Cold water/towel

A few years ago I heard that after shaving it is a good idea to wash the face with cold water. The idea is to help close the pores and help keep the skin tight. This can also help prevent ingrown hairs.

I have looked around this site and can't find mention of this. I know I heard this before I discovered this site. I may not be using the search option the right way (operator error):D

has anyone else heard this? I was also told to use the cold water before after shave creams to help keep the pores clean. Any other ideas?
thanks!

I always rinse with cold water. Works great for me and tightens everything up. If you have some tiny weepers sometimes that is all it takes to shut them. (no stepic necessary)

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...old-water.html


Lots of threads about it. Use the advanced search in the top right corner.

I was beginning to think I was imagining the memory";" now I feel better. I'm not the only one.

I shave with cool/cold water.
Rinse off the lather with a very hot water towel/washcloth,
followed immediately with an ice water towel, most days doing the ice towel 2X.

The SWMBO now calls it my "Spa Treatment"...which is better than what she would say when I started:

"Why are you waterboarding yourself?"

It makes for a great finish and as Txshooter38 mentions the added benefit is if you happen to have any weepers they are normally gone.
Nicks and cuts (it happens) if not stopped are greatly reduced in flow.

I don't use a chilled towel, but my final rinse (after alum) is with cold water. I do it primarily because I find it refreshing.

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Originally Posted by MJC

I shave with cool/cold water.
Rinse off the lather with a very hot water towel/washcloth,
followed immediately with an ice water towel, most days doing the ice towel 2X.

The SWMBO now calls it my "Spa Treatment"...which is better than what she would say when I started:

"Why are you waterboarding yourself?"

It makes for a great finish and as Txshooter38 mentions the added benefit is if you happen to have any weepers they are normally gone.
Nicks and cuts (it happens) if not stopped are greatly reduced in flow.

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Ha! "Waterboarding yourself" I got a good laugh out of that one!

It isn't a new topic. I found out about washing/rinsing with cold water on one of the threads around here. I think most folks prefer the feeling of a nice hot shave. I'm certainly no fan of the cold water splash, unless it's in the middle of the summer. But I have noticed I get a better shave cold than warm, so most days I bite the bullet and use cold water.

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Originally Posted by Marshal

Ha! "Waterboarding yourself" I got a good laugh out of that one!

It isn't a new topic. I found out about washing/rinsing with cold water on one of the threads around here. I think most folks prefer the feeling of a nice hot shave. I'm certainly no fan of the cold water splash, unless it's in the middle of the summer. But I have noticed I get a better shave cold than warm, so most days I bite the bullet and use cold water.

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There are a few of us on the cold water shaving side.

As one of our members said once: "it's such a bother to have to wake the servants, build a fire, draw and heat the water that the day is lost"

But my shaves and comfort level improved...and we know it's not for everyone...

Smooth shaving...

I prep and shave with cold water, so all I can say is it works. Sometimes, I initially rinse/soak my face with luke warm water, but from there on, it's all cold water.

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I prep and shave with cold water, so all I can say is it works. Sometimes, I initially rinse/soak my face with luke warm water, but from there on, it's all cold water.

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This.

Trashing the labor-intensive hot towel pre-shave treatment and forsaking efforts towards warm//hot lather and cold rinsing have totally eliminated a lifetime of skin irritation, post shave, on my neck. It also takes several minutes off the shaving routine. After a few days I found the cold water rinse quite pleasant. As I noted elsewhere at SRP I grew up thinking cold water shaving was a punishement (re. "The Dirty Dozen") - not so.

JimmyHAD started a thread about the cold water shaving and I followed his lead after 50 years of hot water and neck irritation post shave. Presto - gone-o. Thanks SRP. (search string 'cold-water-shave: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...orst-ever.html)

I had a barber shave this week where hot towels and lather had me feeling all relaxed and glowing, when the barber wrapped my mug in a cold wet towel at the end.
What the h**l was that? Wrecked everything.
If I go back there I'll ask that the torture towel be held back.
My pores were doing just fine up till then. LOL

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Originally Posted by Neckbone

I had a barber shave this week where hot towels and lather had me feeling all relaxed and glowing, when the barber wrapped my mug in a cold wet towel at the end.
What the h**l was that? Wrecked everything.
If I go back there I'll ask that the torture towel be held back.
My pores were doing just fine up till then. LOL

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I can't imagine going through the "conventional" hot/warm shave, by a barber, and then getting shocked with a cold towel - with no warning.

