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Ok I"m doing a week of camping starting this week and my usual hot shaving might be difficult and I remeber hearing people rant about cold water shaving so whats the technique for this cold water shaving? I have to use bottled water for the lather because the water there has so much iron it literaly turns brown when you leave it sitting out.
Going by the 1905 pamphlet that got me started, lather with your water at whatever the temp is. Rub the lather in thoroughly with your fingertips. Reapply lather. Shave. Rinse. Simple as that. A/S of choice. Been doing that non stop for months now and no turning back. YMMV.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by errnest
The water rusts? where is that? and come to think of it why isnt it already brown? Happy camping
Down here in FL if people are using well water there are deposits that turn exterior walls of the house brown if the sprinklers hit it. The porcelain in the bathroom too. :boohoo:They forced everyone around here to hook up to city water at the home owner's expense 10 years or so ago. Big brother.
Hope you got a free evening, cause here`s some reading:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...orst-ever.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/pre-s...ter-shave.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...made-easy.html
...and then of course there is the Polar Bear Shavers Club.
Cold shaving is suiting me fine. Generally just whatever temp the water is available. No special techniques, just use cold water intead of warm/hot.
I'm sure you'll have no problems on your camping trip.
Have a great week!
My sentiments exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
It's coopers lake campground in slippery rock PA, they say it's safe to drink but we usually don't trust them and get massive amounts of bottled water to drink and cook with. The best part is when your "tan" washes off after you leave site.Quote:
Originally Posted by kevint
so wait.. no one is saying the water has to be freezing? you can get by with luke water or whatever temp it is? i think i like that idea better.
Exactly. Cold in the sense of what comes out of the faucet at room temperature.Quote:
Originally Posted by vthomlinson
I've been cold-water shaving (as noted, "cold" meaning as it comes from the cold-water tap) for a few weeks now. No problems, in fact I like it better -- seems to leave my face feeling better.
Now bear in mind that it's summer in the Midwest, which differs from hell mainly in having higher humidity. :) We'll see how it is in four or five months.
~Rich
Yeah, I wouldn't say freezing water, but I turn the knob all the way to the right and use whatever is coming out of the faucet. It's usually pretty cold, more so in the winter.
I don't go exactly by the pamphlet: I skip the finger massage part. Basically, I just do what I've always done except I use cold water instead. I can shave at night without a shower or hot towels since they aren't required, which is much more convenient for me. And on a hot day the cold water feels really nice.
Do we have another convert?
Forty or so years ago I got my first barber shop shave. The barber gave me the hot towel and one heck of a finger massage of lather. I don't remember which was first but I was surprised at how vigorously he massaged the lather into the whiskers. So much so that I asked him about it. He said that it helped to prepare them for the shave. I personally think it is an important step since it is the only prep I do now. Working very well for this old guy.Quote:
Originally Posted by BingoBango
i rinse my blade with cooler water anyway.. i've noticed that if i rinse with water that is too hot my razor will practically burn my face when i go to make the next pass.... especially with my de..
also.. i was thinking about combining this with the robeson bayrum prep method.. when you rinse the lather off.. apply bayrum and then re-lather.. do you normally rinse after the fingering and before the relathering?
Errnest.
There are a number of ways that you can avoid using cold water in camping, it's my scientific speciality to power phrase a wise old man.
Do you have a hat?
Wide brim, akubra, tilley etc?
Garbage bag
And a towel & face cloth
Fill the hat with garbage bag and water, spread it all out so its a good sink, you can tie this on some akubras to your legs so it is self supporting. Heat a good DRY (DRY) stone over fire. place face cloth in sink, then hot stone to heat water, about a gold ball size...
Put the towel over your head and sink and get a steaming.
You may have to experiment to get the temperature comfortable, but thats your hot water aspect, once the water is hot you can fill a regular mug and lather as normal, floating the mug in the sink, you should not have enough water that this level goes over the mug. That will keep the mug and lather warm.
No hat, dig a hole...
Oh, the face cloth is to hold the Red Hot stone so it doesn't melt the bag. or the hat.
As you quickly lose heat in outdoor shaving. it's important to keep it warm, even with a mach three this is important...
Hope this helps you out.
And it raises me a question. Please go to razor forum and answer me there what good travel straights are available?
I was in Europe for a month and it was hot in some areas without a/c and I used cold water to shave and it was refreshing.
Pabster
Or you could just "go native" (i.e., don't shave) when you camp, which is what I do, especially when backpacking, when weight and space are at a premium. But it sounds like you're car-camping, and I know some guys just can't go a day without shaving.
Though I also occasionally like the cold-water shave, couldn't you just heat the water on a Coleman stove or your coffee-pot over the fire, then use as needed in your mug/bowl? Another thing my family does when backpacking in cold weather (or a high elevation like Yellowstone), since we have to treat the drinking water anyway, is just boil up some water on the camp stove to pour (carefully!) into Lexan bottles for a hot-water bottle. Keeps us toasty at night, and you have potable water in the morning. That's probably off-topic, but I love to talk about camping, backpacking techniques. Enjoy your shaves whatever you do! Aaron
I shave cold water all year round , you shoudnt have a problem get some from bottle rinse ya face jus to wet ya whiskers mix ya lather an go for it , the best part is rinsing off with cold water , I love the feeling here in winter as now the tap water is very cold after a shave I take me shirt off and give me face a good rinse to remove all soap , the cold water makes my sink pull tight like rawhide on a drum , a splash of witchhazel and Im done , I belive it improves my complection either way its great way to start the day
I just remembered another tip I aquired through a hobo.
