Thread: Cold Water Shaving

Originally Posted by KenG

I've been shaving cool/cold tap whatever for years with non-straight, never had a rash. Since going straight starting 2015 I've been trying 'by the book'- hot towel pre, hot lather, etc, then bingo i've got this itchy rash on my neck like poison ivy. I'm blaming myself for trying the scything motion too soon- now i'm wondering if it was the heat. Gonna try cold again- thanks for this thread !

Only thing to remember about shaving is that there is really no "by the book" universally suitable method. Hope the col water works for you.

Bob

I have tried cold water shave once a long time ago and was very bad. But after i readed this thread and this one http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...orst-ever.html i decided to try once more.
So during my next 2 weeks i'll only do cold water shave and i'll try the different approaches i've read and lets see if i will join the cold shave club.

See you,
Flávio.

Ok, I'm willing to give it a try, this cold water shaving thing. I've been using a straight for about thirty years now (Yeah I know you young snappers, I'm old) and have always used warm water, soaked my brush in warm water and sat my shaving mug in a bowl of warm water; it goes against every grain in my body, I even think it may be Unconstitutional, but I'm gonna give it a try. Since it's winter here, the first time will be at night, so I don't shock myself into a heart attack doing it on one of our cold winter morns'.

I recommend giving the cold shaves a go at least
I have been cold shaving exclusively since early December (start of summer) about 2 months now
I have found with the heat and humidity here it to be a lot better option
I previously only used warm lather and the cold shaves for summer are a damn site better

Originally Posted by Substance

I recommend giving the cold shaves a go at least
I have been cold shaving exclusively since early December (start of summer) about 2 months now
I have found with the heat and humidity here it to be a lot better option
I previously only used warm lather and the cold shaves for summer are a damn site better

I'm similarly sold on cold water shaving, even though it flies in the face of what my barber learned in school. I've been doing it for 2-3 years exclusively, after reading the free online book "Shaving Made Easy." It's something to try if you are experiencing irritation. On a practical matter, it reduces the amount of time it takes me to get ready in the morning. I can get a great shave either hot or cold, although it would sure feel strange to use hot water again. I never expect to convert to cold showers!

Yes, contrary to popular belief cold water shaving will not kill you. Been using cold water for going on 2 years now in all of our 4 seasons. I do think it helps reduce irritation and saves a little on energy and water usage to by not having to run the water to get it hot. It is worth a try even if you do not use it on a regular basis just to see how it goes. No cold showers for me either, been happily shacked up for 26 years so no need there.

Bob

First cold shave today.
Some nicks on my neck difficult area and more difficult on the ATG.
Quite irritated skin on my neck 15 min after shave. But after that it was very good.

What i did:

Warm Shower.

A lot of Cold water on face.
Witch hazel
cold lather + shave WTG (very good)
cold lather + XTG (middels good)
cold lather + WTG (no good)
Wash with a lot of cold water
Witch hazel
After shave Fitjar

Tomorrow will be no shave. Shave after tomorrow with the same routine as today.

Originally Posted by cariocarj01

First cold shave today.
Some nicks on my neck difficult area and more difficult on the ATG.
Quite irritated skin on my neck 15 min after shave. But after that it was very good.

What i did:

Warm Shower.

A lot of Cold water on face.
Witch hazel
cold lather + shave WTG (very good)
cold lather + XTG (middels good)
cold lather + WTG (no good)
Wash with a lot of cold water
Witch hazel
After shave Fitjar

Tomorrow will be no shave. Shave after tomorrow with the same routine as today.

I shave before the shower, so I don't warm up my face before shaving.

But I really see cold water shaving as a personal preference. It works for me.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I shave before the shower, so I don't warm up my face before shaving.

But I really see cold water shaving as a personal preference. It works for me.

I'll do that later.

I tried cold water shaving with my DE for the past 3 days. Start with warm shower, put a little warm water on top of the shaving soap while I shower. Once out of the shower, load the brush, lather with cold tap water, wash the face with cold washcloth, apply lather (usually somewhat room temp at this point), rinse razor with cold water and shave. Less irritation, less nicks/weepers. This is my 4th shave with the razor, which is usually an OK shave only, but today I got the best shave of the week with the old blade! Even got the pesky neck areas better than usual, too!