Thread: Cold Water Shaving

I recently watched a video in which Geofatboy on shavenation.com did an ice-water shave. I researched the concept of cold-water shaving and found this article on cold-water shaving ...

Cold Water Shaving: The Benefits and Pleasures of a Splash of Cold Water | The Art of Manliness

... which states that some older writings on shaving advocated using cold water rather than hot or warm water. I've heard others say that using warm water (while the norm) softens the whiskers TOO much, whereas cold water helps them remain stiff enough to be cleanly shaved off with less work. Others said that the cold water keeps pores closed and thus reduces the incidence of irritation caused by infection. So ... always looking for a better shave ... I gave it a try.

For the past seven days, I used my Parker SR-1 Shavette to do multi-pass shaves EVERY day using tap water as cold as I could get it. I don't really feel I am the guy to go at this scientifically (I train hunting dogs, for Pete's sake). But I do feel comfortable telling you my observations. So, here they are:

1. It is WAY more refreshing (to me) than hot water.
2. It doesn't fog up my mirror.
3. I have had many fewer nicks than I typically get in a week with warm water. (Some of the material I read say that the cold water keeps your face from being so supple and doesn't bring the blood to the surface, and thus you are less likely to get nicked.)
4. When using warm/hot water, I could not do multi-pass shaves every day; my skin just got too sensitive. With cold water, I have had nearly zero irritation ... and SR-1 shavettes are pretty darned aggressive.

I think I am sold on cold-water shaving. But I am curious to hear what others think about it ... and I'd love to hear the observations of others, good or bad.

Hope you get a great shave every day!

Best,
Tom

Plenty of threads on here about cold water shaving and a surprising number of members do it too. Been doing it going on 2 years myself and found it good for the same reasons you did. I don't miss hot water shaves at all.

Bob

I've read in disbelief for months about the wonders of cold water shaving. I was in the Marine Corps... I've had to shave with cold water before. It sucked. It sucked so hard that I thought everyone singing the praises of cold water shaving needed to go talk to the head doctor. That being said, I was using cartridge blades at that time.

But then, like a thirteen year old boy who finds a Playboy for the first time, I got curious, and I tried it; but this time in the comfort of my bathroom with my straight and DE. I'm not gonna lie, just like that boy felt, I felt dirty, I felt ashamed, and I liked it. I liked it so much, I've done it every day for the past week.

Will I convert? Probably not. I've never had an trouble with hot shaves and they are amazing; and more importantly, three weeks ago SHMBO gave me a GP G20 scuttle as a wedding present, so she wouldn't be happy if I suddenly decided to never use it again. But I like it enough to keep it in the rotation.

I'm a cold water shaver, but I've modified my approach. No hot water shaves anymore, but depending on the time of year I range between tepid to ice cold water temp. No irritation and keeps my Rosacea minimalized.

You can use that scuttle to keep your lather nice and cold...

I don't know if there is more of us (cold water shavers) or if we are just more vocal...
All are welcome...

Originally Posted by MJC

You can use that scuttle to keep your lather nice and cold...

Touchè, my friend.

I switched to cold water shaving after being shaved with cold water at the barber on October 2nd. The shave was nice, even tho I reacted to the cream, so I decided to give it a try at home. I didn't go back to hot water, nor do I really intend to

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I'm a cold water shaver, but I've modified my approach. No hot water shaves anymore, but depending on the time of year I range between tepid to ice cold water temp. No irritation and keeps my Rosacea minimalized.

First post, IIRC, in these many threads on cold, warm, hot water shaving to say just what is cold. Ice water means 32F (Oc).

What is "cold" in Miami is far different than cold in upper Canada or Finland or well water in Idaho.

Giving the actual temperature of the water would help many decide if "cold" water shaving is something to try. JMO

Originally Posted by rolodave

First post, IIRC, in these many threads on cold, warm, hot water shaving to say just what is cold. Ice water means 32F (Oc).

What is "cold" in Miami is far different than cold in upper Canada or Finland or well water in Idaho.

Giving the actual temperature of the water would help many decide if "cold" water shaving is something to try. JMO

Where ever you get your water supply from, be it a well or city water system, it will be some where above 0c or you will not have water. I don't live in Northern Canada but we have been known to get fairly cold here and I just partly fill the sink with only cold tap water summer or winter. It feels like there is not a huge temp difference between between the cold tap water in the summer or winter. Some but nothing to bother about. I guess below the frost level the ground is a fairly constant temp year around.

Bob

I've been sold on cold water shaving for a couple of years, and our buddy JimmyHad was the first member I remember bringing it up.

The first time I heard about it I thought this was nuts, but boy I was wrong.

It's really something you should try if your shaves are causing you irritation.

I actually tried a cold water shave with ice cubes once just to see what it was like and it was fine, but it is not necessary to make your tap water colder.

Just regular tap water does the trick. In addition to giving me irritation-free shaves it saves me time, which is something I really appreciate at the beginning of a busy day.