Thread: Seeking tips on reducing irritation w/cold water shaves

I found my best shaves are right out of the shower, hot or cold water doesn't seem to matter as much. My face is fairly tolerant of basically any method of one pass quick shaving, it's the extra passes that get my skin upset. Why not do a very systematic test with only one change in your variables to see what works best for you? This is what I did and it worked well for me, it also prevents me from second guessing myself!

I've played with immediate cold water shaves. The results are sometimes better and sometimes not.
What I have found is that the soap I use to wash my face is the most important part of any shave before or after shower and any water temperature.
YMMV
~Richard

I used to be rather crazy about prep, used oils and preshaves wet towels hot not so hot etc. I do a funny thing now before I go into the shower I whip up some lather wet face lather up good then jump in the shower with the lather on my face. After rubbing it nicely and eventually washing it of with the rest of me, I go back to the shave den and lather up again then shave. I feel im getting a really good prep this way and even my "not the sharpest razor in the den" works darn good. I havent been suffering from those red irritating areas which I usually associate with rushing a prep or a shave. But who knows I also try to keep razor angles low and not do too many passes.

Thanks for all the comments! I was trying to simulate the "end game" of using cold water, soap, etc. on travel (except for using a straight).

As suggested by several folks, I need to try one variable at a time to try to understand if it is the soap, face lathering, prep differences, using preshave under lather, cold water, or me unconsciously changing technique.

What do you think I should change first?


I think the end goal is to get to using soap (one less liquid, if carry on), no scuttle (so I don't have to pack it), and to eliminate preshave cream, if possible (can still take advantage of conditioner).

It doesn't have to be cold water, but I was thinking along that lines, given I wouldn't have a scuttle or shave bowl. Maybe that assumption is wrong, thought it sounds like cold water shouldn't be an issue, so I'm hoping I can figure out how to make this work.

You could always carry a travel tube of shave cream. Then you can lather with your hands directly on your face, eliminating need for scuttle and brush. Stick with your preshave and postshave routines. Using tap water, hot, warm, or cold will be fine. But a tube of preshave cream, shave cream, and whatever aftershave or balm you use isn't much to carry in addition to a razor and strop.

Take one thing out of your routine at a time. The one causing the problem will show up and you can adjust from there to make your travel more pleasurable.

Personally I hate cold anything in the morning no matter what it is. Let's see, bamboo under the finger nails or cold splash of water. hmmmm no quarter needed, pass the bamboo please :<0)

Originally Posted by Geezer

I've played with immediate cold water shaves. The results are sometimes better and sometimes not.
What I have found is that the soap I use to wash my face is the most important part of any shave before or after shower and any water temperature.
YMMV
~Richard

I agree. Many times I use a shea butter based bath bar that I find makes a wonderful pre shave prep in itself. Soap matters .

Originally Posted by pcm

Thanks for all the comments! I was trying to simulate the "end game" of using cold water, soap, etc. on travel (except for using a straight).

As suggested by several folks, I need to try one variable at a time to try to understand if it is the soap, face lathering, prep differences, using preshave under lather, cold water, or me unconsciously changing technique.

What do you think I should change first?


I think the end goal is to get to using soap (one less liquid, if carry on), no scuttle (so I don't have to pack it), and to eliminate preshave cream, if possible (can still take advantage of conditioner).

It doesn't have to be cold water, but I was thinking along that lines, given I wouldn't have a scuttle or shave bowl. Maybe that assumption is wrong, thought it sounds like cold water shouldn't be an issue, so I'm hoping I can figure out how to make this work.

Personally I would start with the "fluff", I.e. towels and preshave, pick one and worm from there, then eliminate one other thing at a time until it stops working.
If you want to go with conditioner as a preshave then maybe start there and get that worming like whatever else you may currently be using, if it were me I would just skip it all together.

Just to clarify, I don't use the conditioner as preshave, only apply it after washing my face in the shower to soften beard. Then, when I'm ready to shave, I apply preshave, before each lather application. Currently, using Noxema and glycerin drops. Was using Poraso months ago.

I guess the question is whether to remove a step/item at a time, and then once I find out minimum w/o irritation, try substituting soap/face lather, or to replace cream/scuttle with soap/face lathering, and then try to remove other items/steps one at a time.

I do the same as jimmyhad describes in post #6. I only do 2 passes, Atg xtg.
Maybe try sticking with tobs, you can always scoop out a little and stick in a more travel friendly container.

Another thing to think about, at least for me, is my beard cuts more easily after a shower than with only cold water and no shower, I found that I apply more pressure to cut the whiskers when using cold water. I must be more mindful that the extra pressure is to remove whiskers and not applied more to the skin.

For me cold water shaving is far more enjoyable to me and also much easier on my skin.

Good luck and do whatever feels best, maybe for travel you figure out an abbreviated version of a warm or hot shave so you can cut down on all the stuff to bring, or just get a bigger toiletries bag