Thread: Water shave

I use soap or cream for the first two passes, and usually finish off any stragglers with a water-only pass.

Dr. Albert Einstein was a great apologist for the water only method. I have done it, and it does work, but I do much prefer soap or cream and a brush. It just FEELS better!

Originally Posted by dennisthemenace

Dr. Albert Einstein was a great apologist for the water only method.

Yeah, but who the heck is Dr Einstein? Did he ever do anything smart in his entire life?

<omniphile wishes to announce he has now gone into hiding under a Police Protection Program and will not resurface until all the flames have ceased.>

I've been saying for some time now that you can just use water. many of the old timers used that method with success. Yes its more difficult because you have to keep rewetting your face but it does save money. You can also use plain old bar soap, its a step up from water. All those nice soaps and creams feel nice and just make shaving a more pleasurable experience. And yes I've shaved with just water and the result for me was equal to using the best English soap just not as luxurious. Would I use it all the time? No I wouldn't because I like those fancy soaps so just call me a sissy.

Bigspendur,

You ain't a sissy. Just think of yourself as a refined
man of luxary.


Terry

i'm definitely the type of person who would rather say he shaves with water only, but after trying it, i have to say i think even a little bar soap applied with the hand to lubricate the skin makes a world of difference regarding comfort. really, the five dollars i spent on a boar brush and the four dollars i spent on a cake of soap seem like a small price to pay given how long they last. also, i don't spend a lot of time on the lather; i just wet the brush before i get in the shower to let it soak up water, wet the soap to let it soften, then when i get out of the shower i spend 15 or 20 seconds lathering up. no worries.

Shaving is an experience. It doesn't matter if you use a straight razor, DE, or a disposable. What matters are the components. A brush, a quality shaving cream or soap, and the razor. With all the available items, why shave with just water? However, the lather is important. It provides the "slick" you need to keep your razor from "biting" you. Regardless of the razor that you use, with shaving, the individual parts equal the sum. Why take shortcuts?

RT

Well, in theory, the razor glides over the oil and sweat from your glands. The soap serves the purpose of degreasing the hair and allow the water to saturate them up to 40% of their original size. So, if you wash the face really good in the shower, and rince it again with hot water later (to get the oil and sweat going) you should be able to shave yourself just as good as with soap or creme. Have to try that sometime... However, the other day, I left the soap for too long, stropping my razor with lather on my face (I usually do this before showering). My face felt like it was, uhm, dissolving. Like the "protection" was gone. Needles to say, the shave was realy lousy. So, don't overdoit with the soap thing...

Nenad