Thread: Water shave

After reading Jeffrey Tucker's anti-shaving-cream manifesto, I decided to give shaving with warm water a try (with a safety razor), and found that it worked surprisingly well. Shortly thereafter, I worked up the courage to try it with a straight razor, with similar results. I don't really have any strong preference either way, as far as comfort and shave quality go, but water beats lather in the convenience department. Has anyone else tried this?

Some caveats: I've been using Colonel Conk shaving soap as the baseline, not the high-end creams. Also, I'm fairly new to straight-razor shaving (I've done it a few dozen times), and I use a Shavette.

It works ok. Biggest problem is the constant re-wetting to keep the skin slippery enough. I tend to prefer the superfatted soaps myself. Harris and Truefitt&Hill are great, and since they last 6 months or so of daily use the price isn't really too bad.

I've only used water only for my final touch-up passes. Never had the courage to start out with just water. I have a tough beard the way it is, I need all the help I can get when it comes to slickness, etc.

The lather raises the hair to make it easier to cut. It also retains moisture longer. In any case, unless you go crazy with your soap addiction, soaps don't cost much and really add to the experience.

I used to only shave with water when I used the Trac II. The few times I've tried with a straight have met with mixed results. The whiskers have to be very saturated and the face needs to be dilligently kept wet or razing ensues.

X

We used to have a member named Anto and all he ever used was water. He was a strong proponent of this approach. Lynn

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.