Thread: Hot Shave

Hi, I just want to know that if I use hot water while shaving i.e. while using any type of razor, if I dip the razor in hot or boiling water will the sharpness of the blade of the razor go off or will the blade or razor loose its sharpness. Barbers in INDIA will always advise you not to dip your razor in hot water while shaving, saying it will loose its sharpness, is it true? I always use Gillette Mach3 Turbo razors.

Thanks.

Dipping your razor into boiling hot water is not a good idea if the next thing that razor is going to touch is your face. To answer your question...I don't know, but I think it may be a bit of an old wive's tale. Don't quote me on that though. I don't see that water of a temperature moderated to suit you face would take away from the edge of your razor though.

Edit to add; I just saw that you admit to using a Mach 3 cartridge head and a battery no less, that changes things. I recommend that you get that water scorching hot...Build a fire to maintain the waters heat and throw that razor in to feed the flames and add another degree of heat to the water. Splash that water over your face to feel a lesser degree of razor burn than that old melted mach 3 must have given you, then go out and get a decent DE or Straight...I'm only having a go at you of course. Don't take my edit too seriously.


Mick

i also call nonsense.. i've heard people say to rinse your blade with cold water to stiffen the edge.. sounds like nonsense to me.. however.. my place has a boiler unit and the water from the tap is near scalding.. so i always rinse with cool water.. to avoid branding my face.

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

i also call nonsense.. i've heard people say to rinse your blade with cold water to stiffen the edge.. sounds like nonsense to me.. however.. my place has a boiler unit and the water from the tap is near scalding.. so i always rinse with cool water.. to avoid branding my face.

+1 to this. I can't see where the temperature of your standard tap water is going to be able to affect tempered steel.

oddly enough I tried this a couple of times and the razor sure did feel duller. Can't tell you the physics behind it but that was experience.

Metal is affected by temperature. The hotter it gets, the softer it gets.

Whether hot tap water gets the metal on a razor soft enough to make a difference is up for debate, but you can carry out the experiment yourself quite easily, and compare the results.

Ian

I've never noticed any differences, maybe if you compare ice water to super boiling water the temp affects your skin more than the razor.

I actually wondered that same question a while ago. I don't find that to be true. I've been using warm water for all this time I think it works fine. I wouldn't recommend dipping the razor in boiling water though.

I would think that if the water is too hot to wash your hands comfortably then it too hot to rinse your razor with, as stated earlier you are likely to brand yourself and most likely give yourself nice cut at the same time

As I have gotten my straight razor only hours ago I admit to using the cartrage razor. I've always turned the tap on as hot as it would go to rinse it. Once I ran out of hot water an the colder the water got the more tug and pull I felt from my razor.