Is it possible to shave with just water??

Hey guys, my first razor and strop is arriving later this week. I didn't buy a brush, soap, or cup because I'm leaving town for two weeks. I couldn't find a good answer online so here goes.

I am curious if one could shave with just water applied to the shaving area. I don't have a thick beard or thick hairs, just a mustache with medium thickness whiskers. Is this possible for touch-ups and trimming?

If this is ill-advised (to which I wouldn't be surprised), can "canned goo", like gillette gel or barbasol, suffice?

I promise to buy a shaving kit when I get back from Vancouver, lol, but I reaaally want to try out my first razor.

Thanks guys!

You could go with just water. I haven't tried this with a straight but I have with the fancy 3+ blade cartridge razors. It's not a great shave at all, but I suppose you could. You'd be better off applying some "goo", heck even soap would likely be better than plain water (I've also done this as a last resort), but I guess it really boils down to the quality/type of edge you have and your hair type.

Yeah I tried that with cartridge razors and I can't say it feels good... hopefully the "goo" won't be too bad. My skin isn't sensitive if it matters.

Why just water? any bar of soap would do at a pinch. Be sure to rub it in well for a couple of minutes.

Or conditioner.

Hell I'll use toothpaste. Brush teeth and trim whiskers, two birds one stone

Possible? Yes. Comfortable? NO.

I've shaved with everything from hand soap to Barbasol and they worked fine. They'll provide all the lubrication your shave requires.

Funny I was talking to a buddy of mine about shaving with water cause all he shaves with is water. He doesn't use a straight though. Seems to work for him, but I wouldn't if I didn't have to.

You could but where's the fun in that?

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Originally Posted by Raulski

You could but where's the fun in that?

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Exactly....

I used to shave in the shower with a Bic and running water, and that was fine, and I always do touch-ups with my straight dry, directly after finishing while my face is still damp, but if I were in your situation, I'd at least rub on a bar of soap for lubrication, after my shower while things were still soft. Shaving totally dry is pretty harsh, and not very effective. Try a touch-up in the middle of the day some time, and you'll see what it's like.

You can shave with snot in a pinch.

As pfries started conditioner would be your best option. I would still recommend getting a Walgreen's brush, just soften the bristles first.

I do my touch ups with just water.

If you're going on a trip, I highly recommend King of Shaves Alpha Gel. It's super slick and a little dab goes a long way. You won't get a lather from it so I wouldnt' stick it on a brush but I find it works better then canned goo by far.

The trick with water only, is water runs off really fast so you have to keep applying it constantly but it does work fine. Is it fun or luxurious? No, but it works.

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Originally Posted by ccase39

You can shave with snot in a pinch.

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hahaha! That made me laugh...

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Originally Posted by ccase39

You can shave with snot in a pinch.

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Blood would probably work as well... i just would not recommend it. Any soap, conditioner or noxema cream will work and so will the goo in the can they work but are not always the best solution.

some days, we all have to use what is readily available.

jim

Honestly, I would strongly recommend not using just water or even regular soap for your first shaves and waiting until you have the supplies. It's more difficult (not as slick, less cushion, dries out, not as kind to your skin), and you don't need to stack the cards against yourself when you are just starting.

Even when you are more experienced, it's probably not something you would do by choice (unless you just want to see what it's like).

I believe that any prep that softens the hairs enough to cut without tugging can work. I used to shave with SE disposibles immediately after a shower, shampoo, and conditioner using water only. I had to work fast before the hairs dried. Using lather is better, but I still rinse my face for final clean-up using water. I get my closest shaves and smoothest skin by straight shaving with uberlather, DE followup using uberlather, and DE cleanup using water only. Water only works OK for me if I wash the hairs well using soap or shampoo before using water. The DE works well after the straight because there is not much left to cut and the straight is gentle on the skin when used correctly.

I recommend gaining proficiency with a DE before trying a straight which has much steeper learning curves for use and maintaining a shave ready edge. I also recommend a trip to the local pharmacy or supermarket for a cheap VDH boar brush and a puck of VDH soap before trying water alone. Even a can of foam will probably give a better shave than water alone.

When i used dispisables i used only water. I just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. Now I enjoy all the face prep and ritual. It relaxes me and gives me time to take a moment out of my day and do something for myself. I view shaving kind of the same way I do food. If I am so busy that the only option I have for a meal is fast food, Ill just skip the meal. Same goes with shaving. I dont eat for the sole purpose of nourishing myself as some do. I enjoy the experience and take time to taste and enjoy the different flavor profiles. I dont shave to simply get rid of my beard either, I like most here enjoy every bit of the experience. I think the advice above about not stacking the cards against u in the begining is great advice. You have enough to learn and will have enough of a challenge getting used to this new art even with a proper pre shave regiment.

