Thread: Cold water shave is the best & worst ever

Tomarrow Rob is going to say: "Me and my mouth". I usually throw the water to cold after the hot shower and stick with it for 30 sec. Like the old man in Braveheart- "It'll wake you in the Morning Boy!"

Rob, I just read those articles and I think they're written by some passive sadists.

John, always a step ahead, I see. So let me ask, why, and do you actually feel better for it?

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

After posting the links in the previous post I have decided to try this cold shower routine.

Back in '04 and '05 we had hurricanes which resulted in my losing power for 10 days once and 12 days on another occasion. I didn't take many of them but I took enough cold showers to know that I prefer hot. YMMV

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Back in '04 and '05 we had hurricanes which resulted in my losing power for 10 days once and 12 days on another occasion. I didn't take many of them but I took enough cold showers to know that I prefer hot. YMMV

Jimmy, this is that psychology thing again. If you Have to have a cold shower they're no fun. If you Choose to I'm betting it's a whole new ball game.

But, I am expecting pain.

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

Jimmy, this is that psychology thing again. If you Have to have a cold shower they're no fun. If you Choose to I'm betting it's a whole new ball game.

But, I am expecting pain.

You're a better man than I am.

Edit; After posting the above I recalled the cold showers ..... once you get over the initial shock it really isn't that bad ... but that first blast of cold water ... Arggggh

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

John, always a step ahead, I see. So let me ask, why, and do you actually feel better for it?

Yes, I do feel better after doing it. It's a thrill. But the rewarding part is staying under the cold water for a good 30 seconds or so. Instead of jumping out after only a few moments. It'll take your breath away- seriously.

Originally Posted by JohnnyCakeDC

Yes, I do feel better after doing it. It's a thrill. But the rewarding part is staying under the cold water for a good 30 seconds or so. Instead of jumping out after only a few moments. It'll take your breath away- seriously.

Reading this post brought the cold shower (by necessity) back out of the mystic chords of memory. I found the trick to be pointing the shower head down and starting out at the feet/lower legs. As your body acclimated ease the rest into the path of the shower head. This made it bearable.

still pretty new to all of this, but i have a theory on the better shave...

what's the point of creating a lather? to put both moisture and lubrication between your skin and the blade? and soap/cream is made from fat, right?

so... compare lathering to making whipped cream. you should always start with cold tools to prevent the fat in the cream from melting. same goes with the lather: cold water keeps it from melting, allowing more air pockets to build and more room for water. plus, the soap/cream holds up during the shave instead of falling apart.

my newbie two cents, fwiw.

Originally Posted by honkerman1

still pretty new to all of this, but i have a theory on the better shave...

what's the point of creating a lather? to put both moisture and lubrication between your skin and the blade? and soap/cream is made from fat, right?

so... compare lathering to making whipped cream. you should always start with cold tools to prevent the fat in the cream from melting. same goes with the lather: cold water keeps it from melting, allowing more air pockets to build and more room for water. plus, the soap/cream holds up during the shave instead of falling apart.

my newbie two cents, fwiw.

Welcome to SRP. Well the pamphlet from 1905 that started all of this (with me anyway) said that the hot water would soften the whisker and make it more difficult for the blade to cut it. The cold water keeps the whisker stiff and therefore more easily sheared by the razor. Your observation on the lather is interesting and probably has merit. Smooth shaving.