Thread: Cold water pass

What are peoples opinions on having the last pass with just cold water.
I tried going against the grain on any bits i missed with just cold water this morning and found it very effective in cutting close, and i suffered much less razorburn afterward.
Anybody else use this, love it, hate it, or have any opinions or experiences to share?
Nick

I've only done it when I discover a 'missed' spot. I like to hold off on the cold for after to seal the pores and retract the hairs, and the blood from the surface corpuscles. When I have used cold water for teh breif instances, I haven't noticed anything either better or worse by doing it.

X

I just started using cold water for touchups in the last week or two, and I really like the results. The cold water somehow seems like it "toughens" my skin so it can take a few extra strokes without any razorburn. It's also easier to stretch the skin to get those last hairs...

Josh

That's how the old barber's manuals recommended doing it.

I just use cold water after I finish to close the pores...

I've tried finishing with a hot water pass in order to get that last bit of sideways stubble on the neck, and it helped get closer at some risk for irritation, but I never thought of doing that with cold water. Maybe I'll give it a try sometime.

I usually just use cold water at the end of a shave however every once in a while just to prove how much of a he-man I really am I'll do the entire shave with just cold water. No soap at all. Try it, its fun and educational. And if you do and wind up looking like Freddie Kruger when your finished don't blame me.

Ok, warm water helps to soften the beard correct? Obviously this is why we warm the face up with warm water so yes. But it also causes the skin to relax and swell a little. Now, if the skin is some what puffed up, then it would make sense that you wouldn't get as close a shave. It would feel close until your skin tightened back up and then what was a nice close shave would not be quite as close as now the hairs are sticking back up above the surface a little. This is what a shaving article I read once said at least. I'm no dermatologist, but it made sense to me. Heat=expand Cooling=retraction.
Basic physics and such right?

But Xman made a point saying that the cold water actually causes the hairs to retract as well. I have never heard this, but it does also make sense. The hair follicles would probably also retract with exposure to cold water.

So essentially I have gone no where with this post. But my post count continues to rise and rise by the day.

Matt

shaving in cold water has no benefits...as others have mentioned before along with myself applying hot compresses steamed or hot with towels or washcloths open the pores and allow the hair follicule to extend! cold water makes the hair retract...shaving with cold water will toughen your skin as the razor is scraping your face....I think all you guys who like shaving or touchups with cold water should try dry shaving maybe you will like it!

I always find i feel smoother about 10 mins after a shave. This must prove the retraction theory?! The main area i notice this on is the front facet of my chin. It looks like i got some stubble left. It feels smooth as glass and i couldn't get it if i tryed, After the ten minutes, it's gone..poof..just like magic!