KY jelly, it has it's own use and about ten others to the creative minded.
It's a great basic slicker, cheap as chips and available almost everywhere.
I have not tried it, hot or cold, but it's a possibility
KY jelly and ice cubes. The mind blossoms with images.
:beer2:
I started without the first lather rubbed in. More often than not I add that step. If you were to wet your face afterward you'd see there's still a lot of soap there-which I think may be the point of it. A base coat.
As Ive mentioned a hundred times I use a short, thin strop so it's easy to roll. For a couple days(at least) you can usually go without stropping. Add a couple more days and I've found it's just easier to take another razor. Because if you take a strop for backwood rambles you will need to protect it from dust, dirt, grime, sand etc.
Shaving out of a plastic mirror is imperfect. for a while I had one with a crox coated leather pad glued to the backside. I ordered a Vecto1 signal mirror 2x3. I dont know that I should try to shave with it or not(or really even if i made the right choice for signal:))
Back on topic for a minute I like cold water, low prep shaves. It's not that much trouble or pack weight if you practice the same methods at home. I just haven't reached that mirrorless plateau yet....actually I'd like all my kit to be more perfect; only the cold water aspect is 100 percent unimproveable(sp)
:rofl2::rofl2::rofl2::cenQuote:
Originally Posted by Bruce
Mix a little Lecithin and light vegetable oil togeather, wet face, rub in a small amount of oil and shave, it really works
I learned on a civil war tour with my father years ago, that Stonewall Jackson had his men shave with cold water. This was done purposefully as it lowered the chance of razor burn in the field. I've been taking his advice for 16 years of Army life and never had a complaint. I will be continuing once I get back to the states and begin my new str8 razor experience. Wish us luck!
With my tough beard, don't think this is something I'd try. As it is, I have to use two hot towels to get a decent shave.
I just tried the cold water shave technique, as per the
1905 instructions. I had a bit of trouble getting a good
lather going, but that's about it.
The shave was OK...not great...but OK.
After the shave, my 13 year-old daughter gave me an
"inspection". She rubbed my face with her hands, looked
at me critically, and said, "B+".
So I guess that's the "score".
How about a compromise? Hot water for lather, cold
water for the face.
Cheers,
Paul
Well..... I just got done with a nice cold water night shave(cool water not real cold) and I have to say...it really was close and coooool. I have cold water shaved before with the same refreshing results. Soooo.....I may very well be a convert.This is definantly one of those personal preference deals y'know. I do not poo poo those who like the hot towel etc.,but I'm thinkin I really like this. I soaked the brush in cool water,lathered in it and shaved with it,sometimes wiping with a cool washcloth between relathers. Finished off with alum block and Clubman regular A/S and barely any sting at all. My skin feels very refreshed(kinda like when you lay yer head on a nice cool pillow)...Maybe it's because I was born in lower Northern Michigan heh,I dunno,but I do know I like this....Yep.:tu
I have not been able to get any cold water, our water is gravity fed from tanks on the roof and it's been at least 117 for the last several months. It's luke warm and I have been using it that was, no hot water at all and I can't tell any difference. Can't wait to try though.
I did really enjoy reading the pdf though. Very interesting the way people used to write.
Matt
I have been cold shaving since reading the 1905 pamphlet and love it! I still use hot water to soak my brush and to soften up my soap.
I read the pamphlet and have shaved twice with cold water with a hot water shave in between.
I feel that I have gotten a better shave and no weepers using cold water. One shave was with a hard glycerin soap the other with trumpers creame. I am going to continue the comparison wiht a few other lather makers and additonal straights to see what happens.
My wife said , boy what did you do to get that smooth chin and jaw line! I take that as a good sign.
I've been shaving with cold (whatever comes out of the
tap) water for a week now, contrary to everything I've
tried in the past, and I must say...I'm a believer.
Today, using the cold water method, I've gotten the
best SR shave I've ever had!
Granted: I just honed my razor, I gave it 50 linen/100
leather on the strop first...I followed the 1905 routine
(especially the rubbing the cold lather in with the fingers
part), I did 3 complete passes (WTG, XTG, ATG)....
and I took my time doing it. I also stropped the razor
between passes, and re-lathered before each pass.
Now, that's not exactly scientific, but it sure was a
good cold water shave! BBS and no irritation.
I'm impressed, and my "shave inspector" gave me
an "A". :)
Cheers,
Paul
So check this out...I did a James Bond shower(courtesy the art of manliness site which is cold water) Then did a cold shave......I'm a polar bear yup !! Luuuuv it !!! :medvl:
Here is a bit from a True Polar Bear. Diving into coldest water on Earth - CNN.comQuote:
Originally Posted by Nightblade
I like a cool to cold shower, as well as a Ice Preped Shave, but this guy has got a pair of brass ones.
Yep.......that's pretty brassy alright !:medvl:
One of the things that I like a about the Cold Water Shave (what do we call it? CWS, CS?) is that it ties in to the James Bond shower...When you are the oldest of 5 growing up and your Dad is a USMC Col. you learn to take a "Navy Shower"... so it's not like you are going to be in there for 20 minutes...When I was trying to keep my beard "warm" it kinda jammed up the shower style.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightblade
One more reason to try Cold Water Shaving....along with re-cycling all of those old razors its just another way we are saving the planet....could you pass me another piece of that Spotted Owl?