Cold water shave

[Maladroit]

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

[BobH]

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

[Martin103]

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

[chris0194]

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.

[JimmyHAD]

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

[CaliforniaCajun]

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.