To rinse or not to rinse, that is my question.

[gflight]

So it is closer to Christmas and the beginning of my straight razor shaving. I have read much information, touched base with a helpful mentor (thanks greatly), and should have a strop, razor, and samples of Caties bubbles to begin my journey.

So to my question,

I had been reading about rust and water on the blade and in the scales and noticed some just wipe shave debris on a towel. I am thinking of going with this method. The problem is...


Do I have to rinse or wet my face between lathers?

Currently I am rinsing between passes and using my DE. I have no idea where to move the straight razor, towel, etc and the items in order for them to keep any resemblance of dryness in my small shaving den (half-bathroom 4X5). In other words it will be a pain to do so and knowing me if the items are in there they WILL get splashed.


What are your thoughts??

[criswilson10]

I usually rinse between passes to reheat my skin and remove any stray lather that may have dried out on my face while shaving. It also lets me know any spots that I missed. I usually move my razor off to the side while I rinse.

No matter how careful you are, you will probably splash the razor at some point. Just towel the outside dry, run a q-tip inside the scales to get that water, and oil your pivot pin monthly and leave the razor open to dry for a few hours. Then you don't have to worry about it as much.

[petercp4e]

I always rinse with hot water between lathers. It seems to keep the lather slicker and let it stay wetter for a little longer. With straight shaving you want a nice, slick, wet lather. I usually only lather half of my face at a time to prevent drying. This also force me to slow down and relax, but you have to take a little extra time and not be in a rush. Works for me...YMMV.
Enjoy the journey into the world of straight razor shaving!

Pete <:-}

[Frameback]

Don't rinse. The razor has nothing to do in water.

I wipe the razor on a dry high quality car wash sponge in-between passes. After done wipe with tissue and alcohol and strop.

[Ernie1980]

I rinse the blade frequently while I shave, but for my face I just re-lather and keep going. I rinse off my razor after I finish, and then immediately use bathroom tissue to dry the blade and scales. I then rinse my face off and finish my routine by stropping on felt or linen to make sure the edge is clean and dry before re-racking my straight.
I have never had corroding issues on my blades doing this, and my face seems to not really care one way or another in regards to my rinsing routine

[BobH]

I strop my blade across a damp sponge when needed to clean it during a shave. I wet my face between passes before I relather. When I am finished shaving the blade gets a rinse under running water, is wiped dry and between the scales also, stropped about 10 times on linen and laid out open for a few hours to dry. Then put away.

Bob

[Raol]

I am in the popular habit of wiping the soap from my razor on my wrist/arm and wash off when I rinse my face between passes.
If I were to worry about water on my razor it could be easily wiped between passes with a towel which is usually around my waist.
I don't believe there is anything in writing about the necessity of rinsing between passes but I can't imagine a second or third pass without hydrating between each.

[Aldwyn]

I used to, but not any more. Now its usually wash/WTG/WTG/ATG/rinse.

[RezDog]

I am pretty minimalist for most shaves. I just lather for each pass and then rinse after. I have no water shortages either, it's just the way I dooo's it!

[thebigspendur]

I never rinse my face between passes. I see no need to. As far as the razor is concerned I always rinse it under a stream of water. I've had no issues with rust but I'm careful with drying.