted
on Chol Hamoed because the gezairah was instituted so that we don't look
menuval is, I believe, missing the point completely...>>
As I mentioned, the gezairah(decree) was on shaving also. The reason why no
Posek permits taking a haircut on Chol Hamoed (and the discussion is only
regarding shaving) has to do with the fact that people don't take haircuts
daily or even weekly. The discussion regarding shaving is that since people
shave daily, even if they did shave before Yom Tov they would still look
like a 'menuval' on Chol Hamoed, therefore the question becomes may one
shave on Chol Hamoed. If someone took a haircut before Yom Tov, they would
never look like a 'menuval' on Chol Hamoed, therefore no Posek would
consider allowing a haircut on Chol Hamoed.
He continued:
<<How is it possible to remove all the hair, not even leaving one hair?
Using the technology of the day, it must have been using a hair-removing
chemical. Therefore it cannot be called "shaving"...>>
The question I was addressing was that there was no inherent holiness in
having a beard. How one took it off wasn't relevant. That is a whole
separate can of worms.
He continued:
<<The concept in halacha of following the majority is when there is a
disagreement in what the halacha should be. It certainly does not mean
following the majority of human beings (Non-Jews, in this case) who view
stubble as being unkempt...>>
The gemarah many times says to go into the market place and see how it is
done. One example is by what is considered mens and womens clothing, go
into the marketplace and see how the people dress. Halacha always pays
attention to peoples habits when it is essential to the halacha.
Finally:
<<Please sight references to this gemorah. As I have alluded to above,
stubble is a modern-day reality to Jews. I remember no reference to it in
Halacha. Again, the confusion between not getting a haircut and looking
unkempt (menuval) and the perception that it is a reference to "shaving".>>
I believe the Shulchan Oruch speaks for itself. Jews have been shaving,
(however they did it) for a very long time so stubble is not something new.
What is considered looking unkept (menuval) today is almost universally the
same among all people.