Thread: Rinsing with cold water

I've heard it stated that after shaving one should rinse the face off with cold water to do things like close the pores and also help seal off any nicks and cuts.

Yet what if you shave and there are no nicks? Would it actually be better to rinse off in warm or hot water and keep the pores open? Would the aftershave work better with more open pores (and not blocked by closed pores?)

Thanks

Cold water and alcohol based aftershaves as well act as an astringent which means a pore closing agent. Both do the same thing, sealing off the pores from foreign objects. so it's really an either or, both do the same thing.

This really seems like a personal preference thing. If you feel better after cold water than do so if not oh well. I often just rinse off with warm water than apply my aftershave. Every now and then I feel I need the cold water to wake me up a bit or just for that refreshing feeling. When I do a bad job shaving I usually use cold water rinse, just seems to help the irritation.

Going through all the trouble to get a perfect shave, only to splash cold water on your face seems like, well, poking yourself in the eye after a nap. I've never really followed the logic.

YMMV, I believe.
Just the other day, I had an Ingrams shave and splashed cold water on my face. BRRRRRRRRRRR...then I followed up with some Osage Rub!!

I first rinse off with warm water then
cold water. Then it's off to my witch
hazel and after shave of choice for the day.

John

As Trevor mentioned, I think it is down to personal preference. I prefer to do a cold water rinse, myself.

It took Mama Bear to remind me of it, but a dermatologist once told me that water that is hot to the touch is actually not good for the skin. Now we all know how well that hot water will help soften the beard, so I like using a cold water rinse to bring the temperatures back down.

Horses for courses...

I've always rinsed off with cool not cold water. The temp is perfect when it barely registers on my hands. My face is usually still warm from my warm lather and hot splashes between passes so cooling it off feels good. Then I use the same temp when I do my alum rub.

I usually do a second hot towel after shaving and then splash cold water on. Feels goooood!

The colder the better for me. Refreshing!