Cold water shave

I recently had to have a cold water shave when our hot water system went down for a couple of days. I used the Body Shop's Macca Root cream and shaved with a 120+ year old John Heiffor 6/8 full hollow razor (my current favourite). I applied the lather once, rinsed and applied again to ensure full hydration. The result was a damn fine shave. I would have used Proraso if the weather had been warmer but we're having a rainy spell here and it's a bit cooler than usual.

My conclusions: you can shave perfectly well with cold water in warm humid weather. I don't think it would be as enjoyable in winter, or what passes for winter in these parts.

I'd be interested to hear what other tropical climate shavers have to say.

Mike

Can't say anything about what winter is like in the tropics. It is winter here and we are currently at -17C. The furnace has been on for a few months now so the humidity is not high in the house. I have been cold water shaving since the new year with no problems and will continue to do so. I don't think there are any problems using cold water to shave with in winter. I also use Proraso in winter too.

Bob

Here a good thread about this topic: http://straightrazorpalace.com/pre-s...pt-1869-a.html

I don't know about in higher temperatures as i've only been cold water shaving for about a month or so, for the first week of cold shaving the temp was below 0 the house wasn't much warmer as the heating hadn't long been on and I got, and still get, the most comfortable irritation free shave I haven't went back to hot water since.

Here is another large thread devoted to the topic. No new thing under the sun. :)

Had another outstanding cold water shave this morning. For me the results are about the same, but the skin is less irritated. (Hot water shaving irritation isn't even close to the irritation I experienced with multiblade razors.)

Problem is, I'm still having trouble with lather with cold water. I guess it doesn't matter if I get the desired results, but I'm used to the kind of lather pictured below:

Attachment 121830

This morning I used shaving cream rather than shave soap and it was a little better, but still not nearly as luxurious as I got used to with the hot water.

With cold water shaving, I reverse my routine. I shave, then take my shower. Then pat my face and apply aftershave. The sting I'm used to getting with alcohol-based aftershave isn't nearly as bad.

Lather has always been a challenge to me, hot or cold. What made a positive difference to me was pouring a bit of cold water over the puck and letting it sit for five or ten minutes before hitting it with the brush. Also have the brush soaking in cold water while the puck is softening up. Finally I pour some of the water off of the puck into the lather bowl.

Also, from a post that Lynn made a week ago, I've begun to twirl more in loading and press less. I used to feel like I needed to apply pressure to load the brush. As Lynn posted, no pressure and the tips pick up the soap and lathering has been better since I've begun to use no pressure.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Lather has always been a challenge to me, hot or cold. What made a positive difference to me was pouring a bit of cold water over the puck and letting it sit for five or ten minutes before hitting it with the brush. Also have the brush soaking in cold water while the puck is softening up. Finally I pour some of the water off of the puck into the lather bowl.

Also, from a post that Lynn made a week ago, I've begun to twirl more in loading and press less. I used to feel like I needed to apply pressure to load the brush. As Lynn posted, no pressure and the tips pick up the soap and lathering has been better since I've begun to use no pressure.

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I'll try that. I didn't think about letting cold water sit on the puck for 5-10 minutes, or trying an alternative way to load the brush.

I have found the cold shave to be quite refreshing over the last ten years. I didn't read it when i first began, but now I know why it is better.

I do get the kind of lather you posted a photo of using cold water. Has to be a variation in the water from place to place causing some of the difficulties. I just dip my brush in the cold sink water while it is filling and swirl it around followed by a shake or two to rid it of excess water. I use a combination of circular stirring and swirling to load the brush on the dry puck. Then I dip the tips in the sink and go back and load the brush some more. I build the rest of the lather on my face by slowly adding more water by dipping the tips when needed. I usually have enough for a 3 pass shave that way. I guess it will be just a matter of playing around with different methods and combination to get it to work.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

I do get the kind of lather you posted a photo of using cold water. Has to be a variation in the water from place to place causing some of the difficulties. I just dip my brush in the cold sink water while it is filling and swirl it around followed by a shake or two to rid it of excess water. I use a combination of circular stirring and swirling to load the brush on the dry puck. Then I dip the tips in the sink and go back and load the brush some more. I build the rest of the lather on my face by slowly adding more water by dipping the tips when needed. I usually have enough for a 3 pass shave that way. I guess it will be just a matter of playing around with different methods and combination to get it to work.

