Thread: Cold water shave is the best & worst ever

I started cold water shaving with DE and SE razors back in March when my face felt too irritated with hot or warm water. I've been using straights for 2 months and still shave with cold water only. I sometimes add ice cubes into a bowl of cold water and soak the brush there before I shave and use the water to prepare and rinse at every level. I still get a close, comfortable shave.

Any suggestions on what works best with cold water?
Can you cold water über ?

I've always liked the ice-water finish, and the tap water here is not too cold in the summer so I've been using the ice & ice water. Getting good results with old formula Proraso Green....but that is getting low and I'm looking for something new to try, want it to work in "Polar Mode"

Thx

Queen Charlotte Soaps Vostok is nice and chilly with very pleasant scent. A terrific soft soap. I've also added menthol crystals to a few shaving creams, like Nancy Boy's Replenishing shaving cream and that got more than chilly...for a good long while.

Full disclosure is that I've never been totally satisfied with my lathering hot or cold. I seem to be hit or miss no matter which way. I do all of my lathering cold though, the whole shave ritual, start to finish is done cold. I use QED glycerine, the usual creams, a few triple milled. Harris, Trumpers. It all works cold for me.

Originally Posted by lindyhop66

Queen Charlotte Soaps Vostok is nice and chilly with very pleasant scent. A terrific soft soap. I've also added menthol crystals to a few shaving creams, like Nancy Boy's Replenishing shaving cream and that got more than chilly...for a good long while.

Thx - I ordered the sample pack with the Vostok as the first pick...

I had a shave with hot water last night and strangely didn't enjoy it. Nearly all my shaves have been cold water for the last few months and really enjoyable with a wedge especially. As it gets cooler out I'll sway back to hot water but come next spring I'll be loving the cold water shaves again...

I've cold shaved using my DE but I just got a str8 and two shaves in I'm getting some serious razor burn. I know it'll take awhile to get used to a str8 and my angles might be off some in places but I'm thinking cold water might help. My problem is real tough hair and real sensitive skin.

Originally Posted by thumper15

I've cold shaved using my DE but I just got a str8 and two shaves in I'm getting some serious razor burn. I know it'll take awhile to get used to a str8 and my angles might be off some in places but I'm thinking cold water might help. My problem is real tough hair and real sensitive skin.

While you're in the beginning stages of learning straight razor shaving it is not cheating to grab the DE to get the tougher areas. I did that my first month or so while I learned technique with the straight.

Originally Posted by thumper15

I've cold shaved using my DE but I just got a str8 and two shaves in I'm getting some serious razor burn. I know it'll take awhile to get used to a str8 and my angles might be off some in places but I'm thinking cold water might help. My problem is real tough hair and real sensitive skin.

+1 to Jimmy's comments and the usual "new to Str8" Questions:
a. did you get a "shave ready" razor honed by a pro?
b. angle and pressure kept low? (this was hard for me to get a handle on...keeping the pressure low and going for beard reduction passes)

Soon you will be wondering what the problem was...

Good shaving..

I finished the couple spots I had trouble with today on my neck with the DE.
Just got the razor from SRD. Dovo 6/8 half hollow
First shave guessed at 30 degree angle, today I flattened it out a tad. First shave was with 5 days of growth, today was two day stubble. As for pressure I'm trying to just let the razor do the work and just guide it. However, I'm so used to using a DE and a small amount of pressure with it that I'm probably applying pressure and not knowing I'm doing it.
I'm going to shave sunday and try cold water maybe if i'm putting too much pressure the cold water will keep the burn from being too bad.