Thread: Cold water shave

Originally Posted by adbuett

A quick and dirty little calculation I did over in a thread in the hones section: An approximate thermal expansion coefficient for steel is 0.00000645 in/deg F. Using this generalization, a 3" razor will expand 0.00001935" per degree the temperature is raised. Say we go from 80 degrees room temp to 120 degree hot water. We have a delta T of 40, meaning that a 3" razor will expand 0.000774". A human hair is roughly 0.04" in diameter. So if you cover 40 degrees, your razor will be about 1/100th of a hair longer!

Without actually doing the math that's basically what I figured in my head. I also figured it couldn't hurt to try it once.

Essentially, if you're worried about shrinking the microscratches in the blade you'd be far better off trying to find a finer paste or stone to finish on than trying to chill the blade.

I maintain though, I find it refreshing and will continue to do it for that reason.

Would setting a large iceberg afloat in the basin be of assistants as well?

Ok, I am a little more than confused by all this coldwater shaving and I will confess I have only been straight shaving for no more than 3 weeks.

It just seems a total opposite and contradiction to the pre shower, hair conditioner and barber hot towel shave preparation that I was lead to believe (for decades) was to apparently soften the whiskers to allow them to be shaven more cleanly and easily with minimum skin irritation.

However after reading this thread is the main reason posters are switching to the cold water shave but the whiskers are no longer soft but stand upright ready and waiting for the blade?

Personally, hot or cold, I don't give a damn, but cold for one reason or another works best for me and gives me the best shave with the least issues. I couldn't be bothered with trying to figure out why, as I don't think it [cold shaving] would be for everyone. You can only try it out a few times to see if it's going to work for you.


Mick

I'm a cold-shave devotee, but for really cold winter days when I can't bear the thought. There's another thread active right now, about using a mortar (from mortar and pestle) as a lathering bowl. So now I'm in the market for one and will keep it in the fridge for some cold cold lather. I already keep my witchazel in the fridge.

I did try one other thing that I really do like though. After reading one of the comments about someone saying that a cold blade made the steel contract and reduce the micro whatevers on it (I'm not sure I really buy it but figured I would give it a try) I decided to shave with a hot later but a cold blade. So I made my rinse water as cold as I could get it and soaked the blade for a minute to get it cold. I have to say I really dig it. I don't know if the cold made the blade any better but it does make the cold steel feel nice and refreshing as I shave. I really like the sensation.

Thanks,I wish my parents were still alive to see I didnt waste all my time in school

Originally Posted by adbuett

A quick and dirty little calculation I did over in a thread in the hones section: An approximate thermal expansion coefficient for steel is 0.00000645 in/deg F. Using this generalization, a 3" razor will expand 0.00001935" per degree the temperature is raised. Say we go from 80 degrees room temp to 120 degree hot water. We have a delta T of 40, meaning that a 3" razor will expand 0.000774". A human hair is roughly 0.04" in diameter. So if you cover 40 degrees, your razor will be about 1/100th of a hair longer!

So I guess that's enough to feel a difference

Originally Posted by adbuett

If you so wish! But I like to think of it this way: If I have 1 million dollars, and I buy a soda for $1, I now only have $999,999, but I am still going to call myself a millionaire! A change that relatively infinitesimally small is going to go completely unnoticed. Now the fact that the blade is cold might have something to do with it. If the blade is cold, it will undoubtedly have cold water still on it. The coldness of the blade/water might be able to stand the hair up a little more right before it cuts? Maybe somebody should try an iced shave; rub some ice on your face until it's numb then see if a closer shave is had

I think you should try running YOUR razor under cold water and see if you feel a difference,if you do than no matter how small your measurement is..it works,thats all Im saying,however YMMV,and I assume it will.

Originally Posted by planetocean

Would setting a large iceberg afloat in the basin be of assistants as well?

Ok, I am a little more than confused by all this coldwater shaving and I will confess I have only been straight shaving for no more than 3 weeks.

It just seems a total opposite and contradiction to the pre shower, hair conditioner and barber hot towel shave preparation that I was lead to believe (for decades) was to apparently soften the whiskers to allow them to be shaven more cleanly and easily with minimum skin irritation.

However after reading this thread is the main reason posters are switching to the cold water shave but the whiskers are no longer soft but stand upright ready and waiting for the blade?

On a cold day or when I really want to relax, I'll do a hot shave because it just feels good sometimes. However, I usually shave in the evening and with the summer heat and humidity here I tend to take cold showers as well. I had an amazing shave last night. I got home from work to find out that my AC unit froze up (and why my wife couldn't call me at work and let me know so I could have told her what to look for/do if the AC wasn't working right I don't know) and it was over 85 in my house at dinner time. I was a bit peeved but putzed around and started defrosting the the thing. When I went to bed I was hot as heck so I hopped in the shower after filling my bowl with cold water and tossing my brush in it. I took a nice long cold shower and got out and shaved. I used the Proraso creme and did a cold water rinse after each pass. It was amazing. I felt like a million bucks and other than the usually 3 spots that seem to hate getting smooth it was an amazing shave. Also, that cold wedge of Sheffield steel felt REALLY good.

Originally Posted by planetocean

However after reading this thread is the main reason posters are switching to the cold water shave but the whiskers are no longer soft but stand upright ready and waiting for the blade?

That is the premise of the 1905 pamphlet that started this cold water shaving phenomenon on SRP. I wouldn't even think of shaving with hot water anymore. The cold is so nice and very effective in the results IME.

Originally Posted by MickR

Personally, hot or cold, I don't give a damn, but cold for one reason or another works best for me and gives me the best shave with the least issues. I couldn't be bothered with trying to figure out why, as I don't think it [cold shaving] would be for everyone. You can only try it out a few times to see if it's going to work for you.


Mick

Scanning this thread -- there are two parts that
need attention. 1) soften whiskers and 2) condition
the skin. Since we are all different the times for
water soak and soap interaction differ.

If in the process of softening your whiskers
your skin is turned to mush that the razor tears up
changing the rules makes sense. What works for
you...