Thread: 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:



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.

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.

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