Bob

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Do you wet your face in cold water before applying the lather? That, to me, is what kills the lather more than anything else.

When I hot water shave, I do it fresh out of the shower and don't wet my face in advance because it is moist and clean.

Yes sir, I wet my face with cold water before lathering my face. Have you tried loading your brush longer? I load mine up for what seems like at least a full minute maybe more but never really timed it. With creams it is much easier and I use the same amount as when I was using hot water.

Bob

Yes, I do whip up the lather at least a minute, probably two. The water here is relatively soft as well. I'm going to just have to keep working at it. Thanks.

I bought a puck that has honey in it, which according to the soapmaker, is supposed to lather like crazy hot or cold. Until it arrives, I'll keep plugging away with what I have.

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Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

Yes, I do whip up the lather at least a minute, probably two. The water here is relatively soft as well. I'm going to just have to keep working at it. Thanks.

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When you say you whip up lather for a minute or two are you building your whole lather in that time? Because for me I load my brush for about a min with hard soaps. I go till I have a pretty think paste on the tips of my brush. Looks almost like wet toothpaste. Then spend about 2 mins face lathering to get a thick creamy lather.

I do this both with warm water and cold water.

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Originally Posted by Castel33

When you say you whip up lather for a minute or two are you building your whole lather in that time? Because for me I load my brush for about a min with hard soaps. I go till I have a pretty think paste on the tips of my brush. Looks almost like wet toothpaste. Then spend about 2 mins face lathering to get a thick creamy lather.

I do this both with warm water and cold water.

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No, I keep whipping until I saturate the brush with lather and it comes out runny and thin. Then I keep face lathering and it doesn't get any better. Maybe I'm overdoing it.

I've only done it for three days, so I will try to incorporate your ideas, plus letting cold water sit on the puck when I'm using soap.

i may be wrong, but it almost sounds like you've got too much water going on there. lately ive been kinda going the "ubberlather" way but with cold water. and the ive been getting the craziest thickest lather, im so confident i probably should hold a seminar and charge lol.... anyways when i load the brush and apply it to my face it isnt "runny" at all, but the few times that it has, i always end up loading some more.... so maybe try drying your brush a bit more before you put on the puck...

I'll third that, there is noway that the soap loaded on the brush off the puck should be runny. Maybe there is a little too much water in the brush to start with?

Bob

Problem solved. It was the soap. This morning I soaked it in water 12 minutes, drained it, and it was the same slurpy mess dripping on my shirt. Tried face lathering with minimal water as well, not enough lather. For the second pass I reached for an old mug with Cella in it and it worked identically to the way it does in hot water. Surprised me because the artisan soap works the same as Cella in hot water, but all the difference in the world in cold water. No pre-soaking required with Cella.

The cold water shave this morning had a conspicuous lack of irritation. It also helped that I just tuned up the razor I was using.

Glad you got your problem solved with the soap/cold water/lather routine. It leaves me feeling kind of stewpid for not asking what kind of soap you were using in the first place. All my experience has been with mass produced soaps like Tabac, MWF, Cella and Vitos Red and the like. They all have worked well with cold water. My only experience with an Artisan soap using hot water was so dismal I pitched it in the garbage. By Artisan I mean locally made by hand shave soap. That experience totally puts me off Artisan type soaps.

Bob

Hot water irritates my neck too much. Ive been shaving cold for a year now. It works for me and many others as you can see by the posts. Just takes a couple of shaves to get used to.

I have been using cold water as well. I find it easier !
For me it seems that when my skin is hot, it is too soft and it seems easier to cause irritation.. I'm only at shave 7 or so though so much experimentation required ;)

Been doing it the last two weeks.

I'm three cold water shaves in and Im loving it!!