That's true. The Zen part is the best part. I enjoy the fifteen minutes of quiet first thing in the morning just staring at myself in the mirror, intently concentrating on avoiding bloodshed, thinking nothing else. It sounds stressful, but really, the concentration is relaxing in a way I wouldn't have believed. When I don't feel like meditating, I skip it.

I wholeheartedly agree with holli4pirating here, he's offering sound advice. I would not recommend using just water - but the truth is I do it myself, on very rare occations. (when I am really pressed for time and just out of the shower I can do a simple wtg pass, just so I don't look too scruffy going to work, - it literally takes me just a few seconds that way). However, I have been shaving with a straight for quite a while, and my technique is adequate. Being new at straight razors, I very much doubt it will be a pleasant experience. Or worse - the lather is there to provide cushion and glide, it is much easier to cut yourself without.

Have fun

You can always do what my poor cousin Festus does and after he drains the motor oil out of his crankcase he runs it through some cheesecloth and adds a few items and uses it to shave with. He says you can't beat it. Oh, and he says 30 weight is the best.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You can always do what my poor cousin Festus does and after he drains the motor oil out of his crankcase he runs it through some cheesecloth and adds a few items and uses it to shave with. He says you can't beat it. Oh, and he says 30 weight is the best.

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A Haggan will go through a whole heap of garsh durn trouble without headin nobody's never mind.

If you choose to shave with water don't let any seep into the pivot .

I have a friend who says he shaves against the grain with just water and a cartridge razor every day. My face would be ruined if I did that.

I shave precision part with just water so as i can see what I am doing.
I would advise using cream for your neck ect or just normal shaving.
As shaving takes some oil out of the skin the cream helps your skin not to be like an old shoe ^^

There was a day when I shaved dry with a multi blade disposable razor. It takes a while to build up a tough enough face - I spent quite a good deal of my time outdoors in those days (like 16 hours a day).

Some have already chimed in that "just water" requires constant replenishing as the water runs off your face rather quickly.

I sometimes. as others have stated, shave touch ups with only water.

I've saved with just about every kind of regular bar soap -Dove worked the best, Irish Springs was a little stiff.

Depending on the brand and product Toothpaste has fine grit so I would stay clear of it. Though, you could use it as a polishing compound on your razor.

And, snot, blood and semen(the one no one mentioned) are probably better left as body fluids than face preps.

As much as I hate to admit it I'd rather use canned goo or (god forbid) handsoap than water only. Seems like somewhat acceptable alternatives to me. In fact if my choice was water only I'd rather not shave for that day.

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Originally Posted by MrBlimp

And, snot, blood and semen(the one no one mentioned) are probably better left as body fluids than face preps.

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I heard that the one no one mentioned is used in some makeup and face creams and things, although they get it from cattle i think. I don't know what properties it has that make it useful in cosmetics but perhaps it would be a decent face prep. I'm not going to try it and if anyone has I don't want to know.

Whenever I used to run out of shaving cream (which hasn't happened since I discovered SRP. Now the problem is not crowding out SWMBO's stuff with all my 'rigamarole'), I used to just bandit a dab of the missus' conditioner. I find it works best of the available options in most bathrooms.

Regular hand soap did the trick really well for me in a pinch. But, as previously stated, that was before I took up shaving as a hobby :)
Now I'm pretty set for shaving soaps & creams for the next few years.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You can always do what my poor cousin Festus does and after he drains the motor oil out of his crankcase he runs it through some cheesecloth and adds a few items and uses it to shave with. He says you can't beat it. Oh, and he says 30 weight is the best.

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He must live down south. You need a good 10/40 for those cold days.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You can always do what my poor cousin Festus does and after he drains the motor oil out of his crankcase he runs it through some cheesecloth and adds a few items and uses it to shave with. He says you can't beat it. Oh, and he says 30 weight is the best.

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

He must live down south. You need a good 10/40 for those cold days.

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Nahh, the thirty weight is out of the lawn mower, it's already broke in specifically for cutting down the brush.... :p :gaah:

I have actually been using just water after a shave for some touch up. A lot of water on the area. It has actually been working well. I still do not recommend an entire face shave with just water.