Thread: Cold water shave is the best & worst ever

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

While he suggests hot water the bay rum would obviously be cold so I wonder if that would return the whiskers to some of the stiffness recommended by the author of the cold water shave ?

Okay, I just used the Robeson method (to a degree), and there is most definitely something to it. I performed my normal prep of wetting my face with water as hot as I could take and then lathered up for several minutes with a brush and soap. I let the prep lather sit on my face while I whipped up my shaving lather (usually in a scuttle, but this time in a ceramic bowl so it would be cold). I rinsed my face with hot water, then patted it completely dry, and then splashed on a liberal amount of witch hazel, which immediately toned and tightened my skin and made the whiskers stand at attention. I lathered up with the cold lather, went to work with my razor, and enjoyed on of the nicest and smoothest shaves I have had in a long time.

I'm sure a dermatologist could offer the scientific explanation as to why this method works the way it does, because I certainly don't know. I just know that it made my shave easier and virtually free of irritation.

I think someone touched on this earlier in the thread, but think about what happens when you get cold. Your hair follicles actually have tiny muscles that pull on the root of the hair. When you are cold, the muscles contract, your hair stands up a little bit, and that helps your hair trap a layer of air warmed by your body. Similar to water in a wet suit. I don't know if the hair your face works the same as on your arms and legs in this regard, though. I'm no biologist.

I will say that I tried the cold shave a couple days ago and had my best straight shave yet. I cannot attribute this entirely to the cold water, though, because I am still learning how to use a straight and I get a little better every time (assuming I had a good stropping before hand... still working on that technique). I will say that Al's The Bomb still makes a great lather with cold water.

So, I'd posit that the cold water theory does hold... water. However, I don't have enough experience to say whether or not it's better than hot water. Perhaps the hair-softening properties of hot water equal out with the mild astringent properties of cold water, and its just down to a matter of personal preference. If you get BBS every time with hot water, why change your routine? If you're like me and still searching for the perfect shave, give cold water a shot.

I'm off three days a week and shave in the evening those days so tonight I did my latest cold water shave. Again it was a nice experience. The cold water was refreshing and I got a good and close shave. I didn't do the Robeson bay rum trick but maybe tomorrow. CT, your mention of the muscles contracting and what have you is interesting. So much of this shaving and honing is hard to quantify. Why things work I mean .... or don't work. Anyhow, I'm beginning to really like shaving with cold water and oddly enough I'm generating lather that is way better than what I was doing with hot water. Strange.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

oddly enough I'm generating lather that is way better than what I was doing with hot water. Strange.

I've discovered the same thing. I've always noticed some difficulty when making lather in my scuttle, and toward the end of the shave, I need to add some water to the lather as the heat from the scuttle appears to "cook away" the moisture.

Rick, I know you said you came over to SRP to spread the DE gospel but just wait until the straight razor bug bites you. As James Thurber once said, "He who lies down with dogs will get up with fleas." Hanging out here long enough and you'll be going straight.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Rick, I know you said you came over to SRP to spread the DE gospel but just wait until the straight razor bug bites you. As James Thurber once said, "He who lies down with dogs will get up with fleas." Hanging out here long enough and you'll be going straight.

Well, I never say never.

I certainly prefer more aggressive DE razors, so when the day comes that I'm shaving with my Futur opened all the way up, then perhaps I'll be ready for a straight.

And think how much easier it will be to keep a few wet towels in the fridge than to boil a pot of water or put them in the nuke for a perfectly timed minute and 12 seconds.

My apologies if others have posted this observation. I couldn't read all the way through this thread as I started shivering so much my eyeballs started to wobble.

Originally Posted by Bruce

And think how much easier it will be to keep a few wet towels in the fridge than to boil a pot of water or put them in the nuke for a perfectly timed minute and 12 seconds.

My apologies if others have posted this observation. I couldn't read all the way through this thread as I started shivering so much my eyeballs started to wobble.

Dunno if it is good news or bad news Bruce but the pamphlet that started this cold water shave business recommends a hot towel following the shave.

Ha Jimmy - I think I made a mention about what to do at the end. So I guess I should reverse everything.

Tried the cold water routine last evening. Prepped w/ cold water, used cold water w/ the mug & brush, rinsed w/ cold water. Used a Gem Micromatic open comb SE for the shave. It worked VERY well. I was surprised how well it did work. Now I shall have to try it w/ a straight!