Soft Water

Gentlemen,

What are your thoughts on shaving with soft water?

As you know, many elements influence the shave, from razor to shave products, preparation to mastery of the razor. Somewhere in there, one must assume, the type of water used in the shave plays its part.

The reason I bring up the point is that this weekend I am visiting my daughter in Minnesota and she uses properly-gaged soft water. It seems that it takes forever to wash off the water. In the past, using a double edge razor with a chrome handle has been a challenge to hold on to because of slippage. On the other hand, I have noticed a richer lather from my brush and an impressive shave.

On this visit I brought both a Dovo "Perlex" straight, and an Edwin Jagger Chatsworth "barley" double edge razor to use in case I am squeezed for time. Then I decided to rest my face and not shave at all.

The local constabulary will probably arrest me for looking like a Corsican assassin. Still, I will try to stick to plan.

Unless Brad Pitt is unavailable for a role and Hollywood wants me to replace him as the hero, in which case I will have to shave this weekend. But that's another story.

In the meantime, I would find your thoughts on shaving with soft water most illuminating. Many thanks.

Regards,

Obie

Being here in the Arizona Desert and having well water which is very hard, I have a water softener. I find it is definitely an aid in building an awesome lather. Also the lubrication on the skin is much slicker, and I think the hydration of the water into the hair is better too.

+1 with Damon. I have a water softner. It almost required here in Florida. It is excellent for building lather, other than that. I find it plays little or no part in shaving. Your used to hard water, that's why it feels slick to you, like your unable to get the soap off.

I had always believed the slick feeling wasn't from the soft water but from the small amount of salt in the water from the softener. Sea water will give you the same feeling.

Here in New Mexico we have very hard water and the softener makes a huge difference in lathering plus it has many other benefits like helping to preserve your hot water heater and your plumbing and all your appliances plus soft water is better for your skin and hair.

Many will blame water quality problems on hard water when in fact there are a host of problems you can have with your water which have nothing to do with hardness.

I find a huge difference in lather between when I use tap water, and when I steal some distilled water from the garage.
G

We have very hard water in London and I don't have a water softener. You work out ways of getting a good lather nonetheless, significantly easier if you buy excellent products.

Whenever I'm away from home, the water is nearly always softer and I find it makes a huge difference to how soft or hydrated it makes the beard, and therefore how much smoother the shave is.

I think water softness can make a big difference, but you can still get great shaves from hard water.

We have hard water here in London and, whilst I prefer the taste of hard water to soft, its not so good for making a lather. I really have to soak my brush and I have to put hot water on the soap as well, but this does give a good lather. It just takes a bit of work!

When my girlfriend and I were in Spain there was very soft water and I hardly needed any water to make a really thick lather.

So its definately easier to make lather with soft water I've found.

I prefer SOFT water over my HARD water any day...much easier to later with, feels better, all around BETTER!

:beer2:

We are on a well here in Ohio too. I love the soft water for shaving, but have to use distilled water for honing......lol.

Lynn

I have a whole house water filter (Aquasana Rhino) and it makes a HUGE difference in our lives: shaving, bathing, washing cloths, drinking,..etc. The lather is great and the filtered water doesn't dry out my skin.

Hard water, aka public water is a downer no matter how I look at it.

Pabster