Thread: The use of hot and cold water, and the preparation of the beard, book excerpt 1869.

The use of hot and cold water, and the preparation of the beard, book excerpt, from an Household guide 1869.

Interesting. I had not thought of warming the razor.

I've switched to cold water shaving about 100 shaves ago and don't see going back.
Cool/cold water face wash or a cold water "James Bond Finish" shower.
Lather and then a vigorous face massage with fingers/palms. Cold water rinse, pat dry and fresh lather and shave.
Warm/hot final rinse and then ice water towell for a bracing finish.
Brush soak and lather build using ice water.

Give it a week trial...

Originally Posted by Pyrateknight

Interesting. I had not thought of warming the razor.

I would be hesitant to use my armpit.

I've been happily shaving with cold water and very little prep for a few years now. Since a member , Lucky Cynic, posted a thread on a book called "Shaving Made Easy.." You can find a link to the 1905 booklet (PDF) here .

In the summers months i keep a glass full of ice with water and dip the razor in it while shaving feels great and refreshing.

Originally Posted by Martin103

In the summers months i keep a glass full of ice with water and dip the razor in it while shaving feels great and refreshing.

I will have to try this.

I've recently switched to cold water myself. I do love the sensation of the warm leather and rinses, but I'm getting far better results with cold water. I still use warm water to keep the blade warm as I really do not like the sensation of a cold blade on my face.

I can't think of going back to warm water in the short term...

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've been happily shaving with cold water and very little prep for a few years now. Since a member , Lucky Cynic, posted a thread on a book called "Shaving Made Easy.." You can find a link to the 1905 booklet (PDF) here .

Jimmy can you expand on your little prep and use of cold water?

Originally Posted by Martin103

Jimmy can you expand on your little prep and use of cold water?

Sure Martin. In that 1905 booklet the author recommends lathering (cold) and rubbing it into the beard vigorously. That is my total prep, and IIRC , is what the book recommends. I lather again and do a pass. Lather once more and a second pass. On rare occasions I may lather my neck a third time for a third pass on the neck only.

The booklet also recommends doing WTG on each pass. He says ATG causes irritation. I've tried that but decided I like WTG followed by ATG and as long as I only do two passes, which is all I really need, I don't get irritation.

Most times I could actually get by with the one pass. Especially on the cheeks. The neck and chin would be acceptable but not BBS. I normally do the two just because I like lathering and shaving.

I enjoyed the hot water, vigorous face washing before lathering, along with the warm lather from the Moss scuttle, but I save so much time, and get such good shaves with the cold water method that I couldn't see myself going back to hot.

BTW, I'm coming up on 3 years of cold water shaving now.