But it is easier for those of us who shave cold/cool to explain the process and benefits (to us) here in the Forum that it is for most of us to explain shaving with a Straight Razor to the Cart & Goo crowd...

Next time you are with the Guys/Mates/Buddies/Blokes and they start complaining about the cost of Carts (and by the way - have you seen what those things are going for? you and find a CJB and a 20 pack of blades for what a dozen of these things cost at some stores) tell them about shaving with a DE, or what the 5 or 10 year cost of shaving with a straight could be.
Note I say "could be" as in all you are doing is shaving, as apposed to the reality for most of us when this becomes a very relaxing and fulfilling hobby with benefits...

The net is that most of the time they will look at you like you like you just told them you are now living in a dirt floor shed with no utilities to save money....

But later...one or two of them may ask you to tell them more about this...

Hot, Warm, Cool, Cold, Ice Bath, Steam Towels...
It's all good.

Smooth Shaving...

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Originally Posted by MisterMoo

This.

Trashing the labor-intensive hot towel pre-shave treatment and forsaking efforts towards warm//hot lather and cold rinsing have totally eliminated a lifetime of skin irritation, post shave, on my neck. It also takes several minutes off the shaving routine. After a few days I found the cold water rinse quite pleasant. As I noted elsewhere at SRP I grew up thinking cold water shaving was a punishement (re. "The Dirty Dozen") - not so.

JimmyHAD started a thread about the cold water shaving and I followed his lead after 50 years of hot water and neck irritation post shave. Presto - gone-o. Thanks SRP. (search string 'cold-water-shave: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...orst-ever.html)

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Sort of off subject but it amazes me how these forums are so informative. It hasn't been long that all we knew was what was done mainly in our own neighborhoods. Now we are getting bombarded with information from all over the world on everything. From world politics and tragedies to the real important things like shaving the hair off our faces. :) I wonder how many people other than me had never even considered a cold shave. I was in the Air Force at a remote site in Alaska and we went without hot water for a couple of days for some reason. It was over the weekend when I didn't work so I skipped shaving. But the guys who had to work (and be in uniform) had to shave with cold water. It was amazing the men defending our country were such crybabies about shaving with cold water. I didn't cry BECAUSE I DIDN'T SHAVE AT ALL! :) Anyway, this computer age is amazing. I wonder how many people on this one forum don't even remember a day without at least one computer in their home. My grandson is 4 and uses my tablet as well as I do. :D He even shows me how to play his games. :D

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Originally Posted by Jack0458

Sort of off subject but it amazes me how these forums are so informative. It hasn't been long that all we knew was what was done mainly in our own neighborhoods. Now we are getting bombarded with information from all over the world on everything. From world politics and tragedies to the real important things like shaving the hair off our faces. :) I wonder how many people other than me had never even considered a cold shave. I was in the Air Force at a remote site in Alaska and we went without hot water for a couple of days for some reason. It was over the weekend when I didn't work so I skipped shaving. But the guys who had to work (and be in uniform) had to shave with cold water. It was amazing the men defending our country were such crybabies about shaving with cold water. I didn't cry BECAUSE I DIDN'T SHAVE AT ALL! :) Anyway, this computer age is amazing. I wonder how many people on this one forum don't even remember a day without at least one computer in their home. My grandson is 4 and uses my tablet as well as I do. :D He even shows me how to play his games. :D

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I'm way past 70, and I wonder how things would have turned out for me if I had "internet info" available to me from a young age. I used to scrounge for info and comb libraries with limited luck.
Now when ever I ask a question at home, my wife automatically says 'Google it'. LOL

I always rinse with cold water. It's soothing and closes the pores.

I shave with cold water as well.. probably 99% of the time. In summer months I have shaved outside with a bowl of ice water.

Can't say why, but it works for me!