Thread: About that coldwater shave...

Originally Posted by puketui41

Everyone's beard is different. Your beard sounds like it may be finer than mine. Your beard takes a splash of cold water and its hydrated, or doesn't require hydrating at all to be easily shaven. Mine takes four minutes of hot water soaking and eight minutes of cold water soaking. Someone else may take five and ten respectively, or whatever. The physics though, doesn't change. A beard (above a certain coarseness) must be hydrated to make shaving easier and that hydration will always be faster the hotter the water. Once hydrated, the use of cold water for shaving, I imagine, takes some of the limpness caused by the heat, out of the whiskers while still leaving them fully hydrated. To me, that is the optimum state for shaving.

Yup, like I said, everyone finds their own way that works for them.

Bob

I switched to cold water shaves about a year ago and find that it works very well for me. I get less irritation with both a safety and straight razor. Also, I don't like to let the water run too long as I wait for the water to heat up. I live in California which, despite this stormy winter, has pretty much been in drought for about 4 years.

I've had the best luck doing a cold water shave after getting out of a HOT shower. For me this seems to be the best of both worlds. Hope your cold water shaves work out well for you. I find it provides a better shave and less skin irritation.

The thing I find funny every time the subject of cold water shaving comes up is that there are always some who recoil at the thought of using cold water and like to have warm lather to pamper themselves. This is on a straight razor shaving forum where people seem to pride themselves on the "manly" art of shaving with a straight razor. Lord, what next a trip to the spa for a mud bath?

Bob

I don't like to shave withy cold water or hot water.

About 80f is good for me.

I had had a few razors honed in different ways to test, so it took me a few days before I could give cold water a go. Today I did. Aaand it was okay, not a perfect shave. Maybe a bit less irritation compared to a hot water shave with similar result...

I will try again in some time. But for now, Im not sold. It might be a practical solution when traveling but nothing I prefer over a hot shave, yet...

Thanks for all the input and discussion on this topic!
Jacke

I just stumbled upon this thread today and thought I'd add my two cents.

I've only been using a straight razor for a few months now but I've been a wet shaver for a little over ten years. It was actually switching to the straight (and finding SRP) that caused something of a revolution in my shave routine, including becoming a cold water shaver. Almost all of my changes, including giving up the goop, was due to sensitive skin issues.

For most of my life I shaved with hot water and it was actually thinking about those physiology classes I had that really opened my mind to the cold water shave. Hot water causes vasodialtion, the technical term for your body dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow, in an effort to cool the body. This also causes pores to open, which can effect your shave and the resulting irritation. As I was experimenting with all types of new additions to my routine I decided to give the cold water shave at try. In my case I found that the post-shave irritation is rather substantially reduced when I shave with the hot water tap in the closed position.

My routine now is to allow my puck to bloom with rather lukewarm water while I take a shower, and I like a hot shower with a cool bathroom. Once I'm out I cool a bit while I build my lather, using the reserve from my bloom to hydrate the suds. Then I splash my face with cold water and put brush to face. I use use cold water from this point on not only as a splash before each pass but also to clean off the remaining lather at the end. I don't rinse my razor with water as I prefer to use a towel and not risk one of my beloved blades to the dangers of the sink until I clean it off when I've finished.

If you want to up the cold quotient a bit, I might suggest trying Fine's Snake Bite soap and aftershave. I'm currently in love with the stuff and am looking forward to using it when summer arrives.

Completely switched over now. I was surprised at the shave results and after a couple of weeks, I'm converted.

I only shave with cold or room temp water, and get a great shave. If I use hot water, I get too much irritation on my face, hate it, but everyone is different, in their like to shaving.
One important thing to remember, is a sharp blade, and holding at the right angle to get close.

I had to recently shave cold because a hotel I stayed at for a few days had problems with consistant hot water temperature. I then remembered trying cold water a few years back and switchimg back to warm water. So now I'm shaving cold since 2 weeks again and have the same results as I did back then: Less rash and even a cleaner shave for about one week. After that the effect thins out (which is why I switched back to warm water then). My skin is irretated as much as with warm water now. Still I find it more refreshing and awakening to use cold water in the morning, especially with Proraso Green. But I can't say that I won't switch to warm again some time soon....