Thread: Cold Water Shaving

I prefer cold water shaving in summertime. During winter hot water for technical reasons but final rinse is always done by cold water, followed with alum. Good thing about cold water is it doesn't make lather dry and puffs flying all around bathroom. If anyone tried Speick cream you sure know what I'm talking about.

I just tried this for the first time about 1/2 hour ago. I did notice I got a less irritating shave today, noticing it from way less burn from the alum block. But since I'm pretty new to this maybe my technique is getting better!?! I just washed my face with soap and cold water to get the oil off my skin, didn't dry off, lathered up and let her rip.

Originally Posted by JimmyS

I just tried this for the first time about 1/2 hour ago. I did notice I got a less irritating shave today, noticing it from way less burn from the alum block. But since I'm pretty new to this maybe my technique is getting better!?! I just washed my face with soap and cold water to get the oil off my skin, didn't dry off, lathered up and let her rip.

All the good is from Cold Water....you will know when you try hot water for the next (and last) time...

Smooth Shaving...

Originally Posted by MJC

All the good is from Cold Water....you will know when you try hot water for the next (and last) time...

Smooth Shaving...

All my previous shaves where from nothing but hot water right out of the shower. Even with my DE

Ok cold water shavers, I'm putting cold water shaveing to the test. Just filled my scuttle with water (lather bowl and reservoir) and put it in the frig. In about an hour I'll shave using the cold water in the lather bowl to get the brush wet then use the scuttle to create lather. The lather should stay cold. I normally re-apply lather 2-3 times during a shave to keep the lather on my face warm. This time the lather will be cold.

Has anyone ever tried chilling the water first? My parent's house had a well and the cold water out of the tap was very cold. So different houses will have different temp. cold water at the sink.

Now I have to decide if I want to use Proraso menthol pre-shave and Proraso menthol soap or something else. The Proraso menthol stuff has a chilling effect already.

I duuno about using a scuttle and cold water chilled in a fridge for shaving. I just use cold tape water year round, splash face and face lather. City water does not vary much year round here as the pipes are buried below the frost line or they'd freeze in winter. I suppose it is a different case in warmer areas like Florida and chilling in a fridge might be needed. I use Proraso Green soap and often times follow it with Aqua Velva Blue and have not frozen my face yet. It really is no biggie for me. Good luck with your test.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I duuno about using a scuttle and cold water chilled in a fridge for shaving. I just use cold tape water year round, splash face and face lather. City water does not vary much year round here as the pipes are buried below the frost line or they'd freeze in winter. I suppose it is a different case in warmer areas like Florida and chilling in a fridge might be needed. I use Proraso Green soap and often times follow it with Aqua Velva Blue and have not frozen my face yet. It really is no biggie for me. Good luck with your test.

Bob

Ontario??? You don't even need a frig. Just sit all your food outside the door.

Jack

Originally Posted by Jack0458

Ontario??? You don't even need a frig. Just sit all your food outside the door.

Jack

Yea, comes in handy if your deep freeze goes in the winter, frozen food keeps will outside then for sure. Summertime not so much. Was -24C/-11F when I shaved this morning with cold tap water. Refreshing as always it was.

Bob

Jack0458, I see you are in Florida. Ice cold water may be the ticket for you. Remember, cold is as cold is perceived taking into account location, season, and preferences. I'm in Oregon and it depends on the season for me. Summer I prefer it as close to ice water as I can get, while in the Winter just cooler than body temp works fine.

Last Summer I even tried an ice cube facial rub after shaving. A little too extreme for me.

Ok guys, here's the report after using water chilled in the refrigerator.

I used Castle Forbes pre-shave and Mitchell's wool fat soap. After the scuttle with water was chilled in the frig. for an hour or so I created lather with that water and MAN, was it cold on my face. But like jumping into a very cold swimming pool the initial shock wears off fast. I didn't care for the initial shock so I wouldn't do that unless it gave me some other advantage. The shave went just like any other. I even did two complete passes. When finished my face felt GOOD. Even prior to applying a post-shave cream which always makes my skin feel better. So my opinion after one shave is the initial cold shock while not my favorite thing (but not bad either) is a minor discomfort compared to the good feeling I had after the shave. Normally, after two complete passes using warm lather my skin is a little bit tender. This time there was no feeling of discomfort. Not even a slight sense of razor burn or anything. My neck is the most tender area and it felt ok. Then I applied Neutrogena post-shave cream and right now I have a very close shave and my skin feels great.

I'm going to do this some more. At least enough times to get a firmer opinion of using chilled water. One side-advantage is my glasses didn't fog up once.

Just for the record I did use hot water from the tap to rinse my razor while shaving. This keeps the blade warm I guess but I doubt if it has any effect on anything.

Jack