Thread: Should whiskers really be soft?

From what I've read here on the forums and from what I've seen on YouTube, most people seem to want to have as soft whiskers as possible before shaving. However, after reading the old "Shaving made easy" book, I came across this interesting paragraph:

A wrong idea prevails regarding the use of the soap. The popular impression is that the soap is used for the purpose of softening the beard, in which condition it is supposed to be most easily cut. This is a mistake. The soap is used, not to soften the beard, but to produce the exactly opposite effect-namely, to make the hair stiff and brittle, so that they will present a firm and resisting surface to the razor

For me, this makes most sense and I tend to believe that they knew a lot more about wet shaving back then.

What are your thoughts on this? Are most people doing it wrong today by applying hot towels and such before shaving?

I cold water shave. I haven't used oils or preshaves in a long time. My prep is cold water rinse 2-3 times, lather cold and shave. My belief is that the lather keeps the water on the whiskers. My take on using cold is that the skin contracts with cold leaving the whiskers more exposed. As opposed to hot where the skin expands and when you rinse cold the whiskers would remain. Not scientific study or anything. I shave cold as it gives me zero irritation. But everybody is different. My routine works for me, some people swear by preshaves. The funny thing with shaving is we are all right, even if we disagree. Try a few different ways and see what works for you.

I've only shaved a couple of times so far. The first time was with a hot towel, but I did get some irritation. However, this was probably due to inexperience. Even so, I started using cold water afterwards and the results seem to be better for me.

I think all lather does is provide lubrication for the blade. I've shaved with just water and had no problems. My "prep", if it can even be called that, takes about ten seconds.

JMHO but I think softening the whiskers is definitely important. A beard hair totally dry can be the same toughness as copper wire of the same thickness, according to one of the barbers at Trumpers.

I've found that the soap serves three purposes:

1) To soften the beard.
2) To provide some sort of lubrication and protection to the skin.
3) The act of lathering with a brush (scrubbing the hairs around) combined with lifting effect of the tiny bubbles in the lather causes the hair to stand upright a bit more. The bristles in the brush get under the hairs and lift them up, and then the lather keeps them that way.

This is why its so important to have good lather

This is all just IMHO of course. I've tried cold water shaving and it was agony on my face. A good lather, hot towel and a well honed razor though, its like butter.

Like Bill and Ace I read that same book you referenced and began the cold water shaving with little or no prep a few years ago. I've found it to work a treat and haven't had to look back. Like everything else in this hobby, YMMV.

Originally Posted by detra83

I've only shaved a couple of times so far. The first time was with a hot towel, but I did get some irritation. However, this was probably due to inexperience. Even so, I started using cold water afterwards and the results seem to be better for me.

+1

Over six weeks and 35-40 shaves I've eased from all the hot stuff I could muster to lukewarm/cold water for everything except making lather. I'd say I have sensitive skin and, for sure, irritation on my neck has dropped off along with prep temp. Might be I shave and sharpen better, too. Regardless, many experienced guys have similar results.

Same thing is discussed at length, recently, here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/pre-s...ter-shave.html

All theories are a fine thing but in the end you have to experiment to find out what works for you. That said, I am a cold water shaver including making lather with cold water on the face and no prep to speak of. For me it is the simplest and easiest way to shave having tried hot with scuttle and preshaves. What exactly lathers does I have no clue but can say if you don't get the lather right, regardless if you hot or cold shave, you will know it by increased irritation.

Bob

As was said earlier .....we are all right. I'm a cool water shaver in every step. Love the feel and a lot less irritation for me. Find your path and enjoy the walk.

Read that booklet as well, since my first cold shave I haven't looked back.

I rinse my face, lather up the face, work the lather thoroughly through with my fingers, lather again, and begin the shave.

Since I started cold shaving, better shave with little to no irritation!

Good luck!